This essay it will explain the Aseptic Technique and how it is used to prevent the spread of infection in wounds. It will also give a personal experience of performing the technique.
Hart (2004) states the principle of Aseptic Technique is to prevent the spread of micro organisms to wounds and to protects the nurse and patient from healthcare-associated infections (HCIA). The technique used for less invasive procedures such as intravenous drugs and wound care is the Aseptic No-touch Technique (ANTT) (Pratt et al 2007).
The key aspects of this skill are consent, preparation and prevention. The nurse must obtain consent from the patient and explain the procedure. The patient must be made comfortable and placed in a suitable position
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I found my first introduction to ANTT interesting. I enjoy practical sessions and find it a good source of learning. When being shown ANTT I thought that the Donning/wearing of gloves may cause problems due to cross contamination, however once tried I found the process relatively simple. Very quickly I adjusted to the process and refrained from touching hair/clothes
The purpose of the ANTT is to protect the patient and nurse from infection and to prevent the spread of pathogens. This can have a huge effect on the recovery rate of the patient. HCIA can mean a longer stay or readmission to hospital and in some cases lead to disability or death (Hart 2007). This information suggests that the ANTT is not being carried out correctly and Department of Health (2005) support this by stating that 9% of patients contract HCAI’s per year in UK hospitals.
I recognise that with my own experience it can be quite easy to cause cross contamination, correct hand washing is vital as it is one of the main cause for the increase of infections in hospitals. I thought that washing your hands was quite straight forward until I used the ultra violet light and saw the places that I missed. I now practise the seven stages of hand washing ensuring I clean my hands correctly reducing the risk of cross contamination.
I know that with continued practice I shall carry out the ANTT confidently and without making mistakes, remembering to dispose of items correctly. I have also
Hand hygiene practices are important thing to infection prevention and control practice. As health provider especially ED staff or front liner, to follow hand washing protocols is necessary in any situation. According Practice Standard (2009) four major elements to preventing practice; hand washing, protective barriers, care of equipment and health practice of nurse. Cite from Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, scientists has found around 45% of infections can be prevented by washing hands regularly. MOH (2010) increasing in hand-washing compliance by
Before I started the assessment I used alcohol gel to decontaminate my hand. NICE (2006) states that hand must be decontaminated before each and every episode of direct patient care. It is important to decontaminate my hand to prevent cross-infection of micro-organisms from staff to patient, for example Hospital Acquired Infection. I realised that I am going to have contact with body fluid and blood therefore I put on a pair of latex gloves and disposable plastic apron. Wandsworth Teaching Primary Care Trust May (2008) states that ‘Personal Protective Equipment is designed to protect the healthcare worker from coming into contact with potentially infectious body fluids. It may also protect the patient from the healthcare workers own microbial flora’.
All areas that are being used for healthcare activities should be cleaned with either disinfectant wipes each morning and in between patients/procedures. Equipment should be all new out of the packets and clean. For things more major such as vasectomy’s, minor surgery or family planning clinics, areas should be cleaned everywhere with a disinfectant fluid and also with wipes, gloves should always be worn as well as other PPE such as aprons and hats. All equipment should be new from the packet and only touched by the person who is using
After observing my mentor and other nurses performing various dressing changes using the Aseptic Non Touch technique (ANTT), and practicing the procedure
The importance of proper hand hygiene has been known for many years. “It has long been an established fact that one of the most dangerous agents in the transfer of bacteria is the human hand with its five fingers…Such being the case, pray let us teach our students to wash their hands and see to it that they
While shadowing my fellow upper cohorts during the clinic I had made many observations. Unfortunately I was only able to shadow one clinic, although I observed a lot. Marie was the first student that I was shadowing, she was the CA for the day. We started by stocking the cabinets with the necessities. Marie and I then took the dental tools out of the machines that cleaned, sterilized, and dried them. I was shown that there are two sides in the lab. What I mean by this is that the left side is a dirty side which you should always wear gloves so that you are always protected from the bacteria and germs that the tools carry. Everything on this side has to be handled carefully and you must always wash and sanitize your hands when you are through. The right side is the clean side where the tools and dental accessories are kept so that they stay clean and sterile. Next I was with Jennifer, although she had no patients that day due to a
