Self-Care Using Proper Infection Control Techniques

There are several important steps in preventing the spread of MRSA: washing hands before and after patient contact, using gloves appropriately, covering any cuts on the hands, maintaining healthy hands, avoiding overcrowding in hospital departments, maintaining a clean environment, and prudent antibiotic prescribing (3). Hand washing is the most effective way to keep from spreading infections. The CDC recommends that you spend 20 seconds scrubbing your hands with soap while washing your hands (1). You can sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice all the way through also (1). If soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol (1). This should not be used as a first line of defense. Hand washing is always the best way to get rid of harmful bacterium. Gloves and gowns are another great way to create a barrier between you and the bacteria. Proper removal of gloves and gown are vitally important. If your gloves are contaminated with MRSA, and you remove them improperly, you have completely defeated the point of even putting the gloves on. Once a surface is contaminated with MRSA, it can live prolonged periods of time unless removed through cleaning (5). For contaminated surfaces, you would want to use a disinfectant. Choosing the proper disinfectant, along with following the directions of use on the packaging, will rid the surface form microbes. It is extremely important to follow the directions on the packaging of the disinfectant because each disinfectant is different. One may need you to keep the surface wet for 2 minutes, while the other requires the surface to be kept wet for 10 minutes. If the surface isn’t kept wet for the allotted time, the surface will not be disinfected and will continue to contaminate

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

Health care providers and visitors are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow strict hand hygiene procedures. Contaminated rooms, surfaces, and laundry items are properly disinfected to prevent the spread of MRSA. In addition to policy and procedures, patient teaching is also helpful for preventing exposure and spread of MRSA. As aforementioned earlier, hand hygiene is key to prevent exposer or transmission of the bacteria. To properly wash your hand effectively, first scrub hands rapidly for at least 15 seconds. Next, use a disposable towel to dry them and another towel to turn off the faucet. In addition, hand sanitizer that contains 62 percent or more of alcohol may be an adequate substitute when the individual does not have access to soap and water (Mayo Clinic Staff,

I must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the PPE is returned, once worn to the appropriate location and that the items are not removed from the workplace.

Not Washing hands frequently especially after dealing with any bodily fluids. Staff not staying at home if they are sick. Use a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand. Turn away from other people. Open wounds not being covered especially on the hands. The incorrect use of PPE or the none use of PPE. Sharing personal items between each other. Incorrect food prep and storage.

The hospital is compliant with infection control protocol according to the CDC standard guidelines. “Hand hygiene, contact precautions, as well as cleaning and disinfecting patient care equipment and the patient’s environment are essential strategies for preventing the spread of health care–associated infections. Hand hygiene is addressed in NPSG.07.01.01. Contact precautions for patients with

Since the immune systems of some patients are a factor, it all comes back to the use of proper hand hygiene; following aseptic protocols when necessary, falls back on the claim that hospital acquired infections are resulted due to the lack of education for healthcare workers, patents, and also patients’ family or visitors to health care facilities; not following proper hand hygiene and lastly following protocols for surgical patients and also when using invasive devices. Among other things, the use of chlorhexidine on patients who patients and the incidence of MRSA and VRE according to the author there is no change in MRSA rates, however there is a decrease in VRE (Daily chlorhexidine bathing and hospital-acquired infection,

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

The nurse also demonstrated putting on personal protective equipment, both gloves and gown. The nurse went on to discuss hand washing, as she does not rely on alcohol based sanitizer as a substitute. She offered the family some documentation on MRSA and prevention. After she had addressed the patient and family concerns, she told them if they had any follow up questions to please press the call light and she would be happy to assist them.

Infection control Nursing considerations need to be enforced for the patient Reginald. This is because gastroenteritis is caused by a range of pathogens which can cause outbreaks, therefore following standard infection control precautions are essential in minimising the risk and spread of norovirus (Chapter 8: Infection control 2010). It is important for nurses to implement additional infection control measures whilst caring for Reginald, one of the most important measures is to ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) this includes gloves, masks and gowns (Gastro-Info - Outbreak Coordinator's Handbook 2015). In this case the nurse’s caring for Reginald must wear gloves and should be worn when in direct contact

Infection control is very important in the health care profession. Health care professionals, who do not practice proper infection control, allow themselves to become susceptible to a number of infections. Among the most dreaded of these infections are: hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Another infection which has more recently increased in prevalence is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These infections are all treated differently. Each infection has its own symptoms, classifications, and incubation periods. These infections are transmitted in very similar fashions, but they do not all target the same population.

A National Patient Safety Goal set up by the Joint Commission is to prevent surgical site infections (The Joint Commission, 2015). One of the ways this is done is through reducing bacteria at the surgical site. Skin is not sterile, but reducing the number of bacteria on the skin may help reduce surgical site infections. (Cowperthwaite & Holm, 2015) The circulating nurse, along with other key personnel, plays a key role in preventing surgical site infections. Proper technique must be used to reach the highest level of protection, starting with skin preperation. Typically, in the operating room setting, there are two skin

These barriers include the understanding of standard cleaning techniques, communication between hospital personal of patients infected with certain vectors, and knowledge of specific vector control methods. When it comes to understanding standard cleaning techniques for the technologist the unique challenges for effective disinfection comes from the variety of surfaces and equipment found in radiology departments. Porous materials and intricate imaging and peripheral devices require special consideration when designing and maintaining department cleaning policies.5 Strictly adhering to this cleaning procedure between patient interaction is key factor. The technologist should always be aware of what surfaces were directly related to the patient during the exam. When it comes to the second barrier, improved communication can enhance adherence to infection control precautions. This may include some behavioral change which remains a challenging obstacle. Infection control protocols are sometimes knowingly violated with the thinking this specific occasion will not result with any substantial consequences. When infection precautions are correctly communicated the technologist is in a greater positon to be able to take the proper precautions for controlling the vector. The final barrier would be knowledge of disinfectant techniques of specific vectors and wearing the correct protective gear for each situation. For the example ABR infections listed above this would include gowns and gloves being worn. The gloves and gowns should be disposed of prior to exiting the room. Immediately washing of the hands. If an imaging plate is used with a patient under a ABR contact precaution, it should be protected with a plastic covering and after removing the

Sterile conditions is important when working in patients rooms or using the instruments when caring for wounds or surgery. The Aseptic technique is used to keep patients free from hospital micro-organisms as much as possible. While working in patients rooms with open wounds make sure that you are using good hygienic practice. Hand washing, the use of PPE, and sterile instruments are a must to reduce the spread of infections. Autoclaving is used to sterilize the instruments, but if they are disposable discard after one use in the proper manner.

* 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