Infection Control

• Why do we need to isolate patients?

  Prevent transmission of infectious diseases

  Protect susceptible patients
• What is the aim of source isolation?

  • Prevent transmission of pathogenic organisms
  • Protect other patients and staff
• What are the common modes of transmission in source isolation?

  Airborne -> resp secretions/droplets

  Direct contact

  Enteric secretions

  Blood or body fluids -> via sharps injury or exposure of wounds or mucous membranes or conjunctivae
• What is an example of an airborne disease that requires source isolation?

  Pulmonary tuberculosis.
• What is the 3 standards of source isolation?

  Standard isolation

  Respiratory isolation

  Strict isolation
• What are the requirements for standard isolation?

  • Single room with own toilet and hand-wash basin
  • Handwashing with liquid soap or alcohol gel
  • Use of PPE (gloves and aprons)
• When should hands be washed in standard isolation?

  After procedures, after removing protective clothing, and before leaving the room.
• What are the requirements for respiratory isolation?


  • Single room with own toilet and closed door -> ideally room would be negative pressure
  • Masks on before entering & removed outside
  • Patient wears a surgical mask if leaving the room
  • Handwashing
• What is the purpose of a negative pressure room in respiratory isolation?

  To prevent airborne pathogens from escaping the room.
• Respiratory isolation is not only for respiratory illnesses. What other diseases can respiratory isolation be used for?

  
  

  Measles, chickenpox, and mumps.
• What are the requirements for strict isolation?

  • Single room with an ante-room
  • Extract ventilation
  • Minimum staff entering the room
• What is an example of a disease that requires strict isolation?

  Smallpox.
• What are the rules for protective isolation?

  Single room preferably with own toilet

  Handwashing -> on entering room & prior to contact, following all procedures, before leaving room

  Apons should be worn on entering room

  Drinking water should be boiled
• What are the advantages of having single rooms for all patients?

  • Privacy
  • Less disruption
  • Improved sleep
  • Reduced infection rates
  • Fewer medical errors
  • Faster patient recovery rate
  • Potential for more personalised staff involvement
• What are the disadvantages of having single rooms for all patients?

  • Reduced social interaction
  • Increased building costs
  • Reduced staff surveillance
  • Increased failure to 'rescue'
  • Increased rate of slips, trips & falls
  • Increased staffing requirements
  • Increased walking distance for staff
• What is the hierarchy of isolation in infection control?

  • Highest priority: Universally fatal diseases
  • Lower priority: Less severe infections (resp spread -> potential for spread to staff -> spread by hand contact)
• What is the significance of positive and negative pressure rooms in infection control?

  Positive pressure rooms protect patients from outside infections, while negative pressure rooms contain airborne pathogens.
• What are the key features of a positive pressure room?

  • Air intake through bacterial filters
  • Maintains a higher pressure than surrounding areas
  • Protects patients from external infections

  
• What are the key features of a negative pressure room?

  • Air exhausted to outside through bacterial filters
  • Maintains a lower pressure than surrounding areas
  • Contains airborne pathogens within the room