PMTP LESSON 2

• Phlebotomy is considered one of the most commonly performed procedures in the field of medicine, there are still risks involved that can be hazardous to both patient and healthcare personnel
• Infection


  When a microorganism (pathogen) invades the body, multiplies and causes injury or disease
• Types of infections


  • Communicable (can spread from person to person)
  • Nosocomial & healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) (acquired while in the hospital and other healthcare facilities usually caused by infected personnel, patients, visitors, food drug or equipment)
• For the infection to escalate to an epidemic means that all components or links in the chain of infection are favorable to the pathogenic microbe
• Components of the chain of infection

  • Infectious (causative) agent
  • Reservoir
  • Exit pathway
  • Means of transmission
  • Entry pathway
  • Susceptible host
• Infection control program


  Set of procedures that must be followed at all times that aims to break the chain of infections
• Infection control procedures


  • Hand hygiene measures
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Nursery and Neonatal ICU infection-control technique
• Nursery and Neonatal ICU infection-control technique

  1. Do the proper hand washing procedure before putting on the PPE

  2. The phlebotomist should only bring items necessary for the specimen collection

  3. Blood collection tray should be left outside the nursery, preferably the anteroom

  4. Remove gloves, wash hands, and use a new pair of gloves between patients
• Exposure control plan


  1. Needle stick or other sharp injury: Carefully remove the shards or foreign object, Wash the site thoroughly with soap and water for at least 30 seconds

  2. Mucous membrane exposure: Flush with water or saline for at least 10 minutes, For the eyes, use eyewash station for flushing, Remove contact lenses and disinfect them, Report the incident to the immediate supervisor and the provider so that evaluation, treatment and counseling can be provided
• Surface decontamination


  Use of 1:10 bleach solution or other disinfectants for the specimen collection and processing areas, Wear gloves and use an absorbent material when cleaning the area to avoid spreading the spills over a wider area, Place all non-reusable items contaminated by blood or other body fluids in biohazard waste containers for proper disposal
• Biohazard


  Any material that could be harmful to health
• Biohazard exposure routes

  • Airborne (from splashes and aerosols during centrifugation)
  • Ingestion (did not sanitize hands before handling food)
  • Non-intact skin (contamination through breaks or cuts in the skin)
  • Percutaneous (exposure through the skin due to injuries from sharp objects)
  • Permucosal (infection through mucous membranes of the mouth and nose and the conjunctive of the eyes)
• Handling biohazard


  1. Use needle safety devices

  2. Wear heavy-duty utility gloves when cleaning broken glass

  3. Never handle broken glass with bare hands

  4. Proper handling to avoid aerosols and splashes

  5. Avoid rubbing and touching the eyes, nose and mouth
• Handling electric hazard


  Remove the source of electricity using non-conductive object or simply turn off the source of electricity, Ask for medical assistance, Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary, Keep the victim warm
• Handling fire hazard


  Regular fire drills, Know the location of fire extinguishers and heavy blankets
• Handling radiation hazard


  Radiation symbol be posted on areas where radioactive materials are used and kept
• Handling chemical hazard


  Wear the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Use chemical cleanup materials properly in case of spills, Be oriented where the safety showers and eyewash stations are located
• Shock


  Condition when there is not enough blood that circulates back to the heart which results to inadequate supply of oxygen in the body
• Symptoms of shock are: pale, cold & clammy skin; rapid and weak pulse; increased and shallow breathing and expressionless face with staring eyes
• First aid for shock

  Keep the airway open, Call for medical assistance, Keep the patient lying down, Control any bleeding or other cause of shock, Keep the patient warm
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)


  Procedure done during emergency cases such as when a person is in cardiac arrest, Increases the patient's chance of survival