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Preventing The Spread of Infectious Diseases

The document outlines practices for preventing the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings, focusing on aseptic techniques, antiseptics, and sterile procedures. It highlights the importance of preventing nosocomial infections, which are acquired in hospitals, and identifies high-risk areas such as emergency rooms and surgical wards. Key prevention strategies include proper hand washing, environmental control, and the use of sterile techniques when necessary.

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7 views12 pages

Preventing The Spread of Infectious Diseases

The document outlines practices for preventing the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings, focusing on aseptic techniques, antiseptics, and sterile procedures. It highlights the importance of preventing nosocomial infections, which are acquired in hospitals, and identifies high-risk areas such as emergency rooms and surgical wards. Key prevention strategies include proper hand washing, environmental control, and the use of sterile techniques when necessary.

Uploaded by

lanceofficial2023
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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VI.

PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF


INFECTIOUS DISEASES (A. AS DEFINITION OF
TERMS AND B. AS AREAS IN THE HOSPITAL
WHERE INFECTIONS ARE MOST PROBABLE
ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE
- Any practice that prevents the entry of infectious agents into sterile
tissues and thus prevents infection.

ANTISEPTICS/ANTISEPSIS
– are applied directly to exposed body surfaces (skin and mucous
membrane), wounds and surgical incision to destroy or inhibit
vegetative pathogens
e.g. hydrogen peroxide, iodine swab
ASEPSIS VS ANTISEPSIS
• Asepsis is a set of prophylactic methods/preventive measures used to
prevent infection during surgery or any other invasive and medical
procedure.
a = without + sepsis = infection
= condition where there are no disease-causing microorganisms present

• Antisepsis is the process of using chemicals, called antiseptics to kill


germs that cause infections. It’s a key part of preventing the spread of
infections and promoting healing.
STERILE TECHNIQUE
- is practised when it is necessary to exclude all microorganisms
from a particular area, it is the restriction of microorganisms in the
environment and prevent contamination in the surgical field.

SEPSIS – PRESENCE OF PATHOGENS IN THE BLOOD OR TISSUES


ASEPSIS – ABSENCE OF PATHOGEN
ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE - USED TO ELIMINATE AND EXCLUDE
PATHOGENS e.g. Hand washing, used of sterile gloves, sterilization of surgical
instruments and other equipments, use of disinfectant (antiseptics)
NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS
• Classified as infections associated with delivery of health
care services in a health facility
• Nosocomial Infection, any infection acquired while in
the hospital. Nosocomial infections can be transmitted
from person to person by health care workers who do not
wash their hands properly between treating patients or by
improper procedures, such as inadequate disinfection or
sterilization of equipment.
MOST COMMON NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION
• Hospital-acquired infections are caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal
pathogens; the most common types are bloodstream
infection (BSI), pneumonia (eg, ventilator-
associated pneumonia [VAP]), urinary tract infection (UTI), and
surgical site infection (SSI).
• Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) CAUTI is the
most usual type of nosocomial infection globally . According to acute
care hospital stats in 2011, UTIs account for more than 12% of
reported infections
• The most important and frequent mode of transmission of
nosocomial infections is by direct contact.
• Hospital patients - susceptible to nosocomial infections due to
- immune systems are often suppressed or compromised due to
age, - immunosuppressive medication, or
- other underlying causes, such as acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS).
Nosocomial infections, which progress rapidly and are frequently resistant
to antibiotics, generally involve bacteria such as Staphylococcus,
Enterobacter, or Pseudomonas or fungi such as Candida
• Endogenous infection (source) – originate from clients themselves
Exogenous infection (source) – from hospital environment or
personnel
PREVENTING NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS

• Proper hand washing


• Environmental control
• Sterile technique when needed
• Identification and management of clients at risk
CLEAN TECHNIQUE
- It refers to practices aimed at reducing the number of microorganisms in a
healthcare setting by thorough handwashing, wearing clean gloves, maintaining a
clean environment, and using non-sterile instruments, essentially minimizing the
risk of infection without achieving full sterility, often used in procedures where
the risk of contamination is relatively low.

COMMUNITY ACQUIRED INFECTION


- A "community acquired infection" is an infection that is contracted outside of
a healthcare facility, meaning it is picked up in the general community, as
opposed to being acquired in a hospital or other medical setting; essentially, an
infection caught through everyday interactions with people or the environment,
not related to medical procedures.
B. AREAS IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE INFECTIONS ARE MOST
PROBABLE: Hospitals have several high-risk areas where infections can spread
due to patient vulnerability, frequent procedures, and shared medical equipment.
Below are key hospital areas with high infection probabilities and strategies for
prevention.

1. Emergency Room (ER) – High patient turnover and exposure to various


infectious agents increase infection risk.
2. Delivery Room - Exposure to bodily fluids, potential infections in newborns,
and contamination risks during childbirth.
3. Nursery Room - High vulnerability of newborns, shared cribs, and potential
cross-contamination from visitors.
4. Surgical Wards & Operating Rooms - Open wounds, exposure to airborne
pathogens, and use of invasive surgical instruments.
5. Central Supply Area (Sterile Storage & Equipment Sterilization Unit) -
Contaminated medical supplies, improper sterilization of reusable equipment.
6. Intensive Care Units (ICUs) - Critically ill patients with weakened immune
systems, use of ventilators, catheters, and prolonged hospital stays.

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