Infection Control
Principles of Disease
Transmission
Microorganisms
• Small living plant or animal
• Non-pathogens
– Live in or on the body
– Part of the normal flora
– May be beneficial to the body
• Pathogens
– Germs
– Cause infection
Types of Pathogens
• Bacteria
– One celled plants
– Classified by shape
and arrangement
– Cocci – strep, staph
– Bacilli – TB,
tetanus
– Spirilla – syphilis,
cholera
• Protazoa
– One celled animals
– Found in decayed material and contaminated
water
– Malaria, dysentery
• Fungi
– Simple plant-like
organism
– Live on dead
matter
– Yeasts, molds
– Ringworm,athlet
e’s foot, thrush
Rickettsiae
- Parasitic
microorganism
– Transmitted to
humans through
the bite of a
tick,fleas, Typhus
and lice, mites
– Rocky Mountain
spotted fever
• Viruses
– Smallest
microorganism
– Can only reproduce
inside humans cells
– Colds, chicken pox,
warts, influenza,
HIV, Hepatitis
Needs of microorganisms
• To Grow
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Warmth
Darkness
Source of food
Moisture
Aerobic need oxygen
Anaerobic – don’t need
oxygen
How Pathogens Cause Infections
• Poisons/toxins
– Ex: tetanus
• Allergic Reactions
– Ex: runny nose, sneezing
• Attack and Destroy cells they invade
– Ex: malaria
Additional Classifications
• Endogenous
– Originates inside the body
• Exogenous
– Originates outside the body
• Nonsocomial
– An infection acquired inside the hospital
• Opportunistic
– Infections that occur when the body’s immune
system is weak
Chain of Infection
Asepsis
• Absence of disease-producing
microorganisms
• Any area or object containing pathogens is
considered contaminated
Levels of aseptic Control
• Antisepsis
– Prevent or inhibit
the growth of
pathogenic
organism but are
not effective against
spores or viruses.
– Ex:
Alcohol/Betadine
Disinfection
• Destroys or kills
pathogenic
organisms but not
always effective
against spores or
viruses
• Ex: Bleach, Clorox
Sterilization
• The process that
destroys all
microorganisms both
pathogenic and nonpathogenic including
spores and viruses.
• Ex: Steam under
pressure, autoclave,
gas, radiation,
chemicals
Most Inexpensive, Quickest, and
Effective way to prevent the
spread of pathogens
Standard Precautions
Two Main Ways Pathogens
Spread
• Blood
– HIV
– Hepatitis B
– Hepatitis C
• Body Fluids
OSHA
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• 1991 established
blood-borne pathogen
standard regulations
Regulations
• Determine employees who have
occupational exposure
• Provide the Hepatitis B vaccine free
• Provide PPE – Personal Protective
Equipment
• Provide adequate hand washing facilities
• Ensure the worksite is maintained in a clean
and sanitary condition
Regulations Cont.
• Enforce NO eating , drinking, smoking,
applying lip balm or lipstick, handling
contact lenses or mouth pipetting in any
area potentially contaminated with blood or
body fluids.
• Provide adequate sharps containers coded
red/orange
• Post signs in areas where there is
occupational exposure
• Provide confidential medical evaluation and
follow up for any employee with an
exposure
• Provide free training for any new updates or
changes
Sharps
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all needles
syringes
syringe bodies
scalpels
lancets
any glass items, such as
slides or Pasteur pipettes,
that are contaminated with
potentially infectious
material and/or human
blood.
PPE
• Personal
Protective
Equipment
Sterile Technique
• Sterile
– Free from all organisms
• Contaminated
– Organisms and pathogens are present
– Items that touch your clothes or skin or any
area below the waist are considered
contaminated
Sterile Field
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•
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Never reach across the top of the field
Reach in from the sides to add to the field
Never turn your back to a sterile field
2 inches around the border are contaminated
Anything below the level of the tray is
contaminated
Methods to Remove Sterile Articles
from Sterile Wraps
• Drop Method
• Mitten Method
• Transfer Forceps
Sterile Field
• Keep Sterile field dry
• Pathogens move quickly through wet
surfaces
• Take care when pouring solutions into a
sterile field
• When you put on sterile gloves, only handle
sterile items
Standards Precaustions
• Used when contacting all patients
Transmission-based Isolation
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Airborne
Droplet
Contact
Protective
Communicable Diseases
• A disease caused by a pathogic organism
that can be easily transmitted to others
• Spread by
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Direct contact with patient
Contact with blood and body fluids
Droplets
Discharge from wounds