[LAB] Infection Control, Lab Safety, First Aid and Personal wellness

• • Contact (Direct or Indirect)
  • Droplets
  • Airborne
  • Vector
  • Vehicle
• Components of the chain of infection:

  • Infectious agents (source):
  • Causative agent
  • Pathogenic microbe responsible for causing an infection
  • Examples: Bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses
  • Reservoir:
  • Source of an infectious agent
  • Place where the microbe could grow, survive and multiply
  • Examples: Humans, animals, insects, food, water, soil, equipment
  • Exit pathway:
  • A way an infectious agent can leave a reservoir host
  • Examples: secretions from eyes, nose, mouth, exudates from wounds, mucous membranes, tissue specimens, blood, feces, urine
  • Means of transmission:
• Examples of blood-borne pathogens and their means of transmission in a healthcare setting:

  • Blood-borne pathogens: microorganisms that are transmitted through blood
  • Examples: HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C
  • Means of transmission: through blood or other body fluids
• Hand hygiene procedures:

  • Routine hand washing with plain soap and water when hands are visibly dirty
  • Hand antisepsis using antimicrobial soap or alcohol-based sanitizers when hands are not visibly dirty
  • Situations that require hand hygiene procedures:
  • Before and after each patient contact
  • Before putting on gloves and after taking them off
  • Before and after going to the restroom
• Standard and transmission-based precautions for blood-borne pathogens:

  • Standard precautions: treating all blood and body fluids as if they are infectious
  • Transmission-based precautions: additional precautions based on the mode of transmission of a specific pathogen
• Symptoms of shock and first-aid procedures:

  • Symptoms of shock: pale skin, rapid pulse, shallow breathing
  • First-aid procedures: lay the person down, elevate their legs, cover them with a blanket, monitor their breathing
  • International cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): a technique used to save someone's life if they are not breathing normally
• Hazards and actions to take if incidents occur:

  • Hazards: biological, electrical, fire, radiation, and chemical hazards
  • Actions to take: follow safety rules, identify warning symbols, evacuate if necessary
• Personal hygiene, proper nutrition, rest, exercise, and stress management in personal wellness:

  • Role of personal hygiene: to prevent the spread of infections
  • Role of proper nutrition: to maintain a healthy immune system
  • Role of rest: to allow the body to recover and repair
  • Role of exercise: to stay physically healthy
  • Role of stress management: to maintain mental well-being
• Glove material options include: vinyl, latex, nitrile
• Gloves can be sterile or nonsterile
• Gloves can be worn as one or two pairs
• Gloves can be single-use or reusable
• Work from "clean to dirty" when using gloves
• Masks should be worn when entering the room of a patient in isolation
• Fluid-proof masks are used to protect against spattering of body fluids
• Masks should cover both the nose and mouth
• Masks should never be worn around the neck
• Gowns should be fluid-resistant
• Gowns are disposable
• Gowns should be put on first
• Ensure that gowns are fastened and the belt is tied
• The sequence for wearing (donning) PPE is: 1. Gown 2. Mask or Respirator 3. Goggles or Face shield 4. Gloves
• Gowns should fully cover the torso from neck to knees, arms to end of wrists, and wrap around the back
• Gowns should be fastened in the back of the neck and waist
• Select appropriate type and size of gown
• The opening of the gown is in the back
• Secure gowns at the neck and waist
• If a gown is too small, use two gowns: Gown #1 ties in front, Gown #2 ties in back
• When wearing a mask, place it over the nose, mouth, and chin
• Fit the flexible nose piece over the nose bridge
• Secure the mask on the head with ties or elastic
• When wearing a respirator, secure ties or elastic bands at the middle of the head and neck
• Fit the flexible band to the nose bridge
• Fit the respirator snug to the face and below the chin
• Perform a fit-check on the respirator
• Goggles should be placed over the face and eyes and adjusted to fit
• Gloves should extend to cover the wrist of the isolation gown
• Contaminated areas of PPE are outside front, while clean areas are inside, outside back, ties on head and back
• The sequence for removal (doffing) of PPE is: 1. Gloves 2. Goggles and Face shield 3. Gown 4. Mask or Respirator
• When removing contaminated gloves, grasp the outside edge near the wrist and peel away from the hand, turning the glove inside-out