o Directed towards diagnosis and intervention

o Screenings, surgery, medications

• TERTIARY PREVENTION
o Focuses on permanent or irreversible disability
o Minimizing the long-term effects of illness
o Rehabilitation (PT)

Period of
Illness
(early s/sx)

Prodromal Period of
Period Decline
(early s/sx) (s/sx
subsides)

Incubation Convalescent
Period period
(infection to 1st (recovery)
s/sx)

Breaking the Chain of Infection: Aseptic Process

MEDICAL HAND HYGIENE
Hand washing is the rubbing together of all surfaces and crevices of the hands using a soap or chemical
and water.
-It is a component of all types of isolation precautions and is the most basic and effective infection
control measure that prevents and controls the transmission of infections agents
The three essential elements of hand washing
• Soap
• Water
• Friction
Always wash your hands…
• Before, during and after food preparation
• Before eating
• After using the bathroom
• After blowing your nose, or using tissue to wipe your nose
• After handling animals and/or animal waste
• After changing diapers
• Whenever your hands are dirty
• Often if someone in home is sick
 • Before and After contact with each patient
Purposes of Hand Washing
1. To reduce the number of microorganisms of the hands.
2. To reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms to clients
3. To reduce the risk of cross-contamination among clients
4. To reduce risk of transmission of infectious organisms to oneself.
MATERIALS
ü Laboratory Gown
ü Soap: Plain, Mild or Anti-microbial soap
ü Soap dish
ü Orange Wood Stick or Toothpick
ü Hand Towel or Tissue Paper
ü Oil-free Lotion (optional)
ü Receptacle
ü Near the faucet or water container
Steps of Medical Hand Hygiene
1. Prepare the materials and assess your hands.
Ø Cut the nails short
Ø Remove jewelry
Ø Check hands for break in the skin, such as hangnails or cuts.
2. Stand in front of the sink. Do not allow your uniform to touch the sink during the washing
procedure.

Ø Flex knees slightly if the sink is low.

3. Turn on water and adjust the flow.

4. Wet the hands and wrist areas. Keep hand lower than elbows to allow water to flow toward
fingertips.
5. Use about 1 – 2 teaspoons of liquid soap from dispenser or lather thoroughly with bar soap.
Rinse bar and return to soap dish.
6. With a firm rubbing and circular motions, wash palms and back of hands, each finger, the areas
between the fingers, the knuckles, wrist and forearms.
Ø Wash at least 1 inch above area of contamination. If hands are not visibly soiled, wash to 1
inch above wrist.

Ø Wash up the forearms at least as high as contamination is likely to be present.

– Right palm over left, left over right

– Palm to palm fingers interlaced
– Back fingers to opposing fingers interlocked
– Rotational rubbing of right thumb clasped in left palm and vice versa
– Rotational rubbing backwards and forwards with tops of fingers and thumb of right
hand in left and vice versa.
7. Interlace the fingers and thumbs. Move the hands back and forth.
 Ø Continue the friction motion for 10 – 30 seconds.
8. Interlock the fingers of the opposing hands.
Ø Do rotational rubbing of each thumb.
9. With a firm rubbing and circular motion against the palm of the other hand then do the same to
the other hand.
10. Clean the fingernails using an orange wood stick or tooth pick.
11. Rinse thoroughly using an upward motion from the fingertips down to the wrist. Wash hands
for a minimum of 15 seconds. For a more thorough hand washing, extend the time for wetting,
washing and rinsing.
12. Pat - dry the hands and wrists thoroughly with a hand towel.
13. Turn off water. Use paper- towel to turn- off the faucet.
14. Use oil free lotion on hands if desired.
Five Common Types of Faucet Control
1. Hand-operated handles
2. Knee-lever faucet control
3. Foot-pedal faucet control
4. Elbow controls
5. Infrared control

Breaking the Chain of Infection: Aseptic Process

Medical Aseptic Practices to be implemented during Client Care
Use of Barriers (Personal Protection Equipment/PPE)