TERM FOR ANY PLANT OR
ANIMAL THAT CANNOT BE
SEEN WITHOUT THE USE OF
A MICROSCOPE.
MICROORGANISMS ARE
EVERYWHERE.
SOME MICROORGANISMS
ARE HARMFUL, SOME ARE
NOT.

PATHOGENS
 HARMFUL ORGANISMS THAT CAN CAUSE AN
INFECTION WHEN THEY ENTER THE BODY.
NONPATHOGENS

MICROORGANISMS THAT ARE NOT HARMFUL AND
DO NOT CAUSE AN INFECTION.
NORMAL FLORA

MICROORGANISMS THAT LIVE AND GROW IN
CERTAIN LOCATIONS OF THE BODY.


THE INVASION AND GROWTH OF DISEASE CAUSING
MICROORGANISMS IN THE BODY.

AN INFECTION THAT A PERSON ACQUIRES WHILE IN A
HEALTH CARE INSTITUTION.

PATIENTS ARE AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING A
NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION BECAUSE:

THEY HAVE A WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM

MEDICATION MAY WEAKEN THEIR RESPONSE TO
INFECTION
 HIGHER INCIDENCE OF EXPOSURE FROM HEALTH
CARE WORKERS OR OBJECTS CARRYING
MICROORGANISMS

PERSON
LIKELY
TO GET A
DISEASE
IF
EXPOSED
WHERE THE
PATHOGEN
ENTERS THE
BODY
PATHOGEN
HOW THE
PATHOGEN
TRAVELS
WHERE THE
PATHOGEN LIVES
IN THE BODY
WHERE THE
PATHOGEN
LEAVES THE
BODY

INFECTIONS THAT RESIST THE EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTICS
 THIS MAKES THE INFECTION DIFFICULT TO TREAT

CAUSED BY DOCTORS PRESCRIBING ANTIBIOTICS
THAT ARE NOT NEEDED OR BY PATIENTS NOT FINISHING A
COURSE OF ANTIBIOTICS
 TWO COMMON DRUG RESISTANT ORANISMS:

MRSA - METHICILLIN-RESISTANT
STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS - USUALLY FOUND ON
THE SKIN AND NASAL PASSAGES. CAUSES SKIN AND
LUNG INFECTIONS

VRE - VANCOMYCIN RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS -
USUALLY FOUND IN THE INTESTINES AND IN FECES.
CAUSES URINARY, WOUND, PELVIC INFECTIONS


IMMUNE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AS WELL AS A
YOUNGER PERSON’S

MAY NOT SHOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AN
INFECTION

THEY MAY NOT COMPLAIN OF PAIN
 CONFUSION MAY OCCUR

AN INFECTION MAY BECOME LIFE-THREATENING
BEFORE THE OLDER PERSON HAS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

THE PROCESS OF DESTROYING PATHOGENS .
THE PROCESS OF DESTROYING ALL MICROORGANISMS.
THE PRACTICES USED IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO
REMOVE OR DESTROY PATHOGENS AND TO PREVENT
THEIR SPREAD FROM ONE PERSON OR PLACE TO
ANOTHER.


WASH CONTAMINATED AREAS WITH SOAP AND WATER

PROVIDE THE PERSON WITH TISSUES TO USE WHEN COUGHING OR
SNEEZING
 WEAR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS NEEDED

DO NOT SHAKE LINENS

CLEAN FROM THE CLEANEST AREA TO THE DIRTIEST

DO NOT SIT ON BEDS

DO NOT USE THINGS THAT HAVE FALLEN TO THE FLOOR

CLEAN AND DISINFECT SHOWERS AND SHOWER CHAIRS AFTER EACH USE

CLEAN AND DISINFECT BEDPANS, URINALS, AND COMMODES AFTER USE

REPORT PESTS - ANTS, SPIDERS, MICE

DIRTY LINEN GOES IN
THE DIRTY LINEN
HAMPER.
A PLASTIC BAG IS
PLACED ON THE
INSIDE OF THE
HAMPER AND
CHANGED WHEN IT IS
FULL.
THERE MAY BE A
SEPARATE HAMPER
FOR PERSONAL ITEMS
(CLOTHING) AND
LINEN.

