Infection Control

Lyndall Fitzgerald

2019 Term 1

Task 1: FSKLRG05

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Acknowledgement of Country

We would like to acknowledge this land that we meet on today which is the

traditional land for Kaurna people, and that we respect their spiritual relationship

with their Country.

We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the custodians of the Adelaide region

and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living

Kaurna people today.

We would also like to extend that respect to other Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait

Islander people who are present.

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Ground RulesRemember:

▪ Be respectful

▪ Contribute to the group

▪ Emergency procedures

▪ Maintain confidentiality - change identifiable information when sharing stories

▪ Mobile phones off or on silent

▪ Notify your facilitator if you plan to be absent or are running late

▪ Please smoke in designated areas

▪ Return from breaks on time

▪ Tidy up after yourself

I will need to share information that you have told me in an emergency and/or if you or someone else is at risk of harm.

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Learning Outcomes▪ Correct Hand Washing technique

▪ Explore Infection Control within Correctional Services

▪ Know what pathogens are

▪ Learn how to prevent Pathogens from spreading

▪ Response to Occupational Exposure

▪ The difference between Standard and Additional Precautions

▪ Understand the basis of good Infection Control

▪ What is PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

▪ When to use PPE

If any of the topics discussed today cause you distress – please talk to a Health Professional.

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Workplace Obligations

Employers are obliged under the Work Health and Safety Act SA (2012) to

provide a safe workplace for their employees, including the provision of

adequate infection control procedures and the right equipment and training.

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What is Infection Control?

Infection control is the prevention of pathogens from coming into contact with

people.

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What are Pathogens?

Pathogens, are ‘bugs', such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa or viruses that get into

or on our body.

It can take some time before these microbes multiply enough to trigger

symptoms of illness, which means an infected person may unwittingly spread

the disease during this incubation period.

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How are Pathogens Transmitted?

▪ Airborne - coughs or sneezes release airborne pathogens, which are then inhaled by others

▪ Contact with Body Fluids - pathogens in blood, faeces, saliva or urine can be passed to another person's body via abrasions or cuts, or through the mucus membranes of the eyes and mouth

▪ Contaminated Food or Objects - the pathogens in a person's faeces may be spread to food or other objects, if their hands are dirty

▪ Skin-to-Skin Contact - the transfer of some pathogens can occur through touch, or by sharing clothing, objects or personal items

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Chain of Infection

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How can we Prevent Pathogens from Spreading?

▪ Cleanliness

▪ Food Hygiene

▪ Hand Washing

▪ Personal Health and Hygiene

▪ PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

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Cleanliness

▪ Brushes, cloths and mops should be thoroughly washed and dried after every use; drying cloths and mops is particularly important, since many pathogens rely on moisture to thrive

▪ Dispose of waste correctly

▪ Handle linen correctly

▪ Regularly wash bathrooms, floors and surfaces, such as bench tops and tables with detergent and hot water

▪ Spot clean when necessary

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Cleanliness cont.

▪ Use disinfectants to clean up blood and other bodily fluids

▪ Use sterilisation equipment when available

▪ Wash ceilings and walls periodically

▪ When using disinfectants always wear gloves, clean the surfaces before using the disinfectant and follow the manufacturer's instructions

Use the correct colour coded cleaning equipment if available – always follow your workplace policies/procedures when cleaning up spills.

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Food HygieneWhen preparing food, you should:

▪ Avoid touching your hair, nose or mouth

▪ Keep cold food cold and hot food hot

▪ Use separate preparation surfaces, storage and utensils for cooked and uncooked foods

▪ Wash all preparation surfaces and utensils thoroughly with detergent and hot water after use

▪ Wash your hands before and after handling food13

Hand WashingThe spread of many pathogens can be prevented with regular hand washing.

You should thoroughly wash your hands with water (preferably warm) and soap for at least 40 seconds:

▪ After dealing with bodily fluids

▪ After visiting the toilet

▪ After wearing gloves

▪ Before and after breaks and shifts

▪ Before and after preparing food

▪ Before and after touching prisoners or their environment, i.e. searches of room/s and/or persons 14

Hand Washing cont.

Dry your hands with disposable paper towels.

Only use hand sanitizers if you have visibly clean hands and you have no easy access to running water.

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Personal Health and Hygiene

▪ Cough into your upper arm instead of your hands

▪ Discourage the sharing of personal items, such as: clothing, needles, razors, shavers, toothbrushes, towels, tweezers etc.

▪ Keep skin healthy and intact, as is this is a major barrier to pathogens

▪ Cover any abrasions or cuts with a waterproof dressing

▪ Keep yourself fit and healthy - maintain vaccinations and don’t come into work unwell

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PPE▪ Aprons: wear an apron if you are handling body fluids that may splash or when

performing any invasive procedure - wash your hands after use and use a fresh disposable apron between each person

▪ Eye Protection: wear goggles if you are handling body fluids that may splash -wash your hands after use

▪ Gloves: wear appropriate gloves if you are handling body fluids or equipment containing body fluids, if you are touching someone else's broken skin or mucous membrane, or performing any other invasive procedure - wash your hands between each person and use appropriate fresh gloves for each person, i.e. food handling gloves are not recommended for clinical care

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PPE cont.

▪ Masks: to protect you from respiratory infections and splashes

▪ Strong Sturdy Closed In Footwear: to protect your feet from injuries, such as needle sticks etc.

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Basis of Good Infection Control

1. Anybody can become infected.

2. Assume that everyone is potentially infectious.

3. Everyone is responsible.

4. Implement adequate practices, i.e: Standard and Additional Precautions.

Please report any potential to risks of infection to your supervisor immediately

and complete the appropriate documentation, i.e. incident form.