During this last visit, Dr. M made some mistakes which may have played a crucial role in Jacob acquiring an infection, or, in the least, contributed to negligence. After removing Jacob’s cast, Dr. M did not complete his examination of Jacob’s leg before he left the room to exam another patient, Sarah, in the room across the hall. Upon entering the room, he did not close the door. The most obvious mistake the doctor did was not washing his hands after his examination of Sarah, who has osteomyelitis, after which he returned to the first exam room to continue his examination of Jacob’s leg. Hand washing plays a major role in preventing cross-contamination when caring for patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2014), washing hands is an extremely important way to prevent the spread of infection from patient to patient or patient to health care professional. It is essential that all health care providers practice hand hygiene even if gloves are worn. There
As a hospital, quality care should be a priority for patients that are going to be treated for a sickness, or any type of procedure that is going to take place. A lot of times a patient gets an infection while they were at the hospital, on top of being treated for what they original came in for. Health facilities should be environments of healing, which they are, but they also have tons of various types of germs and infections, which grasp onto individuals that have weak immune systems/are sick. Some infections that are at hospitals are Tuberculosis, VRE, VAP, C-Diff, UTI, and MRSA. Preventive measures to stop the spread of the infections is lacking tremendously in the work and aim to provide safety for all patient’s health. The work
According to Pirie (2010) hand hygiene is very important to perioperative practice and over the years has become more important for health
Hospital acquired infections are one of the most common complications of care in the hospital setting. Hospital acquired infections are infections that patients acquired during the stay in the hospital. These infections can cause an increase number of days the patients stay in the hospital. Hospital acquired infections makes the patients worse or even causes death. “In the USA alone, hospital acquired infections cause about 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths per year”(secondary).
This means aseptic technique and sterile gloves should be used for insertion and care of a CVC. Aseptic technique is critically important to protect patients from CLABSIs; infections are caused by either intrinsic (e.g. patients own flora) or extrinsic (e.g. surrounding environment) pathogens. Asepsis therefore removes patients skin flora and ensures flora picked up from either other patients or the surrounding environment is not introduced into the patient (Mollee et al., 2011).
PROCEDURES: I. Indications for V.A.C. Therapy A. For patients who would benefit from sub atmospheric (negative) pressure therapy for promotion of wound healing B. For patients who would benefit from drainage and removal of infectious material or other fluids from wounds under the influence of continuous and/or intermittent sub
Highlighted in the Keogh Review, and the Francis Report - Avoidable harm was inflicted by HCAI - Hand hygiene not routine amoung staff (REF). - Patients were not encouraged or assisted with hand hygiene, leading to risk of infection, staff lack awareness. - Further training needed - Staff and visitors need to comply with guidelines.
Measure of this concept is based on the stages of wound healing and the Centers of Disease Control
* Hand washing is the most important method of preventing the spread of infection by contact (Ayliffe et al 1999). The Nottingham University Trust Policy on Hand Hygiene (2009) states that there are three types of hand hygiene, the first is ‘routine hand hygiene’ which involves the use of soap and water for 15 – 20 seconds or the application of alcohol hand rub until the hand are dry. The second is ‘hand disinfection’ which should be used prior to an aseptic procedure by washing with soap and water and applying alcohol hand rub afterwards. The third is ‘surgical hand washing’ which is the application of a microbial agent to the hands and wrists for two minutes. In addition to which a sterile, disposable brush may be used for the first surgical hand wash of the day although continued use will encourage colonisation of microbes. The third example is the most appropriate to any O.D.P undertaking the surgical role as it is the best way for the surgical team to eliminate transient flora and reduce resident skin flora (World Health Organization 2010). The first and second are important to any O.D.P undertaking any other role within the Operating Department as this is the best way to reduce the transient microbial flora without necessarily affecting the resident skin flora