ITEMS OR AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DISEASE-
CAUSING MICROORGANISMS.
AN AREA IS CLEAN WHEN IT IS FREE OF PATHOGENS.
AN AREA IS CONTAMINATED IF PATHOGENS ARE PRESENT


BEFORE AND AFTER CARING FOR
EACH PATIENT

BEFORE AND AFTER USING
GLOVES

BEFORE AND AFTER EATING

AFTER COUGHING, SNEEZING, OR
BLOWING YOUR NOSE

AFTER COMBING YOUR HAIR
 AFTER USING THE TOLIET
 BEFORE HANDLING “CLEAN”
ITEMS
 AFTER HANDLING “DIRTY” ITEMS
 BEFORE AND AFTER SMOKING


WASH YOUR HANDS UNDER WARM RUNNING WATER.
 USE PAPER TOWELS TO TURN THE WATER ON AND OFF.

IF BAR SOAP IS USED, RINSE THE BAR FIRST AND HOLD
THE SOAP DURING THE ENTIRE PROCEDURE.

HOLD YOUR HANDS AND FOREARMS LOWER THAN
YOUR ELBOWS THROUGHOUT THE PROCEDURE.

ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE THUMBS, KNUCKLES,
SIDES OF THE HANDS, FINGERS, AND UNDER THE NAILS.
 WASH YOUR HANDS FOR AT LEAST 15 - 20 SECONDS.

DO NOT LEAN AGAINST THE SINK.

USE A LOTION TO PREVENT CHAPPING AND BREAKS IN
THE SKIN.


DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SPREADING
PATHOGENS FROM BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN
INFECTIONS.

USED FOR ALL PERSONS WHENEVER CARE IS GIVEN.

PREVENTS THE SPREAD OF INFECTION FROM:
 BLOOD
 ALL BODY FLUIDS, SECRETIONS, AND EXCRETIONS

NONINTACT SKIN (SORES, SKIN TEARS,OTHER
INJURIES)

MUCOUS MEMBRANES


DO NOT WEAR ARTIFICIAL NAILS OR NAIL EXTENDERS
 WEAR PPE WHEN CONTACT WITH BLOOD OR BODY FLUIDES IS LIKELY

WEAR GLOVES WHEN CONTACT WITH BLOOD OR BODY FLUIDS IS LIKELY

REMOVE GLOVES AFTER FINISHED GIVING CARE
 DISCARD GLOVES AFTER USE

CHANGE GLOVES IF MOVING FROM CONTAMINATED AREA TO CLEAN AREA ON
BODY
 REMOVE ALL PPE BEFORE LEAVING THE PATIENT’S ROOM

TREAT SOILED LINEN WITH CARE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF THE
SURROUNDING AREA

WEAR GOGGLES OR FACE SHIELD DURING PROCEDURES THAT MAY CAUSE
SPLASHES OR SPRAYS OF BLOOD OR BODY FLUIDS

FOLLOW AGENCY POLICY FOR CLEANING WORK , PATIENT CARE SURFACES,
OR SOILED EQUIPMENT (BED RAILS, WORK SURFACES)

USE A FACE SHIELD TO PERFORM RESCUE BREATHING

A PRIVATE ROOM IS PREFERRED FOR A PERSON AT RISK FOR TRANSMITTING AN
INFECTION TO OTHERS

 COLLECT ALL NEEDED ITEMS BEFORE ENTERING THE ROOM

REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE ROOM BY PLACING THEM IN PLASTIC BAGS

DOUBLE BAG GARBAGE AND LINEN BEFORE REMOVING FROM THE
ROOM

REMOVE REUSABLE DISHES. DISCARD DISPOSABLE DISHES

DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR, NOSE, MOUTH, EYES, OR OTHER BODY
PARTS

PLACE CLEAN ITEMS ON A PAPER TOWEL

TELL THE NURSE IF YOU HAVE A SORE THROAT, OPEN SKIN AREAS,
CUTS, VOMITING, OR DIARRHEA


USED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTION BY
DIRECT CONTACT (TOUCHING THE INFECTED AREA) OR

INDIRECT CONTACT (TOUCHING AN OBJECT THAT HAS
BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AN INFECTED AREA)


FOR INFECTIONS THAT ARE TRANSMITTED BY
DROPLETS GENERATED BY COUGHING, SNEEZING OR
TALKING

EXAMPLES : PNEUMONIA, MENINGITIS, DIPHTHERIA,
WHOOPING COUGH, MEASLES, MUMPS, STREP
INFECTIONS OF THE THROAT


USED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INFECTIONS
CARRIED BY SMALL DROPLETS THAT CAN REMAIN
SUSPENDED IN THE AIR AND BE INHALED BY AN
UNINFECTED PERSON

EXAMPLES: CHICKEN POX, TUBERCULOSIS, ANTHRAX

PROTECTIVE PROCEDURES ARE THOSE PROCEDURES
NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOU FROM, AND PREVENT
THE SPREAD OF INFECTION.
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES MUST PROVIDE WHATEVER
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS NECESSARY AT NO
CHARGE TO THE EMPLOYEE.