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Standard PrecautionsStandard precautions are the minimum requirements to help prevent the spread of infection.

Standard precautions should be used for all prisoners and/or their visitors, whether or not they are known or suspected to have an infectious disease, and are used in the handling of:

▪ All body fluids, excretions and secretions (except sweat), regardless of whether they contain visible blood

▪ Blood

▪ Dried blood and other body substances, including saliva

▪ Mucous membranes (mouth and eyes)

▪ Non-intact skin20

Examples of Standard Precautions▪ Appropriate handling and disposal of all waste

▪ Appropriate handling and disposal of sharps

▪ Aseptic techniques

▪ Correct handling of linen

▪ Good hygiene practices

▪ Hand Washing

▪ Maintenance of the physical environment

▪ PPE

▪ Reprocessing of reusable instruments and equipment

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Additional Precautions

▪ Additional precautions are used for people who are known or suspected to have an infection

▪ Additional precautions are used in addition to standard precautions, when standard precautions alone might not prevent the transmission of the infection

▪ Additional precautions are not required for people with bloodborne viruses, such as Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C or HIV, unless there are complicating infections, such as Pulmonary Tuberculosis

▪ Additional precautions should be tailored to the particular infectious agent involved and the mode of transmission, and may include one or any combination of the following:

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Examples of Additional Precautions▪ Additional use of PPE, i.e. a well-fitting mask

▪ A dedicated toilet

▪ Allocation of a single room with ensuite facilities

▪ Cohorting (room sharing by people with the same infection) may be an alternative if single rooms are not available

▪ Dedicated prisoner equipment

▪ Restricted movement of prisoners and healthcare workers

▪ Rostering of immune workers to care for certain classes of infectious patients

▪ Special ventilation requirements

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What If A Needle Or Other Sharps Are Found?

1. Isolate the area from others, seek assistance if necessary

2. Bring an evidence or sharps container to the scene

3. Always put on gloves before handling any sharps

4. Pick up sharps with tongs and place in an evidence receptacle or sharps container

5. Never recap needles

If you come in contact with blood or body fluids, apply First Aid measures for

Occupational Exposure.

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First Aid Measures for Occupational Exposure

1. Wash the exposed area with plenty of warm water and soap, but if the:

- Eyes are exposed, keep them open and flush with saline/tap water from the inside out

- Mouth is exposed, spit and rinse with tap water, then rinse again at least one more time

2. Report the incident to the appropriate staff member.

3. Record the incident via the disease/injury/near miss/accident (DINMA) reporting procedure.

4. Seek medical advice; you may need to take PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis).

Employers and Work, Health & Safety representatives should investigate all incidents involving contact with blood or body fluids, and take action to prevent similar incidents from happening again. 25

Why Are Correctional Officers At Risk?

A part of a Correctional Officers role is to facilitate prisoners giving urine samples, so it can be tested for substances which are illegal in prison.

Also, Correctional Officers are at risk of being infected by prisoners who carry diseases, such as, blood borne viruses (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV), who are either careless or display antisocial behaviour.

For example, when undertaking normal duties such as searches prisoners may -

▪ Aim, cough, spit or throw potentially infectious bodily fluids

▪ Leave potentially infectious needles, piercing/tattoo equipment and other sharps lying around, which could also possibly be used as a weapon

Therefore gloves must be carried at all times.26

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIVAre different blood borne viruses that can be prevented and treated, but not necessarily

cured.

They are all spread by coming into contact with blood, but Hepatitis B and HIV can also

be passed on via other body fluids.

However, you cannot get any of these viruses by:

▪ Casual physical contact; including hugging, kissing and shaking hands

▪ Coughing or sneezing

▪ Contact with faeces or urine

▪ Eating food prepared by someone living with a blood borne virus

▪ Sharing drinks, food or cutlery, glasses, plates

▪ Using the same laundry, shower or toilet facilities

Because of potential discrimination you will not be told which prisoners are affected.

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“There is no job in your workplace

so important or so urgent, that it

can’t be done safely.”

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Work Safe, Home Safe

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Now let’s wash our hands …

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Learning Outcomes

▪ Correct Hand Washing technique

▪ Explore Infection Control within Correctional Services

▪ Know what pathogens are

▪ Learn how to prevent Pathogens from spreading

▪ Response to Occupational Exposure

▪ The difference between Standard and Additional Precautions

▪ Understand the basis of good Infection Control

▪ What is PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

▪ When to use PPE

Feedback Welcome.

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Activities1. Practical: Explore Different Types of PPE

2. Practical: Handwashing Exercise

3. Quiz: Infection Control

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Handouts

1. Facilitator Instructions - Explore Different Types of PPE

2. Facilitator Instructions - Handwashing Exercise

3. WHO: Handwashing Technique 2012

4. Quiz

5. Quiz (Answers)

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Images

Image 9

Image 29

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Resources

Correctional Officers and Blood Borne Viruses –

https://ww.ntahc.org.au/sites/default/files/Resource/correctional_officers_bbvs_2013.pdf

Hand Hygiene Australia: 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene April 2013 –

http://www.hha.org.au/UserFiles/file/Manual/HHAManual_2010-11-23.pdf

Health Victoria - Standard & Additional Precautions 2015 –

https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/infectious-diseases/infection-control-

guidelines/standard-additional-precautions

Victoria State Government Better Health Channel: Workplace Infection Control Mar 2014 -

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/workplace-safety-

infection-control

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Videos

N/A

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