INFECTION CONTROLINFECTION CONTROL

By C Spain.

Aims and objectives of session.Aims and objectives of session.Aim--- To increase your knowledge and Aim--- To increase your knowledge and

awareness of infection risks and to awareness of infection risks and to develop skills to minimise these risks.develop skills to minimise these risks.

Objectives--- Objectives---

1 Knowledge of where micro-organisms 1 Knowledge of where micro-organisms reside and how they spread.reside and how they spread.

2 Learn practices to reduce the risk of 2 Learn practices to reduce the risk of cross infection.cross infection.

3 Knowledge of the term “Universal 3 Knowledge of the term “Universal precautions”precautions”

How infections are spread.How infections are spread.In any situation where large numbers of In any situation where large numbers of

people live and work together the people live and work together the chances of an infection being acquired chances of an infection being acquired

and passed on can be high.and passed on can be high.

It may be spread by direct or indirect It may be spread by direct or indirect contact, For example --flu, chicken pox.contact, For example --flu, chicken pox.

It can also be spread by hands, air or It can also be spread by hands, air or even equipment .even equipment .

Infection control is an important part of Infection control is an important part of care practice and is the responsibility of care practice and is the responsibility of

everyone.everyone.

Personal hygiene.Personal hygiene.The most important person in this The most important person in this

organisation is YOU.organisation is YOU.

You get it right and both you and the You get it right and both you and the organisation will meet all the legal organisation will meet all the legal

requirements.requirements.

You get it wrong and someone could You get it wrong and someone could become ill: That someone could be become ill: That someone could be

YOU.YOU.

Personal HygienePersonal Hygiene

What should you do about What should you do about your own personal hygiene? your own personal hygiene? In order to help prevent the In order to help prevent the

spread of infection?spread of infection?

Think about it...Think about it...

Personal hygienePersonal hygiene

A.Fingernails--- Clean and short without A.Fingernails--- Clean and short without nail polish.nail polish.

B.Make up and jewellery---kept to a B.Make up and jewellery---kept to a minimum, no large earrings or stoned minimum, no large earrings or stoned

jewellery.jewellery.

C.Hair---long hair should be tied back, C.Hair---long hair should be tied back, Hair cleaned regularly.Hair cleaned regularly.

D.P.P.E.---Use /worn as appropriate.D.P.P.E.---Use /worn as appropriate.

E.Cuts, wounds ect---Cover with a E.Cuts, wounds ect---Cover with a waterproff dressing at least 48 hourswaterproff dressing at least 48 hours

Personal hygienePersonal hygiene

F.Shoes--- must protect your feet by F.Shoes--- must protect your feet by covering both your toes and your heels.covering both your toes and your heels.

G.Uniforms should be cleaned regularly G.Uniforms should be cleaned regularly preferably every day.preferably every day.

H.Hand creams should be used at the H.Hand creams should be used at the end of each shift.end of each shift.

I.Smoking--- Ensure that you wash your I.Smoking--- Ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly before resuming hands thoroughly before resuming

work.work.

INFECTION CONTROLINFECTION CONTROL

Infection control is an essential Infection control is an essential component of care and one which component of care and one which has too often been undervaluedhas too often been undervalued

Patients and their families are Patients and their families are concerned about whether we as concerned about whether we as carers are getting the basics rightcarers are getting the basics right

That is --- Nutrition, dignity, respect That is --- Nutrition, dignity, respect and hygiene.and hygiene.

Infection controlInfection controlEvery health worker plays a vital part Every health worker plays a vital part in helping to minimise the risk of in helping to minimise the risk of cross infection cross infection For example by making certain that For example by making certain that hands are properly washed, the hands are properly washed, the clinical environment is as clean as clinical environment is as clean as possible, ensuring knowledge and possible, ensuring knowledge and skills are continually updated and by skills are continually updated and by educating patients and visitors.educating patients and visitors.

Infection controlInfection control

Standard precautions underpin Standard precautions underpin routine safe practice, protecting both routine safe practice, protecting both staff and clients from infection.staff and clients from infection.

By applying standard precautions at By applying standard precautions at all times and to all patients, best all times and to all patients, best practice becomes second nature and practice becomes second nature and the risks of infection are minimised.the risks of infection are minimised.

They include—They include—

Infection controlInfection control1—Achieving optimum hand hygiene.1—Achieving optimum hand hygiene.

2 – Using personal protective equipment.2 – Using personal protective equipment.

3 – Safe handling and disposal of clinical 3 – Safe handling and disposal of clinical waste and bodily fluids.waste and bodily fluids.

4 – Achieving and maintaining a clean 4 – Achieving and maintaining a clean clinical environment.clinical environment.

5 – Good communication, with other health 5 – Good communication, with other health care workers, patients and visitors care workers, patients and visitors

6 – Training and education.6 – Training and education.

ABOUT INFECTION CONTROLABOUT INFECTION CONTROL

Infections are caused by germs such Infections are caused by germs such as bacteria, fungi or viruses entering as bacteria, fungi or viruses entering the body. the body. They can be minor and stay in one They can be minor and stay in one area, like a boil, or they can spread area, like a boil, or they can spread through out the body, like flu.through out the body, like flu.Often infections are easily dealt with, Often infections are easily dealt with, but some times they can cause but some times they can cause serious problems.serious problems.

