Infection Control in
the School Setting
It’s In Your Hands
What is an Infection?
A condition resulting from
the presence of, and
invasion by, germs
(microorganisms)
For Infection to Occur
an Organism Must:



enter the body
grow and
multiply
cause a
response
Routes of Transmission
 Contact:
1. direct
2. indirect
3. droplet
(3 feet)
Routes of Transmission
 Vehicle
 Airborne
 Vector
Chain of Infection
Handwashing
(Hand Hygiene)
 The
most
important
measure you can
use to prevent
the spread of
infection.
Hand Hygiene Guidelines
Hand Hygiene
When hands are
visibly soiled with
blood or other body
fluids: Wash hands
with either a non-
antimicrobial soap
and water …..
OR
An antimicrobial
soap and water
Hand Hygiene
If hands are not
visibly soiled:
Use an alcoholbased hand rub
for routinely
decontaminating
hands.
Handwashing Procedure
Wet hands.
 Apply soap.
 Rub hands together producing
friction.
 Wash between fingers, tops of hands,
and around jewelry.
 Wash for at least 15 seconds.
 Rinse hands well.
 Dry hands with a paper towel then
use the towel to turn off faucet.

Handwashing …..
The #1 way to prevent
the spread of germs.
Bloodborne Pathogens


1.
2.
3.
Bloodborne pathogens are bacteria or
viruses that are present in human
blood and body fluids and can be
transmitted to other humans.
The most common bloodborne
pathogens are:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Bloodborne Pathogen
Transmission





Sexually
From mother-to-newborn at birth
Sharing of needles or other sharps
Accidental needlestick/cut/bite
(infected person to non-infected
person)
Blood transfusions (in the past)
HIV
 The
virus which causes the
acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS)
 HIV attacks the body’s
immune system, weakening it
so that it cannot fight other
deadly diseases.
HIV
The virus is very fragile and will
not live very long outside of the
human body.
 There is no cure for AIDS
although there are various
anti-viral medications to prolong
life.
 AIDS is a fatal disease.

Hepatitis B Virus
(HBV)
Hepatitis means “inflammation of
the liver”.
 Hepatitis B is a virus that infects
the liver.
 In the U.S., approximately
300,000 people are infected
annually.

Hepatitis B Virus Disease
HBV
Is a very durable virus and can
survive outside of the body for at
least 7 days.
 It is very important to clean up any
blood or body fluid spills.
(Can use a 1:10 bleach solution –
which is 1 part household bleach to 9
parts water.)

Hepatitis B Vaccine



To prevent hepatitis B.
A 3-dose vaccine series
given at
0, 1, 6 months
intervals.
96% of people who take
the vaccine will develop
antibody (protection)
against the hepatitis B
virus.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV):
“The Silent Epidemic”
Another cause of viral hepatitis.
 It is usually slow-spreading and
silent, but lasts a long time.
 It is one of the major causes of
cirrhosis in the U.S.
 It is a major cause of liver
cancer worldwide.

HCV Disease
 Approximately
8-12,000
people die annually from
hepatitis C-related disease.
 There is no vaccine for HCV.
 Anti-viral medications are
available for treatment for
some HCV-infected persons.
MRSA


First recognized in 1961- one year
after the antibiotic Methicillin was
introduced for treating S. Aureaus
infections.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus
Aureaus- a type of bacteria not killed
by common antibiotics including
penicillin and cephalosporins (i.e.
Amoxil and Keflex)
MRSA


Colonization-the microorganism is living
in or on the body without causing
disease or harm
Infection- the body is invaded by a
microorganism, the organism multiplies
and causes injury or illness
MRSA



Most infections caused by S. Aureus are
skin and soft tissue infections
MRSA is being seen in increasing
numbers among healthy persons of all
ages
This is referred to as Community
Acquired MRSA
Signs and Symptoms
Fever
Local Swelling, redness, heat
Painful lesion or pimple with or without
drainage
Boil- tender red lump with a white “head”
BOIL
CELLULITIS
MRSA


S. Aureus is most often spread
to others by contaminated hands
Touching skin, wounds, sharing
towels, athletic equipment and
other personal items
MRSA

Prevention




Handwashing
Good personal hygiene
Regularly clean commonly touched surfaces, such
as door knobs, bathrooms, nap mats, etc., with any
EPA approved disinfectant.
Cheapest and very good disinfectant is household
bleach and water in a 1:9 solution
(1 Tbsp. bleach to 1 quart of water mixed fresh
daily).
MRSA

Prevention (continued)



Clean toys and classroom items at least
daily and anytime they become soiled
Wash any cuts, scrapes, lesions, insect
bites and sores with soap and water
Keep lesions clean and dry and cover them
with bandages until they are healed. If
drainage cannot be contained by a dressing,
student should be excluded from class until
healed or drainage decreases.
MRSA



Use a barrier between skin and shared
equipment e.g. exercise machines and
massage tables
If you change a dressing WEAR
GLOVES, dispose of dressing in a
ziplock baggie and discard. Wash hands
after removing gloves.
HANDWASHING IS YOUR BEST
DEFENSE AGAINST INFECTIONS
Standard Precautions
Consider the blood and
body fluids of everyone
to be potentially
infectious.
Do not:
Share razors,
toothbrushes, eating
utensils and drinking
containers with other
people.
 Share needles or
other sharps with
others.

Do:
 Be
careful when providing
first aid or dressing the
wounds of others.
 Always keep sores or open
wounds covered with band
aid or dressing.
Do:
 Always
immediately
clean up any spills of
blood or body fluids
(wear gloves).
 Always carefully
clean household when
someone is ill in the
home.
Tuberculosis (TB)
A
disease transmitted from
person-to-person through the
air when an infected person
repeatedly comes in contact
with an uninfected person.
 TB usually affects the lungs,
but may attack almost any
part of the body.
Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis Symptoms

1.
2.
3.

1.
2.
3.
General Symptoms:
Weight loss
Weakness
Fever and/or Night Sweats
TB of the Lung:
Cough
Chest pain
Coughing up blood
TB Skin Testing
TB Infection vs. TB Disease

1.
2.
3.
TB Infection:
Germs in body,
but not sick and
no symptoms.
Skin test is
usually positive.
Most people
(90%) do not
develop disease.

1.
2.
TB Disease:
Person is sick,
has symptoms,
and can spread
disease to
others.
Treatment is
needed in order
to get well.
Respiratory Hygiene
Respiratory Hygiene
Cover the nose/mouth when coughing
or sneezing;
 Use tissues to contain respiratory
secretions & dispose of them in the
nearest waste receptacle after use;
 Perform hand hygiene after having
contact with respiratory secretions &
contaminated objects/materials.

Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics are for treatment of
bacteria – not viruses.
 Always take the antibiotic exactly
as prescribed.
 Do not save antibiotics for “next
time”.
 Do not share antibiotics with
others.

Employee Health
Practice good personal hygiene.
 Be sure you are up-to-date on all
of your immunizations.
 Seriously consider taking the
influenza vaccine annually.
 Do not come to work when you
are sick.
 Practice good handwashing!
