Module A-Infection Control
**the use of personal protective equipment: GLOVES and GOWNS. These patients should also be in a private room to prevent cross-contamination. Examples of infections contact precautions are instituted for include VRE, MRSA, C. difficile, wound infections, and herpes simplex.
CONTACT precautions (MRSA & C.diff)
**requires the use of a surgical MASK when within 3 FEET of the patient, proper HAND HYGIENE, and some dedicated care equipment. The mask should be applied PRIOR to entering the patient's room. A patient who requires this precaution include those who have influenza or Mycoplasma pneumonia.
DROPLET PRECAUTION
Contact precaution think of touching
GLOVES AND GOWN
**Standard Precautions include infection prevention practices that apply to all patients:
HAND HYGIENE; use of gloves, gown, mask, and face shield; respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette; and safe injection practices.
BY UNDERSTANDING THE CHAIN OF INFECTION, YOU HAVE THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT IS VITAL IN PREVENTING INFECTION
Airborne precautions are used with patients who have diseases that are transmitted by smaller droplets(less than 5 microns). droplets remain airborne for longer periods of time. This form of isolation requires a NEGATIVE airflow (HEPA filter and then directs the air to the outside of the facility.) and requires the use an fitting of an
N95 respirator each time healthcare workers enter the patient's room.
*Airborne precautions are the most severe (pulmonary TB) which require
NEGATIVE airflow and an N95 respirator
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Table 29-6
The protective environment* is designed for patients who have undergone transplants and gene therapy. Reduces risk of environmental fungal infections. Patients require a private room with POSITIVE airflow and HEPA filtration for INCOMING air.
The patient should wear a mask if they are out of the room during times of construction in the area.
in the absence of visible soiling of hands and when contamination from spore-forming organisms such as Clostridium difficile is unlikely,
approved alcohol-based products for hand disinfection are preferred
**The presence of a pathogen does not mean that an infection will occur. Infection occurs in a cycle that depends on the presence of all of the following elements: • An infectious agent or pathogen • A reservoir or source for pathogen growth • A port of exit from the reservoir • A mode of transmission • A port of entry to a host • A susceptible host Infection can develop if this chain remains uninterrupted (Figure 29-1). Preventing infections involves
breaking the chain of infection. (Potter 443)
There are three categories of transmission-based precautions:
contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne precautions.
Airborne precautions
get the air out through HEPA and wear a N95 to block inhalation. (TB)
Proper cleaning, disinfecting, & sterilization of contaminated objects significantly reduces/eliminates
microorganisms
HAND HYGIENE is the
most effective basic technique in preventing & controlling transmission of infection
Standard precautions are used with blood, blood products, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, and
mucous membranes.
Standard precations protect patients and
provideprotection for healthcare workers
*Standard precautions are applied to the care of ALL patients in all healthcare settings,
regardless of suspected or confirmed presence of an infectious agent.
two tiers of CDC precautions to prevent transmission of infectious agents:
standard precautions and transmission-based precautions.
Droplet precautions are used when a disease is transmitted by large droplets expelled into the AIR and
travels 3 to 6 feet from the patient.
Droplet is in the air so to prevent contamination
wear a MASK
by practicing infection prevention and control techniques such as hand hygiene,
you interrupt the mode of transmission (Potter 445)
