Introduction:
Non living things could be protected from pathogens by defence chemicals in the form of disinfectants which are applied thinly on the objects and surfaces. For living things, their defence from pathogens comes in the form of antibiotics and antiseptics, the former given intravenously or through oral administration and the latter applied on the skin whatever the indented purpose may be but does still meet the defence required if applied in the right doses(Lee et al).
Pathogens on the surface are eliminated physically by disinfectants. The mode of operation comes in the form of chemicals, diluted or undiluted for cleaning and by heating; we have noticed this process used in the milk preservation through pasteurisation whereby milk is heated at a very high temperature to kill pathogens. The application of disinfectants varies widely in use for the different settings. For healthcare cleaning to control and keep out pathogens, ethanol is the number one choice used to disinfect and sanitise floors, operation surfaces and surfaces touched the most by people like doors and door closing aids. The liquid based disinfectant normally gets rid of bacteria if it is in the right dilutions or measurements. There are iodine and chlorine based disinfectants both targeting pathogens. The latter is generally used in water treatment and food hygiene and the former widely used for making surgical instruments to render them free from pathogens, thus sterilisation. Antimicrobial
Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol “refers to two water-soluble chemical compounds—ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol—that have generally underrated germicidal characteristics” (“Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities”). Ethyl alcohol kills bacteria in two ways: “protein denaturation and dissolving the lipid membrane” (“How Does Ethyl Alcohol Kill Bacteria?“). Next, Betadine, also known as Povidone-iodine is a solution [that is] often used in hand scrubs and hand rubs in hospital settings” (Ngan). It is used in “Treating minor wounds and infections, as well as killing bacteria” (“Povidone/ iodine solution”). Povidone-iodine’s way of killing bacteria is still being researched and “is yet to be fully understood, [but] it appears to have the ability to penetrate the cell wall of bacteria and affect their structure and function. This ensures their rapid destruction and helps protect against wound and skin infection” (“What is an Antiseptic”). Germ-X Hand Sanitizer is a hand gel that is used for waterless “washing” of hands to kill germs on the surface. It is an antiseptic primarily used by those who want to kill germs quickly and cannot wash their hands (Samuels). The formula contains about 63 percent ethyl alcohol according to livestrong.com (Samuels). Neosporin is a topical antibiotic used to
Disinfection is used when a piece of equipment may have been contamination with a pathogenic micro-organism from mucous membranes or bodily fluids. Disinfection reduces the amount of micro-organisms but it will not destroy all bacteria or viruses. There are two methods of disinfection Heat and chemical disinfectants. Auto-claves are used in the hospital for items e.g. bed pans, endoscopes and devices used on a
Sterile Processing compromises a service of which the medical and surgical supplies of any medical facility’s equipment and instrumentation- sterile or non-sterile are cleaned, prepared, processed, stored, and distributed throughout the healthcare facility. There are several functions of this highly skilled team perform on a daily basis from decontamination to the sterilization of high risk medical implant devices. They are the first line of defense in infection prevention for any patient receiving medical treatment in healthcare facilities. Japp (2014) affirmed the importance of properly processing medical devices performed by Sterile Processing technicians for patient safety by stating a critical point “Not following the correct process can be detrimental to the patient as the device that we are assuming is safe for the patient may all actually cause severe illness or death” (p.
9. After the 48 hour time period the inhibition of the Escherichia coli bacteria around the disinfectant disks was measured. A ruler was used to measure the clearing from the edge of the disk to the perimeter of the clearing. Irregularities in the clearing were not included in the area of clearing.
Modern-day advances have allowed scientists to develop methods to control pathogens. The more common methods include the use of antiseptics, antibiotics, and vaccines. By definition, antiseptics are chemicals used to kill pathogens. A few widespread antiseptics include soap, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol. Antiseptics are primarily used for the external destruction of pathogens, while antibiotics and vaccines target internal pathogens. Nevertheless, there are and can be difficulties concerning the use of antibiotics. “As antibiotic use has become more common, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have evolved.” This resistance due to evolution is called antibiotic resistance. It results in the antibiotics having no effect whatsoever on the bacteria, rendering the antibiotics useless. When antibiotic resistance occurs, scientists must resume their search to create a new medicine to can kill the mutant bacteria.
