Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Drug and Therapeutics Committee: Session 12. Infection Control
Drug and Therapeutics Committee: Session 12. Infection Control
Committee
Session 12.
Infection Control
1
Objectives
Understand basic infection control (IC)
concepts
Understand the causes of nosocomial
infections
Understand the components of an infection
control program
Understand how the Infection Control
Committee and DTC can decrease the
incidence of nosocomial infections and
antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Outline
Key Definitions
Activity 1
Introduction
Epidemiology of Nosocomial Infections
Control and Prevention of Nosocomial Infections
Core Strategies for Reducing the Risk of
Nosocomial Infections
Implications for the DTC
Activity 2
Summary
Key Definitions (1)
Functions—
Addressing food handling, laundry handling,
cleaning procedures, visitation policies, and direct
patient care practices
Obtaining and managing critical bacteriological data
and information, including surveillance data
Infection Control Committee (3)
Functions (cont)
Developing and recommending policies and
procedures pertaining to infection control
Recognizing and investigating outbreaks of
infections in the hospital and community
Intervening directly to prevent infections
Educating and training health care workers,
patients, and nonmedical caregivers
Core Strategies to Reduce Nosocomial
Infections—Hand Hygiene
To ensure appropriate hand washing techniques—
Provide sinks, clean water, and soap at convenient
locations
Where sinks, clean water, and hand washing supplies
are unavailable, use alcohol-based products which are
inexpensive, produced locally, convenient, and
effective for hand hygiene.
Monitor compliance
Use gloves when necessary
Effect of Antiseptics on Colony Counts
After Hand Scrub
Log Reduction in Colony
Alcohol
Counts
Hours Iodophors
0 Chlorhexidine
-1
-5 -2 0 5 10
-3
-4
Source: Modified from Larson, E. 1988. Guideline for Use of Topical Antimicrobial Agents. American
Journal of Infection Control 16:253.
Isolation and Standard Precautions
Whenever possible, avoid crowding wards.
Urinary catheters
Avoid in-dwelling urinary catheters whenever possible.
Use closed drainage systems.
Respiratory Therapy
Mechanical ventilation and respiratory
equipment
Use only when absolutely necessary.