Annual Infection Control
Training
Hospice of the Bluegrass
For Internal Use Only
Objectives
At the end of this program the learner will be able
to:
 Define what an MDRO is and explain how to
prevent their spread
 Describe proper cleaning and disinfecting
procedures
 Identify a blood borne pathogen and what to do
in case of an exposure
 Explain the process for disposal of biohazardous
waste and sharps
For Internal Use Only
What is Infection Prevention?
Infection prevention describes ways we can
prevent the spread of infection.
For Internal Use Only
Why is infection prevention
important to HOB?
Infections can cause pain, suffering and
even death for our patients. They cause
extra days in the hospital and lead to
higher costs for patients and their families.
For Internal Use Only
What is an MDRO?
• An MDRO (Multi Drug Resistant Organism) is a
strain of bacteria that is resistant to common
antibiotics (1 or more classes) used to treat
infections.
• Infections can vary, depending on the organism.
• MDRO’s can cause skin infections (boils,
abscesses), urinary tract infections, blood stream
infections, and pneumonia, and they can infect
wounds, the respiratory tract and surgical sites.
For Internal Use Only
Who can get an MDRO?
Anyone is susceptible to contracting an MDRO. Patients
are more likely to get an MDRO infection if they have:
• Received multiple antibiotics or treatments with
antibiotics
• Transferred from another health care facility/agency or
unit with a high colonization/infection rate
• Prolonged hospital stays
• Frequent hospital admissions
• Critically ill and in an ICU-type unit
• Immunocompromised
For Internal Use Only
How are they spread?
They can be spread by:
• Person to person via skin-to-skin contact with
someone diagnosed with an MDRO
• Sharing a personal care item
• The environment contaminated with an MDRO
(MDRO’s can live in the environment anywhere
from 24 hours to a week, depending on the
organism)
For Internal Use Only
Colonization vs. Infection
• Colonization means that the organism is
present in or on the body but is not
causing illness. An employee who has
been colonized can become a carrier and
spread infection to other health care
workers and patients.
• Infection means that the organism is
present and is causing illness.
For Internal Use Only
Cleaning and Disinfecting
• When items such as bedside tables and bed
rails are touched with dirty hands, it is very easy
to spread germs to patients and employees if
they are not cleaned properly
• Medical equipment and environmental surfaces
should be cleaned with a disinfectant such as a
Super Sani-cloth
• HOB provides Super Sani-cloths to all staff
members in the home care setting as well as the
inpatient facilities
For Internal Use Only
Contaminated Equipment
• Reusable equipment should be used with only one
patient and cleaned after each patient use
• Wipe off reusable equipment such as BP cuffs,
stethoscope, scales, etc., with Super Sani-cloth and
allow to dry before reuse. (You must follow the contact
time printed on each chemical in order to disinfect
properly).
• Cleaning reusable equipment, such as IV pumps, tube
feeding pumps and oxygen equipment, should be done
according to manufacturer or DME guidelines. This
equipment is typically cleaned by the DME staff or the
CNA’s cleaning the Oxygen Concentrators.
For Internal Use Only
Laptops
• KEYBOARDS should be cleaned daily or
when visibly soiled using a Super Sanicloth
• SCREENS should be wiped with a dry
microfiber cloth
For Internal Use Only
Cross Contamination
Wiping surfaces with dirty cloths can
contaminate hands, equipment, and other
surfaces and can easily spread germs.
For Internal Use Only
Tuberculosis Control Plan
Where can I find the plan?
• On the hospice intranet: hospice documents/
manuals/ clinical policy and procedure
manual/surveillance prevention and control of
infections
For Internal Use Only
Tuberculin Skin Testing/Screening
When: Every January for all clinical staff and
volunteers that see patients
Why: To comply with requirements while working
with our patients in hospitals and long term care
facilities
For Internal Use Only
Bloodborne Pathogens
• Bloodborne pathogens are infectious
materials in the blood or other body fluids
that can cause disease in humans
For Internal Use Only
Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
Include Exposures to:
•
•
•
•
•
Blood or Serum
Visibly Bloody Urine
Frank bloody drainage
Bloody Tissue
Semen/Vaginal Fluids
For Internal Use Only
Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure
What is an exposure?
• Needlesticks or cuts from sharp instruments
contaminated with blood
• Contact of the eye, nose mouth, or non-intact
skin with blood or bloody fluids
• Human bite with exposure to patient’s blood, i.e.,
broken skin and bleeding gums/lips
For Internal Use Only
What to do if you
have a blood exposure?
• Immediately cleanse the area thoroughly with
soap and water, flush mucous membranes
and/or eyes with clean water (eye wash stations
are available for the inpatient units)
• Report the incident immediately to your
supervisor
• Your supervisor will ask you to go to the local
HOB healthcare provider for evaluation
and screening – they will follow our
protocol
For Internal Use Only
Blood Exposures
• Give the name of the patient (if known) to your
supervisor so the patient’s blood can be tested
• Your supervisor may have you draw the patient’s
blood for testing before you leave the home
• You or your supervisor will need to contact the
patient’s attending MD or an HOB Physician for
lab orders
• Your supervisor will initiate with you an
Employee Accident/ Occurrence Report Form
and Analysis Form.
For Internal Use Only
Blood Exposures
• Your supervisor will notify HR and the
Employee Health Coordinator who will
give you a report of testing results for both
you and the patient (if tested). If follow-up
testing is required, you will be notified at
this time.
• All results are considered confidential and
are filed separately in HR.
For Internal Use Only
Personal Protective Equipment
• Gowns –when splashes to the skin or
clothing are likely.
• Masks/ Protective Eye Wear - required
when contamination to mucous
membranes, eyes or mouth may occur
• CPR Equipment/micro-shields - provided
in case there is a need to do CPR
For Internal Use Only
Bio-hazardous Materials
• Lab Specimens - should be transported in zip
lock bags or bags provided by the lab for
specimens and should be temperature
controlled in a soft or hard shell cooler designate
only for transport of lab specimens
• Labels - biohazard labels should appear on
hazardous material
• Body Fluids - blood and body fluids should be
mopped up or wiped up using disposable gloves
– A solution of diluted bleach should be used of 1:100
For Internal Use Only
Waste Disposal
• Flushable Waste - Blood and Body wastes should be
flushed down the toilet
• Non-flushable waste in the home should be placed in
a leak proof plastic bag which is tied securely at the
neck. The trash should then be placed with the home
trash receptacle. Do not leave it on the floor of the
patient’s home. Be sure it fits in a trash receptacle.
• Red biohazard bags are provided for the inpatient
units only.
For Internal Use Only
Syringe/Sharp Disposal
• Sharps are instrument capable of producing
injury including: contaminated needles, syringes,
scalpels, and disposable sharp instruments.
• Sharp’s containers are available to staff for
these items listed above.
• Sharp’s containers should rarely be left in the
home setting. If a container is left in the home
for the hospice staff to use it MUST be removed
from the home by the hospice staff at discharge
or at the time of death. It should be brought
back to the hospice office for disposal.
For Internal Use Only
Syringe/Sharp Disposal
• If a patient is using syringes for a medication
such as insulin, they can use a container such
as a bleach bottle or coffee can for the syringe.
They can tape the bottle close and dispose in
their home trash.
• Never re-cap a syringe
• Each syringe will be used on only one patient
For Internal Use Only