WEAR GLOVES
WHENEVER
THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY OF
COMING IN
CONTACT WITH
BLOOD, BODY
FLUIDS,
NONINTACT SKIN,
SECRETIONS, OR
EXCRETIONS.


THE OUTSIDE OF THE GLOVES ARE CONSIDERED
CONTAMINATED
 GLOVES ARE EASIER TO PUT ON WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE DRY
 LONG FINGERNAILS AND RINGS CAN TEAR GLOVES
 DISCARD GLOVES AFTER USE
 PUT ON NEW GLOVES WHENEVER GLOVES BECOME
CONTAMINATED WITH BLOOD OR BODY FLUIDS
 WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER REMOVING GLOVES

WORN
WHENEVER
THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY
THAT YOUR
CLOTHING
MIGHT COME
INTO CONTACT
WITH BLOOD
OR BODY
FLUIDS.


GOWNS MUST HAVE LONG SLEEVES THAT FIT TIGHT AT THE
WRIST

GOWNS MUST COVER A PERSON FROM THE NECK TO THE
KNEES

THE GOWN OPENS AT THE BACK AND IS TIED AT THE NECK AND
THE WAIST

THE OUTSIDE OF THE GOWN (FRONT) AND SLEEVES ARE
CONSIDERED CONTAMINATED. THE BACK OF THE GOWN IS
CONSIDERED CLEAN
 GOWNS ARE USED ONCE AND DISCARDED

TO REMOVE THE GOWN
 UNTIE THE NECK STRINGS

UNTIE THE WAIST STRINGS

GRASP THE GOWN AT THE INSIDE OF THE SHOULDER

PULL THE GOWN DOWN THE ARMS AS THE SLEEVES
ARE TURNED INSIDE OUT

TURN THE GOWN INSIDE OUT

HOLD THE GOWN ON THE INSIDE AS THE OUTSIDE IS
CONSIDERED CONTAMINATED

A MASK PREVENTS CONTACT WITH AIRBORNE
PARTICLES THAT MAY BE INFECTED.


MASKS ARE DISPOSABLE

A WET OR MOIST MASK IS CONTAMINATED

A MASK SHOULD FIT SNUGLY OVER THE MOUTH AND NOSE

A SPECIAL RESPIRATOR IS WOR WHEN CARING FOR PERSONS
WITH TUBERCULOSIS

TO REMOVE A MASK -

REMOVE GLOVES

UNTIE LOWER STRING FIRST, THEN UPPER STRING
 PROTECT YOUR EYES, MOUTH, AND NOSE FROM SPLASHING OR
SPRAYING OF BLOOD OR BODY FLUIDS
 THE OUTSIDE OF THE FACE SHIELD AND GOGGLES ARE
CONSIDERED CONTAMINATED

EVERYTHING
REMOVED
FROM AN
ISOLATION
ROOM MUST
BE DOUBLE
BAGGGED.


THE PERSON WEARS A CLEAN
GOWN.

AN EXTRA LAYER OF SHEETS IS
PLACED ON THE CART OR
WHEELCHAIR.

PERSONS ON AIRBORNE AND
DROPLET PRECAUTIONS WEAR
MASKS.

YOU WEAR A MASK, GOWN, OR
GLOVES AS REQUIRED BY THE
ISOLATION PRECAUTION.
 DO NOT LET ANYONE ELSE ON THE
ELEVATOR.

THECART OR WHEELCHAIR IS
DISINFECTED AFTER USE.

ITEMS CONTAMINATED WITH
BLOOD, BODY FLUIDS, SECRETIONS,
OR EXCRETIONS
PROTECTS WORKERS FROM
EXPOSURE TO THE AIDS OR
HEPATITIS VIRUS
INCLUDES ANY ITEM
CONTAMINATED WITH BLOOD AND
BODY FLUIDS


MAY THINK ISOLATION IS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT
FOR SOMETHING “BAD” THAT THEY DID.

MAY HAVE FEELINGS OF UNWORTHINESS.
 MAY HAVE FEWER VISITORS.

REMEMBER, THE PATHOGEN IS UNDESIRABLE, NOT
THE PATIENT.
 ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION WHEN YOU ARE IN
THE ROOM CARING FOR THE PATIENT.
 TREAT THE PERSON WITH RESPECT, KINDNESS, AND
DIGNITY.
 SAY HELLO FROM THE DOORWAY OFTEN.