INFECTION
CONTROL
AND ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE
Nosocomial Infections
Infections patients receive while in an
acute care hospital or any other
healthcare facility.
 Urinary tract most common – catheters
 Wounds after surgery and respiratory
tract infections also common

CYCLE OF INFECTION
Source (Infectious Agent)
 Reservoirs of Infection
 Portal of Exit
 Modes of Transmission
 Portal of Entry
 Host

Infectious Agent
Pathogenicity – ability to cause
disease.
 Virulence – ability to grow and
multiply with speed.
 Invasiveness – ability to enter tissues.
 Specificity – organism’s attraction to a
particular host.

Modes of Transmission
 Direct
or Indirect contact (fomite)
 Droplet
 Vehicle
 Airborne
 Vector
Microorganisms
Algae
 Protozoa
 Fungi
 Bacteria

Pathogens
Parasites –Protozoa, Helminths
 Fungi – yeasts and molds
 Bacteria – colorless, minute, onecelled organisms with a typical nucleus
 Virus

Viruses
Influenza
 Common cold
 Mumps and measles
 Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E
 AIDS

HIV and AIDS
HIV enters the body after exposure
through contact with blood or body
fluids and attacks the immune system.
 Five phases (pg 57)
 Practice Standard Precautions and be
cautious handling needles
 Needle sticks must be reported

Viral Hepatitis
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Inflammation of the cells of the liver
Hep A and Hep E are transmitted by the
fecal-oral route
Others by blood or body fluids
Hep B , C and D can be chronic
Acute demonstrated as flu-like symptoms
then in 1-2 weeks becomes jaundiced, liver
enlarges, liver cells die
Can regenerate unless it turns chronic
Tuberculosis
Most commonly affects the lungs, but
can affect any part of the body.
 It is a communicable (infectious)
disease
 Pulmonary TB is treatable if caught
early

ASEPSIS
A state of being free from germs
 Medical Asepsis - clean
 Surgical Asepsis – sterile

GOALS OF
HANDWASHING
Reduce number of transient and
resident bacteria on hands
 Prevent transmission of infection
to:

– Patients and family members
– Health care workers
– Yourself
UNIVERSAL
PRECAUTIONS

Defined as the minimum standard
for safety.

Uniforms and Clothing

Laundry
UNIVERSAL
PRECAUTIONS
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Gloves should be worn whenever contact
with blood or other body fluids or tissue is
expected.
Gloves should be changed after each
patient.
Masks and eye shields worn to protect from
droplets of blood or body fluids
Gowns should be worn if blood/body fluids
Hands and other skin washed immediately
UNIVERSAL
PRECAUTIONS
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Needles never recapped, bent or broken or
removed from syringes.
Needles disposed of in puncture resistant
container.
Mouthpieces, ambu bags and vent devices
used rather than mouth-to-mouth
Workers with oozing or open sores should
refrain from direct contact with patients and
equipment.
ISOLATION
PRECAUTIONS

Protective Isolation

Imaging Considerations

Transporting Patients
CATEGORY-SPECIFIC
ISOLATION
CATEGORY
STRICT
PROTECT
NECESSARY
AGAINST
ITEMS
Droplet/direct Gown,glove,mask
CONTACT
direct
Gown,glove,mask
Respiratory
Droplets
Mask
ENTERIC
Feces
Gown, gloves
TUBERCULOS TB
Mask, gown(?)
Drain/Secretion Direct
Gown, gloves
Inhibiting and destroying
Microorganism growth

Sanitization

Disinfection

Sterilization
Sanitization

Clean with detergent and brush

Ultrasonic
Disinfection
Chemical germicides or boiling water
 Check dilution ratio of chemical
 Exposure to chemical may vary from
20 minutes to 3 hours
 Rinse

Sterilization
Sanitize first then dry
 Wrap or disposable packaging
 Hinged instruments should be left
open (hemostats)
 Place in Autoclave (steam under
pressure)

Chemical Sterilization
Indicators
Special dyes change color with
temperature, pressure or time
 Autoclave tape – used to tape
package, diagonal stripes turn black
 Autoclave – 250 degrees F; 15 min to
30 min

Surgery Suite
Surgical Scrubs, booties, hat
 Mask when entering the room
 Portable in Surgery; if not, clean one
before entering
 Sterile bags over tube if positioning
over a patient

SURGICAL ASEPSIS

Sterile Attire

Preparing A Sterile Field

Sterile Field
MAINTAINING A
STERILE FIELD
Area neat and uncluttered
 Organize supplies before procedure
 Avoid quick movements or
rearrangement once opened
 Minimize people walking into areas
 Drop supplies w/out reaching over
 Close doors and windows

MAINTAING A STERILE
FIELD
If clean item touches sterile, its
contaminated
 Sterile objects >2.5cm from edge of
field
 Avoid touching face or body with
sterile gloves
 When pouring, pour small amount into
trash then fill sterile container.
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