INFECTION CONTROL IN
RADIOLOGY
•Infection control in radiology is one of the
main step to prevent infection as we
receive different patients of all age group
with different disease.
•Development of various imaging
modalities has increased the procedures
& patients flow increased. So infection
control is vital in any radiology
department.
INFECTION :
• An invasion of pathogens or Micro organisms into the body that are
capable of producing Diseases.
• Microorganisms are categorized as bacteria, viruses, protozoa
MODE OF TRANSPORT
• 1. Direct contact. One host comes in direct contact (touches) with another. STDs are
good examples of this mode
• 2. Fomite (indirect contact). An object that has been in contact with pathogenic
organisms is a fomite. Think about what might be a fomite in the radiology
department: the x-ray table, the CT or MRI patient couch, the chin rest on the chest
board, the calipers, positioning sponges, the ultrasound transducer, the gamma
camera surface, a mishandled syringe or needle, or even the patient’s chart. The
worst (and most often forgotten) fomite is the pillowcase not changed after each
patient.
• 3. Vector (indirect contact). An animal or insect that transmits an infectious
microorganism to a new host is a vector. Mosquitoes that transmit malaria, ticks that
transmit Lyme disease, and now birds that transmit West Nile disease are just a few
vectors with which the technologist should be familiar.
• 4. Airborne (indirect contact). Contamination is spread by water droplets or dust.
Coughing, sneezing, or even speaking propels droplets into the air, sometimes with
the force and speed of a bullet.
NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION
• An infection acquired in hospital by a patient who was
admitted for a reason other than that infection.
• Infections that become clinically evident after48 hours of
hospitalization are considered hospital acquired infections.
• Most nosocomial infections are transmitted by health care
workers and clients as a result of Direct contact.
•
•
•
•
Mode of transmission means of spread.
> Travel by air
> Contact
> Droplet
INFECTION CAN SPREAD
• Through Indirect and Direct contact
• > Touching objects/persons
• > Sneezing or coughing – Droplet - Respiratory droplets
are generated when a person coughs, sneezes ,speaks
during a procedure that generates aerosols eg ; suction
chest physiotherapy. Droplet particles greater than 5
micron in daimeter , travel less than 1 metre. Eg influenza
• > Air borne particles - Transmission of the disease spread
by air particles less than 5 micron in diameter and travel
greater than 1 meter . eg TB , Measles
INFECTION CONTROL:
• It includes all of the practices used to
prevent the spread of micro organisms that
could cause disease in a person.
• Infection Control Practices help to protect
clients and Healthcare providers from
Disease by reducing or eliminating sources
of Infection.
STANDARD PRECAUTIONS
• These are the minimum standard of precautions to be
Applied to all people Accessing Health Care Services
Regardless of their Diagnosis or presumed infectious
status ,there by reducing the risk of transmission of
organisms from both recognized and unrecognized
sources.
• These precautions apply to;
• Blood and all body substances (except sweat)
• Acutely or chronically non-intact skin and
• Mucous membranes including eyes
STANDARD PRECAUTIONS MUST BE
CONSIDERED WHEN
• Providing direct patient care
•
Handling blood or body substances
•
Performing invasive procedures including Cannulation or Catheterisation
•
Risk of splash or splatter to mucous membranes
•
Providing care that can include coughing
•
Handling and disposal of waste or sharps
•
Handling or preparation of food
• A great deal of infection control and prevention is
common sense.
• Consider the following analogies from daily life. If
you don’t want to get paint splatter on your furniture,
you cover it. If you don’t want to get dirt on your
hands when you garden, wear gloves. If you don’t
want to breathe drywall dust, wear a mask. If you
can’t clean all the little crevices in the broiler pan,
cover it with aluminum foil before you use it.
• These common practices are all barriers
ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE
•Medical Asepsis – clean technique,
procedures used to reduce and
prevent spread of micro organisms
handwashing.
•Surgical Asepsis- sterile technique
procedures used to eliminate
microorganisms sterilization
HANDWASHING AND GLOVING
• Handwashing is a major part of any infection control
system
• ● After you write in charts with pencils or pens that
may be contaminated by all who have used them.
• ● Between patients because of all the contact with
contaminated items (e.g., doorknobs, film cassettes).
• ● After touching your contaminated barriers, as in
removing a gown or taking off your mask and glasses.
• ● Even after touching the arm of a patient
MASKS, PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR, AND
GOWNS
• Most imaging procedures do not involve exposure to
blood. However, certain procedures may pose a
great risk of blood splatter to the technologist,
including arteriograms, cardiac catheterizations,
severe trauma, and orthopedic surgical procedures.
• Masks, protective eyewear, and gowns should be
worn during these procedures.
HANDLING LINENS AND UNIFORMS
• Soiled hospital linens, uniforms, and “scrubs” are
considered fomites.
• Proper aseptic technique must be strictly observed
when dealing with these objects.
• Stains may not be apparent, but any contact with
patient body fluids or feces should make personnel
wary of contamination.
• Never use linens for more than one patient.
• When disposing of linens or scrubs, handle them as
little as possible.
CONTAMINATED WASTE DISPOSAL
• Recent regulations demand that objects
contaminated with blood or body fluids be discarded
in a suitable container and marked with the
biohazard symbol.
• Bandages and dressings should be handled with
gloves and should be placed directly into waterproof
bags, which should be sealed before discarding.
• Always wear gloves when assisting patients with
bedpans or urinals. Be sure to empty them at once,
unless a specimen is needed.
HANDLING SHARPS
•Handling needles, scalpels, and other
types of “sharps” is the primary mode of
occupational transmission of HIV and HBV
in health care settings. Some items, such
as surgical instruments, are sterilized,
usually in a central sterilization unit.
ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS :
• Taken in Addition to Standard Precautions.
• Limit patient movement
• Isolate or Cohort patients
• Gown +Gloves for patients
• Remove immediately after contact
• Do not touch eyes, nose, mouth with hands
• Avoid contaminating environmental surfaces
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
•When used properly can protect
you from exposure to infectious
agents.
• Know what type of PPE is
necessary for the duties you
perform and use it correctly.
TYPES OF PPE