INFECTION CONTROL AND BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

Caregiving Series: Volume 3

 

Objectives

Upon completion of this video training, the participant will:

·        What causes infection

·        How germs are spread

·        The importance of hand hygiene

·        How to protect yourself from getting germs

·        Methods of disinfection in the home

 

Outline

1.                Understanding germs

2.                How germs are spread

3.                The importance of hand hygiene

4.                Alcohol-based hand rubs

5.                Personal protective equipment

6.                Bloodborne pathogens

7.                Housecleaning and laundry procedures

8.                Storage of medical supplies

9.                Personal hygiene

10.           Signs and symptoms of infection

 

 

Definitions and Key Points

 

  1. Airborne contact:  Germs /micro-organisms spread by breathing in dust particles or air droplets suspended in the air from someone sneezing, coughing or talking.
  2. Alcohol-based hand rubs: Studies have shown that alcohol-based hand rubs are a very effective and convenient method for cleaning hands. They act quickly to kill a wide spectrum of germs. Alcohol-based hand rubs are available as gels or foams.
  3. Bloodborne pathogens: Micro-organisms that can cause disease in humans. They may be present in blood and blood products. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis-B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
  4. Direct contact: Germs spread by touching another person or handling body fluids. Direct contact is skin to skin. Bathing someone, changing dressings, or disposing of body fluids such as feces, blood, urine or sputum are examples of direct contact.
  5. Disinfectant: Cleaning solutions such as Lysol, Pinesol or a standard bleach solution destroy germs/micro-organisms. The standard bleach solution is 1 cup bleach to 2 ˝ quarts water.
  6. Germs: Micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses, which can cause infection or disease. Examples of harmful germs are viruses such as the common cold or HIV (Human immune virus).
  7. Hand hygiene: Hand hygiene refers to cleaning hands with an antiseptic hand rub or washing hands with soap and water. Hand hygiene is the simplest most effective action people can take to reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
  8. Immune system: The body’s defense system that helps fight germs or disease. A weakened immune system cannot fight germs or disease as effectively as a strong immune system.

Some factors that weaken the immune system are:

·        Age: the very old or very young are most susceptible

·        Surgery

·        Diabetes

·        AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)

·        Smoking

·        Emotional or physical exhaustion

·        Cancer being treated with chemotherapy

  1. Indirect contact:  Germs that are spread by touching objects that have been touched by someone who is ill. Touching used dishes, soiled bed linens, soiled clothing or used/soiled equipment are examples of indirect contact.
  2. Personal protective equipment (PPE): Specialized clothing or equipment used to protect against potentially infected material such as blood, respiratory secretion and wound drainage. Protective barriers include:

·        Gloves

·        Gowns

·        Masks

·        Goggles and face shields

  1. Sterile:  Free from bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms.
  2. Supply bag procedures: Methods for handling clean and dirty equipment in order to reduce the spread of germs from one patient to another when doing home visits.
  3. Vector spread: Disease and germs that are spread from animals or insects. Malaria is spread by infected mosquitoes.
  4. Vehicle spread: Occurs disease or germs enter the body through contaminated drugs, food, water or blood products.

 

 

Mmedifecta

   HEALTHCARE TRAINING

A Division of Health Care Training Systems, Inc., Medford, OR 97504

 www.medifecta.com

Infection Control and Bloodborne Pathogens, Copyright, 2007