INTRO TO PT

• AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Asepsis refers to the absence of microorganisms that produce disease and is maintained to prevent infection by keeping a sterile condition
• Contamination occurs when something is rendered unclean or nonsterile after coming into contact with non-sterile items
• Decontamination involves using physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to make it safe for handling, use, or disposal
• Disinfection is the process of destroying or removing pathogenic organisms, excluding their spores
• Healthcare-associated infections are infections linked to healthcare delivery in any setting, previously known as nosocomial infections
• Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver
• Infection occurs when disease-producing germs enter an organism and cause a disease or harmful condition
• Isolation refers to the separation of an individual from others
• Medical asepsis includes practices that help reduce the number and spread of microorganisms
• Microorganisms are tiny living animals or plants that can cause disease
• Nosocomial infections pertain to infections originating in a hospital
• A pathogen is a microorganism that produces disease
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes barriers and respirators used to protect skin, mucous membranes, airways, and clothing from infectious agents
• Respiratory hygiene, also known as "cough etiquette," is a standard that applies to all individuals entering a healthcare setting to prevent the spread of infections
• Sepsis is the presence of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in the blood or tissues
• A spore is a hard, thick-walled capsule formed by some bacteria containing essential parts of the bacterial cell's protoplasm
• Sterile means containing no microorganisms, free from germs, and aseptic
• Sterilization is a process that destroys all microorganisms, including spores
• Surgical asepsis involves practices that keep objects and areas free of all microorganisms
• A wound is a bodily injury caused by physical means, resulting in the disruption of the normal continuity of structures
• 1 in every 20 patients in a hospital setting is affected with health care-associated infections
• Emergence of diseases such as SARS-CoV, AIDS, and Covid-19
• Principles of Basic Infection Control:

  • Microorganisms move through space on air currents – avoid shaking or tossing linen
  • Microorganisms are transferred from one surface to another whenever objects touch, a clean item touching a less clean item becomes “dirty” – keep hands away from face, keep linens away from uniforms, an item dropped on the floor is considered dirty
  • Microorganisms are transferred by gravity when one item is held above another, avoid passing dirty items over clean items eg. Clean items on upper shelves – dirty items on lower shelves (bedpan)
• • Microorganisms are released into the air on droplet nuclei whenever a person breathes or speaks – avoid breathing directly in someone’s face; when someone coughs/sneezes, cover mouth with kleenex, discard, wash hands
  • Microorganisms move slowly on dry surfaces, but very quickly through moisture – use paper towel to turn facets off, dry bath basin before returning to bedside table
  • Proper handwashing removes many of the microorganisms that would be transferred by the hands from one item to another – always wash hands between patients
• Reservoir: A place where microorganisms can grow & reproduce
• Exit: Means by which microorganisms can leave the host (e.g. through a person’s nose, mouth, throat, ear, body fluid...)
• Transmission: Spread of the infection through air, droplets, direct contact
• Infection: Should have a portal of entry (e.g. break in a person’s skin barrier)
• Susception: Susceptible host - a person whose body systems cannot destroy, repel, remove, or ward off microorganisms
• Most microorganisms:

  • Grow best in a dark, warm, moist environment
  • Less likely to grow when exposed to a light, cool, dry, or extremely hot environment
• Sterilization of contaminated objects: steam, gas, ultraviolet rays, and dry heat
• Barriers to infection:

  • Hand hygiene
  • Wearing gloves & other personal protective equipment
  • Proper removal & disposal of a contaminated dressing or bandage
  • Use of isolation techniques if necessary
• Aseptic technique:

  Purpose of Precautions: To protect persons or objects from becoming contaminated or infected by pathogenic microorganisms

  • 3 most common means of transmission: Contact, Droplet, Airborne
  • Direct contact: Most common method of transmission
  • 1° barrier for pathogens: Intact skin
• Medical Asepsis:

  • Practices that help reduce the number and spread of microorganisms
  • Use of PPE by the caregiver to protect the caregiver from the patient
  • “clean approach”
• Surgical asepsis:

  • Practices that render and keep objects and areas free of all microorganisms
• Aseptic Technique:

  • Medical Asepsis: Clean technique used to reduce and prevent the spread of microorganisms, includes handwashing
  • Surgical Asepsis: Sterile technique used to eliminate microorganisms, includes sterilization
• Standard Precautions include:

  • Barriers
  • Hand hygiene
  • Sharps (needles, scalpel blades)
  • Soiled patient care equipment
  • Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette
  • Miscellaneous
• Transmission based precautions are used to protect caregivers from specialized patients with highly transmissible pathogens
• Prevention of Transmission:

  • Hand hygiene is crucial before and after contact with patients
  • Pathogens can be transmitted through direct contact, air currents, contaminated linen or clothing, inadequately cleansed eating utensils, instruments, equipment, and moisture droplets