The last form of sterilization I am going to talk about is cold sterile. The reason for cold sterile is not all items can go into heat sterilization. Liquid sterilant, such as 2% to 3.4% glutataldehyde, must be used for this type of sterilization. In order for the cold sterile to work the items must be fully submerged for no less than 10 hours, anything less than that would only be disinfection. This form of sterilization also requires a material safety data sheet due to it being a chemical.
It is also important to keep learning about the new disinfectants that come out; there are constant upgrades and improvements being made with these products. There are so many different types of disinfectants so it’s important for you to choose the one that’s best suited for you. When looking for a disinfectant it’s also important to pick one that has an efficacy claim on the label. Efficacy means that it is able to produce and effect, it is also the effectiveness of the products ability to kill organisms when used correctly. Disinfectants also require upkeep; you have to be sure to change after the period of time recommended by the manufacturer. It is important to always wear gloves and safety glasses when handling disinfectant solutions. You should always keep an MSDS for the disinfectant, and always use tongs when removing items from disinfectant. You never want to let a disinfectant come in contact with your skin, if you ever do you should immediately wash with soap and warm water, rinse, and dry thourghly. Always dilute products as specified of the instructions on the label. The most common disinfectant in spas is Quaternary ammonium compounds, or “Quats”. Quats usually disinfects in ten minutes, some contain antirust ingredients so if you leave tools in the solution for too long it can cause dulling or damage. After they are in the solution for the specified time you should rinse, dry, then store in a clean, covered
“Ajax Spray ‘n’ Wipe” specifically states that it kills E. coli. This is because of the lactic acid in the spray, which is used as a natural antibacterial agent.” ("Colgate-Palmolive | Product Ingredients"). Lactic acid kills unwanted bacteria especially in food which is where E. coli is often found and transmitted, of which meat is the most common cause. Vinegar was chosen as a substance because “it can be used as a bleach alternative” (“Disinfectants: A Guide to Killing Germs the Right Way”) and bleach kills E. coli. It is also used as an everyday cleaning product. The last substance chosen was salty water because it is thought that salt kills bacteria. Much of the world’s population has access to salt and if the experiment proves that salt kills E. coli it would be a helpful factor for further treatment of the
| UNIT 4222- 264 THE PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL | | | |
- Of the following, the most efficient method for sterilization of a bacteriological transfer loop is
One of the commonest modes of transmission for infection is our hands. As care assistants, our hands come into contact with many possible infectious agents such as body excretions and secretions for example blood, urine, faeces, vomit and sputum. If good hand hygiene isn’t practiced, micro-organisms will be passed from one individual to another. General cleanliness, including general, environmental, equipment and materials reduce the sources of infection within the care home.
The disinfectant that was the most effective was the Wescodyne® due to the fact that it was the only disinfectant that had a zone of inhibition for both E. coli and S. aureus, and the zone of inhibition was quite large, with it being 16 millimeters for E. coli and it being 19 millimeters for S. aureus.
Properly cleaning and disinfecting your tools and implements in the salon is the best way to prevent the spread of infection, and it can be done in just a few easy steps.
Identify your new learning, giving rationale for your choice of this topic ………….…………… Page 2
Unlike regular people that visit the hospital nurses are around patients all the time. The nurses are more prone to receiving all different types of infections, sicknesses, and diseases. Nurses not only can receive certain types of sicknesses and diseases from being around in a sick environment, but also certain disinfected sprays. For example the first disinfecting spray alkaline glutaralyhede, is a disinfectant is used to sterilize medical instruments. Research in the article of the Assessment of Patients, found that the certain type of spray has association with respiratory problems and often results in respiratory therapy.