Aseptic Technique

Aseptic Technique Infection Control and

MICROORGANISMS • A microorganism (microbe) is a small living plant or animal. • It is seen only with a microscope. • Microbes are everywhere. • Pathogens are harmful and can cause infections. • Non-pathogens are microbes that do not usually cause an infection.

INFECTION • An infection is a disease state resulting from the invasion and growth of microbes in the body. • A local infection is in a body part. • A systemic infection involves the whole body. • An infection can become life-threatening before the older person has obvious signs and symptoms.

Spread of Infection • How infection is spread: • Direct contact • Touching an infected person • Indirect contact • Touching environmental surfaces and fomites such as linen, supplies, or equipment that have pathogens on them

The ability to resist infection relates to: • Age • Nutrition • Stress • Fatigue • Health • Drugs • Disease and injury

Spread of Infection • Airborne • Mucus contains pathogens expelled into the air by coughing or sneezing • Pathogens travel long distances in ventilation systems, dust, or on moisture in the air • Invisible to the eye and easily inhaled

Spread of Infection • Droplets • Large and heavy • Remain within three feet of the patient • Fall to the ground quickly • Contain pathogens that are inhaled or picked up on the hands

Spread of Infection • Common Vehicle • Contaminated food, water, feeding formulas, and equipment used for procedures • Pathogens are consumed when eating and drinking

Spread of Infection • Vectors • Insects, rodents, and small animals can carry pathogens and transmit them to humans

Chain of Infection • Factors necessary for infection to develop • Breaking a link in the chain will prevent an infection from spreading

Chain of Infection • Source • Disease-causing pathogen • Mode of transmission • How the pathogen is spread • Susceptible host • Person who can become infected

Chain of Infection • Carrier • Infected person who can spread the disease • He or she may not know of the infection • Portal of entry • Place where the microbe enters the body

Chain of Infection • Portal of exit • Secretions, excretions, or droplets in which the pathogens travel when they leave the body

Handwashing • Most important way to prevent spread of microorganisms.

To prevent the spread of microbes, wash your hands: • After urinating or having a bowel movement • After changing tampons or sanitary pads • After contact with your own or another person’s blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions • After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose • Before and after handling, preparing, or eating food

To prevent the spread of microbes, also do the following: • Provide all persons with their own linens and personal care items. • Cover your nose and mouth when coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. • Bathe, wash hair, and brush your teeth regularly. • Wash fruits and raw vegetables before eating or serving them. • Wash cooking and eating utensils with soap and water after use. • Hand hygiene • Hand hygiene is the easiest and most important way to prevent the spread of infection. • Practice hand hygiene before and after giving care.

Standard Precautions • You cannot tell whether someone has a disease or infection by appearance • Standard precautions • Used for all patients to prevent infection • Involve using personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing certain tasks

Standard Precautions • Wear gloves when there is contact with: • Blood • Moist body fluid (except sweat) • Secretions • Excretions • Mucous membranes • Nonintact skin

Standard Precautions • If your gloves become soiled, remove them, wash hands, and apply a new pair • We communicate through touch • Avoid using gloves for all patient contact

Standard Precautions • If you are wearing gloves • Change them immediately before contacting mucous membranes and nonintact skin • Apply a mask and eye protection if there is risk of being splashed with blood or body fluids

Standard Precautions • A mask may be worn without eye protection, but eye protection should never be worn without a mask

Standard Precautions • Wear a gown if there is a risk that your uniform may contact blood and body fluids. • Select a gown that is fluid resistant

Standard Precautions • PPE must fit properly • If it is cut or torn, it will not protect you, and it should be replaced • Restock equipment after use

Standard Precautions • Avoid contaminating clean equipment, supplies, or surfaces with used gloves • Wear a glove on one hand; use the ungloved hand to contact other surfaces • Discard gloves in a covered container

Standard Precautions • Always wash your hands before applying and after removing gloves • Never cut, bend, break, or recap needles • Discard in a puncture-resistant container

Isolation • Airborne precautions • Used for patients whose disease is spread by the airborne method of transmission • Droplet precautions • Used for some infections that are spread in the air

Isolation • Contact precautions • Contain pathogens that are spread by direct or indirect contact • Usually found in infections of the skin, urine, and fecal material

Isolation • Special Circumstances • Patients with infections transmitted by more than one method • Two types of isolation are needed in addition to standard precautions • Isolation and standard precautions must be used when working in an isolation room

Bioterrorism • Bioterrorism • Use of biological agents, such as pathogenic organisms or agricultural pests, for terrorist purposes

Bioterrorism • Your facility will have a disaster plan • Provides information for patients, employees, visitors • Contains public health protocols to follow in an emergency

MEDICAL ASEPSIS • Asepsis is being free of disease-producing microbes. • Measures are needed to achieve asepsis. • Medical asepsis (clean technique) • Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) • Sterilization is the process of destroying all microbes. • Contamination is the process of becoming unclean.

SURGICAL ASEPSIS • Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) is the practices that keep equipment and supplies free of all microbes. • Surgical asepsis is required any time the skin or sterile tissues are entered. • If a break occurs in sterile technique, infection is a risk.

Sterile Technique • A microbe free technique • Used for performing procedures within body and during dressing changes • Also called surgical asepsis • An item or area is sterile if it is free from all microorganisms and spores

Flash Sterilization • Quick method of sterilizing essential items • Risk for contamination is great because personnel are usually rushed • Follow manufacturers’ guidelines and facility policies when flash sterilizing

Guidelines for Sterile Procedures • Always wash your hands before beginning • If the sterility of an item is in doubt, consider it unsterile and avoid using it • If a sterile item contacts an unsterile item, the sterile item is contaminated

Guidelines for Sterile Procedures • Consider a sterile package contaminated when: • It is cracked, cut, or torn • It is wet • It has expired

Creating a Sterile Field • Sanitize and dry the table before placing supplies on it • Avoid touching the inside of the package • Inside can be used as a sterile field • Never turn your back on a sterile field

Creating a Sterile Field • Avoid crossing over or touching a sterile field. • Keep sterile items above waist level • Avoid talking, coughing, or sneezing over a sterile field

Creating a Sterile Field • Use sterile gloves • Touch only sterile items • Touch only the inside of the package • Keep your hands above your waist • Avoid touching your clothing or body • If sterile gloves touch an unsterile item, they are contaminated. Change the gloves

Sterile Gloving

Setting Up a Sterile Field • One-inch border around outside edge of the field is considered unsterile • Drape hangs over the edges of the table • Area below the table is not sterile • Sterile supplies can touch only the sterile field

Setting Up a Sterile Field • Sterile transfer forceps may be used • Avoid touching the tips of the forceps • Handle is contaminated because you have touched it with your hands

Aseptic Technique