INFECTION PREVENTION

AND CONTROL
Miami Dade College

Copyright, 1996 Dale Carnegie &

ORGANISMS POTENTIAL
TO PRODUCE DISEASE
NUMBER OR ORGANISMS
VIRULENCE OF THE ORGANISM
(ability to cause disease)
INDIVIDUALS IMMUNE SYSTEM
LENGTH Of CONTACT

TERMS
Infection: a disease state that
results from the presence of
pathogens in or on the body.
Pathogen: a disease
producing microorganism.
Etiology: cause & ID of
pathology

Opportunistic Organisms:
bacteria that can be harmful

CHAIN OF INFECTION
Infectious agent- influenced by # &
virulence
Reservoir- body, plant, inanimate
objects, carriers
Portal of exit- blood, respiratory, GI
tract

CHAIN OF INFECTION
CONTD
Means of transmission- air, direct
contact
Port of entry- blood, skin and
mucous membrane, respiratory
tract, gastrointestinal tract and
transplacental (mother to fetus)

MODES OF TRANSMISSION
Direct person to person (fecal,
oral), and physical contact between
source and susceptible host
Indirect personal contact of
susceptible host with contaminate
inanimate object (needle, sharp
objects, dressings, environment)

MODES OF
TRANSMISSION
DIRECT & INDIRECT
Droplet
Airborne
vehicle
Vector

Normal Defense Against

Infection

Intact skin
Mucous membranes
Tears
Normal flora GI tract
Normal flora urinary
tract

Defense Against Infection

Inflammation
Pain
Swelling
Redness
Heat
Impaired function

Defense Against Infection

First Stage
Vascular and Cellular Response
Increase blood flow to area
Increase permeability (fluid, protein &
cells enter interstitial space) edema
Pain occur from pressure on the nerve
ending
Fever from release of pyrogens from
bacterial cells

Defense Against Infection

Second Stage
Inflammatory Exudates
Accumulation of fluids and dead tissue
cells & WBC form an exudate at the
site of inflammation
Exudate maybe
Serous clear like plasma
sanguineous containing red blood cells
Purulent containing WBCs and
bacteria

Defense Against Infection

Third Stage
Tissue Repair
Healing involves
Defensive
Reconstructive
Maturative stage
Damaged cells are eventually replaced
by healthy cells
In chronic infections granulation tissues
not as strong as collagen form scar
tissue

Risk for
Infection:
Developmental stage
Breaks lines of defense
Smoking
Substance Abuse
Environment

Risk for Infection:

Chronic disease
Medications
Illness/Injury
Multiple Sexual Partners
Nursing/Medical Procedures

Classification of
Infections

By Location:
Local

Occurs in a limited region in the

body (e.g., urinary tract infection)

Systemic
Spread via blood or lymph
Affects many regions (e.g.,
septicemia)

STAGES OF INFECTION:
Incubation: From time of infection until
manifestation of symptoms; can infect
others
Prodromal: Appearance of vague
symptoms; not all diseases have this
stage
Illness: Signs and symptoms present
Convalescence: Tissue repair, return to
health

Preventing Infection:
Implementing Medical
Asepsis
Medical asepsis:

A state of cleanliness that decreases

the potential for the spread of
infections
Promoted through:
Maintaining a clean environment
Maintaining clean hands
Following Centers for Disease Control

Implementing CDC
Guidelines

Standard precautions
(universal precautions):
Protects health-care workers from
exposure
Decreases transmission of
pathogens
Protects clients from pathogens
carried by health-care workers

Maintaining a Clean
Environment
Clean spills and dirty surfaces promptly
Remove pathogens through chemical
means (disinfect)
Remove clutter
Consider supplies brought to the client
room as contaminated
Consider items from the clients home
as contaminated

Promoting
Wellness:
Nutrition
Hygiene
Rest/Exercise
Stress Reduction
Immunizations

Nurses Role in Infection

Control
Standard Precaution to prevent
onset and spread
Promote measures for treatment

Hand Washing
Hand washing is the act of washing
with soap and water, followed by
rinsing under a stream of water for
15 seconds
The friction used removes soil and
transient organisms from the hand
Hand hygiene includes the use of an
alcohol based waterless antiseptic
agent

Standard Precaution
Standard precaution apply to
contact with blood and body fluids
except sweat even if blood is not
present
Non-intact skin
Mucous membrane

Cleaning, Disinfection and

Sterilization
The decision to clean, disinfect or
sterilize depend on the intended
use of the item
Cleaning is the removal of all soil
and inorganic material from objects
and surfaces

Cleaning, Disinfection and

Sterilization Contd
Disinfection describes a process
that eliminates many or all
microorganisms, with the exception
of bacterial spores from inanimate
objects
Sterilization is the complete
elimination or destruction of all
microorganism including spores

Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
PPE include gowns, mask or
respirator, protective eyewear, and
gloves
Gowns prevent soiling of clothes
during contact with the client
Gowns used for barrier protection
are be fluid resistant
Open at the back and are to be tied
or snap closed

Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) contd
Mask with full face protection should
be used when you anticipate
splashing of blood or body fluids
N95 mask are required when caring
for patients on droplet or airborne
infection
Mask should fit snugly over the
mouth and nose so that pathogens
and body fluid can not enter or
escape through the sides

Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) contd
Eye Protection
Use either special glasses or goggles
when performing procedure that
generate splash or splatter
Eye wear is available in the form of
plastic glass or goggles
Prescription glasses should be covered
with removable or disposable side
shield

Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) contd
Gloves
Help to prevent the transmission of
pathogens by direct and indirect
contact
Clean gloves should be used when
touching blood, body fluid, secretions,
excretions, (except sweat), moist
mucous membranes, non-intact skin
and contaminated items or surfaces

Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) contd
Remove gloves promptly after use,
before touching non-contaminated
item and environmental surfaces
Hand hygiene should be performed
immediately to avoid transfer of
microorganism to other clients or
environment

Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) contd
When full PPE is necessary
First perform hand hygiene
Apply a gown
Apply mask
Eye wear or goggles (as needed)
Apply gloves

Exposure Issues
Use of puncture resistant box for
used needles to prevent accidental
needle stick
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV are
the infection most commonly
transmitted in blood from
contaminated needles

Exposure Issues
Exposure from non-blood borne
pathogens
Airborne and droplet
Recommended vaccinations and
immunization include: hepatitis B, TB
testing, annual influenza vaccine, MMR,
chickenpox vaccine, tetanus,
diphtheria, and pertussis.