So what can we do about So what can we do about infections?infections?

(Discuss with each (Discuss with each other ways to help other ways to help prevent or reduce prevent or reduce the likely hood of the likely hood of infections)infections)

The chain of infection.The chain of infection.

Source of infection

Method of spreading

Person at risk Point of entry

Breaking this chain by removing any part of it will control or stop the spread of infection

My hands are clean?My hands are clean?

Hand washing Hand washing Regular careful hand washing is vital if you Regular careful hand washing is vital if you are looking after yourself or some one are looking after yourself or some one else.else.Hand hygiene is the one most important Hand hygiene is the one most important single activity that can be used to help single activity that can be used to help reduce the spread of infection and reduce the spread of infection and disease, yet evidence suggests that many disease, yet evidence suggests that many health care workers do not wash their health care workers do not wash their hands as often as they need to or use the hands as often as they need to or use the correct technique, which means that areas correct technique, which means that areas of the hands can be missed.of the hands can be missed.

WHEN TO WASH YOUR HANDS!WHEN TO WASH YOUR HANDS!If your hands look dirtyIf your hands look dirtyBefore and after any activity that could of Before and after any activity that could of dirtied your hands, even if they look clean, dirtied your hands, even if they look clean, such as after going to the toilet and before such as after going to the toilet and before and after preparing food.and after preparing food.Before and after every activity or Before and after every activity or procedure involving contact with a patient.procedure involving contact with a patient.Before dealing with any equipmentBefore dealing with any equipmentIf you are caring for more than one person, If you are caring for more than one person, wash your hands in between looking after wash your hands in between looking after each person.each person.

How to wash your handsHow to wash your hands

HOW TO WASH YOUR HANDSHOW TO WASH YOUR HANDS Cover any cuts or grazes with a waterproof Cover any cuts or grazes with a waterproof plaster.plaster.Keep your fingernails short, clean and free Keep your fingernails short, clean and free from nail polish.from nail polish.Take off your watch and any jewellery Take off your watch and any jewellery such as bracelets or rings. (Wedding rings such as bracelets or rings. (Wedding rings can be covered with a waterproof plaster.)can be covered with a waterproof plaster.)Wet your hands under luke-warm running Wet your hands under luke-warm running water.water.

How to wash your handsHow to wash your handsIf your hands look dirty, use a liquid soap If your hands look dirty, use a liquid soap or anti-germ solution and water.or anti-germ solution and water.Make sure the hand wash you are using Make sure the hand wash you are using covers all the surfaces of your hands.covers all the surfaces of your hands.Rub your hands together vigorously for at Rub your hands together vigorously for at least 10 to 20 seconds, remembering the least 10 to 20 seconds, remembering the tips of your fingers, your thumbs and the tips of your fingers, your thumbs and the areas between the fingers.areas between the fingers.Rinse your hands with warm water and dry Rinse your hands with warm water and dry them with good quality paper towels that them with good quality paper towels that are both absorbent and soft.are both absorbent and soft.

How to wash your handsHow to wash your handsIf your hands look clean, use an alcohol If your hands look clean, use an alcohol based hand rub, if supplied.based hand rub, if supplied.

Rub in the hand rub until it has evaporated Rub in the hand rub until it has evaporated and your hands are dry.and your hands are dry.

Use a moisturising hand cream regularly Use a moisturising hand cream regularly to prevent dry and cracked hands.to prevent dry and cracked hands.

And please tell a co-worker if a particular And please tell a co-worker if a particular soap or product used to help wash your soap or product used to help wash your hands irritates your skin.hands irritates your skin.

USING PROTECTIVE USING PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT

Protective equipment should be Protective equipment should be provided for your use.provided for your use.It is not only used to help protect you It is not only used to help protect you from infection but also to help from infection but also to help prevent the client/patient that you prevent the client/patient that you are assisting from infection as wellare assisting from infection as wellThere are different types of There are different types of “protective equipment“ but the most “protective equipment“ but the most frequent types are gloves and apronsfrequent types are gloves and aprons

Gloves.. Gloves.. You should be provided with gloves. They You should be provided with gloves. They will act as an additional barrier, but you will act as an additional barrier, but you should still wash your hands before and should still wash your hands before and after you use themafter you use themIf you are sensitive to rubber, or If you are sensitive to rubber, or experience a skin reaction using gloves, experience a skin reaction using gloves, tell your co-worker/nurse in charge.tell your co-worker/nurse in charge.Don’t forget to change your gloves not Don’t forget to change your gloves not only between different clients but also only between different clients but also between different procedures with your between different procedures with your clients.clients.

Aprons…Aprons…These should be worn whenever there is a These should be worn whenever there is a risk of contaminating your clothing with risk of contaminating your clothing with either blood or body fluids.either blood or body fluids.

Or when a client has a known infection.Or when a client has a known infection.

Just like gloves, you should remove the Just like gloves, you should remove the apron and discard it as soon as your apron and discard it as soon as your intended task is completed and then once intended task is completed and then once again wash your hands.again wash your hands.

So break the chain of infection.So break the chain of infection.

THANKYOUTHANKYOU

Mr C Spain.Mr C Spain.