Chapter 3 For an in-depth study of infection control, consult the following publications: Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Guidelines for isolation precautions in hospitals, Washington, DC, 1996, Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services. Potter PA, Perry AG, Stockert PA, Hall A: Fundamentals of nursing, ed 8, St. Louis, 2013, Mosby. Universal precautions for prevention of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and other bloodborne pathogens in health care settings, MMWR Morbid Mortal Wkly Rep 37(suppl 24):377, 1988. Asepsis Prevention of the transfer of microorganisms and pathogens Chain Path of infection; the components of the infectious disease process Clean Presence of few microorganisms or pathogens with no visible debris Colonization Presence of a potentially infectious organism in or on a host but not causing disease Communicable Ability of a microorganism to spread disease Contamination Presence of an infectious agent on a surface Dirty Presence of many microorganisms or pathogens; any soiled item Disease Alteration of normal tissues, body processes, or functions Immunity Resistance to a disease associated with the presence of antibodies Infection Invasion of tissues by a disease-causing microorganism(s) Medical asepsis Measures that limit pathologic spread of microorganisms Nosocomial infection A hospital-acquired infection (not present or incubating on admission) Ports How microorganisms exit and enter a system Reservoir Storage place for organisms to grow Source Point that initiates chain of infection Sterile Absence of all microorganisms Surgical asepsis Measures to keep pathogenic organisms at a minimum during surgery Transmission Method by which microorganisms travel from one host to another Handwashing Should be done before and after working with all patients and after removing gloves; immediately if hands become contaminated with blood or other body fluids Gloves Should be worn whenever contact with body fluids is likely Mask and/or eye cover Should be worn when splashing of body fluids is likely Gown Should be worn when soiling of exposed skin or clothing is likely CPR Should be done with pocket masks or mechanical ventilation, avoiding mouth to mouth Needles Should not be recapped unless using the one-handed method and only if procedure indicates recapping is needed; needles should have safety guards CAUTION: Do not break needles; discard all sharp objects immediately. Private rooms Should be used whenever possible Spills Should be cleaned immediately with bleach and water (one part bleach to nine parts water) for FDA-approved cleaning agent Specimens Should be collected in leakproof, puncture-resistant container; outside of container must be free of contaminants Transporting patients Should be kept to a minimum when working with infected patients • Used to help prevent nosocomial infections • Used when working with all patients • Replaces the universal precautions and the blood and body precautions • Applies to blood, all body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat) • To be used even if blood is not visible • Also applies to nonintact skin and mucous membranes • Designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms Indications for handwashing and hand antisepsis • When hands are visibly dirty or contaminated • Before and after having direct contact with patients • Before donning sterile gloves when inserting a central intravascular catheter • Before inserting indwelling urinary catheters, peripheral vascular catheters, or other invasive devices that do not require a surgical procedure • After contact with a patient’s intact skin • After contact with body fluids or excretions, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, and wound dressings if hands are not visibly soiled • If moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site during patient care • After contact with inanimate objects (including medical equipment) in the immediate vicinity of the patient
Infection Control
Basic Terminology
Summary of Isolation Precautions
Types of Isolation Precautions
CDC Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Health Care Settings (2002)
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