HLTIN301A
Comply with infection control
policies and procedures in health work
What is infection?
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An illness caused by the spread of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi or
parasites) to humans from other humans,
animals or the environment
What is infection?
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There are many terms used to describe
infectious organisms. These include:
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‘Bugs’
Germs
Bacteria
Viruses
Pathogens
Micro-organisms
Fungi
Parasites
Chain of Infection
Microorganism
Susceptible host
Source
Entry point
Exit point
Method of
transmission
How is infection spread?

Infection is spread by a chain of events. A
chain of infection involves having the
following parts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Cause
Source
Exit
Method of transmission
Entry
Susceptible host
How is infection spread?
1. Cause – having micro-organisms present
2. Source
* Sick people, people who have been exposed to
an infectious agent, but not infected
•
Food
•
Equipment
•
Water
3. Exit
•
body fluids
•
skin contact
•
Droplets
•
excretions and secretions
How is infection spread? Continued…
4. Method of Transmission –
Direct contact -from one person to another
Indirect contact - * from surfaces
• ingestion of contaminated food or water
• through the air as an airborne particle
• via an animal or insect
How is infection spread? Continued…
5. Entry - cuts or breaks in the skin
• Particles entering a normally sterile cavity
eg: a catheter
• breaks in the mucous membrane
• the gastro intestinal tract
• respiratory tract
How is infection spread? Continued…
6. Susceptible host – elderly
• Immobile
• Very ill eg: cancer, diabetes or other chronic
disease
• using immunosuppressant treatments
• Anyone who has a combination of the above
Micro-organism
Bacteria Fungi Viruses
Identify microorganisms
Recognise high
risk patients,
treat diseases,
Hand washing, sterilizing,
disinfecting, cleaning,
immunisation
Susceptible host
Aged, immobile, immunosuppresant
Source
People, Food,
Equipment, Water
BREAKING
Entry point
Broken skin, wounds,
respiratory, urinary
tracts
THE CHAIN OF
INFECTION
Exit point
Body fluid, skin,
droplets
Wound care,
catheter care,
hand washing
PPE, Hand washing
waste disposal control
body fluid
Method of transmission
Airborne, direct contact,
ingestion, surfaces – objects,
benches
Food handling,
sterilization, airflow
control, hand washing
How is infection transmitted?
There are 4 main ways that infection can be
transmitted:
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Direct/Indirect contact (person to person or
via third person/environment)
Airborne (fine spray is coughed in the air, travel
more than 1 metre) / Droplet (large respiratory
droplets, less than 1 metre)
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Vehicle – (food/water etc.)
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Vector (living animals/insects)
Standard Precautions
are defined as the basic work practices
required to provide a minimum level of
infection control. They are recommended
for the treatment and care of all clients
regardless of the clients’ diagnosis or
presumed infectious status.
Why would this be so?? Activity Question.
Standard Precautions. Continued…
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Work practices that are used in all
circumstances to achieve a basic level of
infection control
They are aimed at reducing the spread of
infections
They apply to all clients regardless of
known infectious status
They are aimed to protect the Health Care
Worker as well as the client.
Standard Precautions. Continued…
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Used for all clients, regardless of infectious
status
Used when risk of exposure to blood or body
fluids
 Blood (including dried blood)
 All other body fluids, secretions &
excretions
 Open wounds/broken skin
 Mucous membranes
Standard Precautions. Continued…
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Apply to –
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Hand hygiene
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Personal protective equipment (PPE)
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Immunisation
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Aseptic technique for wound care
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Safe handling of sharps
Standard Precautions. Continued…
HAND HYGIENE
Is the most important
precaution to
prevent the
transmission of
infection
Additional Precautions
Are used in ADDITION to Standard
Precautions.
They are used when Standard Precautions
are not enough to prevent transmission
of organisms.
They are work practices that interrupt the
spread of a known infection eg:
gastroenteritis
Additional Precautions. Continued…
Address the different ways in which
organisms are transmitted:
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Airborne
Droplet
Direct / Indirect Contact
Risk Management
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Look after your own safety
Do not place others at risk. You must
report & document any outbreaks or
suspicions of outbreak
Use PPE and clothing
Comply with policies, procedures,
instructions, practices and legislative
requirements of the organisation
Privacy & Confidentiality
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Principles guide the:
Collection
Use & disclosure – only disclose necessary & relevant info.
Storage & quality
Transfer of personal information
Legislation & Standards
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South Australian legislation
National legislation
Australian & New Zealand Standards
Accreditation & Infection
Control
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It is essential to ensure that you check,
follow and abide by the procedures set out
in your organisations policies and
procedures in relation to infection control
Standard 4.7 – “an effective infection
control program”
Implications for care provided, eg:
handwashing, use of PPE, etc
LOGBOOK activity.
Conclusion
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Remember privacy and confidentiality
Legislation
Policies and Procedures
Personal protective equipment
HAND HYGIENE
Conclusion
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Principles of infection control apply in
all settings
Standard Precautions should be
applied to all work practices
Additional precautions apply when
preventing the transmission of
known infections