Chapter 8: Infection Control Precautions

On reflection I have learned by being with the IPCT the importance of sending samples off when the first episode of diarrhoea and vomiting occurs leasing with team members. The IPCT emphasises prompt screening of suspecting patients for a norovirus as early detection of the signs can prevent an outbreak on the ward. I have become aware that the mode of transmission of norovirus means it is not always possible to avoid becoming infected (Nursing Times 2011). The trust provides mandatory training to inform nursing staff on the most recent infection control measures in practice. Hence, good hygiene and the isolation of infected individuals can limit the spread. Good communication is important with all visitors and staff, including cleaners.

| UNIT 4222- 264 THE PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL | | | |

1. Explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection.

In addition, risk assessments should be undertaken for example; each person who has a catheter; PEG feed; pressure sore; or other factor which makes them more susceptible to the risk of infection. Ultimately anyone within the home who can cause infection are subject to risk assessment under the COSHH Regulations and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1992. It is important that infected residents are isolated and infected staff excluded from work, until 48 hours after the symptoms have settled. Management of cases should be planned following a risk assessment, which should consider continence, personal hygiene, overall health, likelihood of physical contact with other residents or their food, the facilities available and the vulnerability of other residents. The local HPU can advise on this process. Infected residents should, if possible, have sole use of a designated toilet or commode as long as their symptoms persist. In the case of a likely norovirus infection, they should keep a designated toilet facility for 48 hours after their symptoms have settled.

Implementation of patient care practices for infection control is the role of the nursing staff. Nurses are responsible for maintaining hygiene, consistent with hospital policies and good nursing practice on the ward and monitoring aseptic techniques, including hand-washing and use of isolation. It is also in their scope of practice to promptly report to the attending physician any evidence of infection in patients under the nurse’s care and initiating patient isolation and ordering culture specimens from any patient showing signs of a communicable disease, when the physician is not immediately available. Limiting patient exposure to infections from visitors, hospital staff, other patients, or equipment used for diagnosis or treatment and maintaining

infection, it is important that we ventilate settings by opening windows slightly. It is also important

Although infection control is vital in patient care, another important safety measure includes using the best available products to the facility. The use of optimal catheter care products is important when providing the best care to the pediatric population. Antibiotic or ethanol locks provide a decreased risk of infection, as opposed to the traditional locks found in use in some facilities.

1.1 Explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection

This paper will discuss the importance of the use of isolation precautions, and hand hygiene. It will discuss how a nurse named Sophie helps mentor a new CNA staff member to the team by constructively teaching him about proper use of Personal Protection Equipment and good Hand Hygiene. It will also give an example a constructive way for Sophie to address the problem at hand. Sophie is what you would call a Link Nurse. The purpose of a link nurse is to reduce the infection rates of the facility of employment. The nurse will mentor staff and teach by example along with watching different tasks and giving good constructive feedback. The paper will narrate some of the teaching Sophie gives Miguel.

According to me, the guidelines from CDC's Infection Control Manual is helpful for any village/city. The guidelines are clear and specific in each category. Taking help from Churches and Redcross was a good idea. Because people who work at these places are kind enough to bare the impatience of the horrified villagers.

Every day while caring for patients, dedicated health care workers all over the world face potential risks of exposure to infectious disease bacteria or bloodborne viruses due to unintentional punctures with needlesticks or sharps, or accidental contact with bodily secretions, excretions and contaminated items (Wilburn, 2004). The occurrence of undesirable complications can arise from medical errors when safety guideline and control mechanisms are not followed. On occasion healthcare workers may accidentally acquire infections due to the misuse or improper fit of personal protective equipment (PPE) and coverings while attending to individuals seeking out medical attention that may be unexpectedly and unknowingly carrying a communicable disease

The priority nursing diagnosis of hospital acquired infection is risk for any kind of infection. One of the main goals for each patient in the hospital is the patient will remain free of infection as evidence by absence of heat, pain, redness, or swelling in any area of the patient’s body during each nurse’s shift. (care plan book). Frequently hand washing is the best intervention for preventing infection. Hand washing reduces the risk of transmission of pathogens by inhibiting the growth of or killing the microorganisms. (cb)Proper sterile technique during urinary

Had a risk assessment taken place, the staff would know Alice was a high risk for infection, based on her age and her weekend immune system. Based on her risk factors, test for sepsis should have been carried out straight away. This would have ensured she received the correct course of treatment. While the CDC has been working vigorously to reduce the spread of infections, sepsis appears to be on the up rise. According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, the number of times people were in the hospital with sepsis increased from 621,000 in the year 2000 to 1,141,000 in 2008. (Sepsis, 2014)

Norovirus is common global cause for infectious gastroenteritis which spreads easily by many routes. This essay is a case study of a resident Mrs Annabelle Mason of Sunrise Nursing home with onset of norovirus which is evading her immune system, (Nazarko, L., 2013) and slowly transmission and symptoms are observed in another resident Mrs Mary Biggs residing in the same nursing home. This article aims to describe the mode of transmission, since the virus can cause increased morbidity in more-vulnerable people. The cycle of infection can be broken down by necessary infection control measures such as high standard of hand hygiene ,wearing proper PPE, isolation, safe handling of the needles,proper waste diposal cleaning and disinfecting which

1 ‘It is our responsibility as employees to take precautionary measures to prevent and control the spread of infection in the workplace; this involves working safely to protect myself, other staff, visitors and individuals from infections. Some of the legislation and regulations that relate to the control and prevention of infection include the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA), the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and the Reporting of Injury, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). It is important as employees that we are aware of