Medical Asepsis

Isolation Precautions
Learning Objectives
• Define Nosocomial Infection
• Explain the difference between Universal Precaution
and Standard Precaution
• Enumerate the different elements of standard
precaution
• State the different types of transmission – based
precautions and their application
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Decontamination – process where physical or chemical means are used to

remove, inactivate, or destroy pathogens on a surface or item making them safe for
handling or use and incapable of transmitting infectious agents.
• Disinfection – the process of using physical or chemical means to destroy
pathogens, excluding the spores
• Sterilization – process by which all pathogens are destroyed, including the
spores
• Antiseptic – chemical solution that inhibits the growth of some microorganisms.
Can be used in living tissues
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Healthcare-associated/Nosocomial infection – any infection

that is acquired during the time a patient is admitted in a healthcare facility
• Iatrogenic infection – infection that is acquired in the course of undergoing
diagnostic tests or therapeutic procedures
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) – specialized equipment and
attire used by healthcare workers to protect them from infections. It includes gloves,
masks, gowns, and googles.
  Refers to the clinical condition
where infectious disease agents
are spread throughout the body
Sepsis of an individual from a localized
site of infection and manifest
with symptoms of organ damage
  The absence of disease-producing organisms and is
divided into medical asepsis and surgical asepsis.

 Medical Asepsis-aimed at reducing the number of

disease-producing organisms to prevent its spread from
Asepsis healthcare workers to the patients and vice versa.

 Surgical asepsis- aimed at total elimination of disease-

producing organisms particularly in areas in the body
where surgical procedures will be performed as well as
the location where the surgical procedure will be carried
out.
  Goals of Asepsis
 Protect the patient from hospital-acquired or
nosocomial infections
 Prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms

Asepsis  Factors that play a role in the occurrence of infection among

patients include:
 Suppression of the immune system
 Prolonged duration of illness
 Procedures that patients undergo in the healthcare facility such as
insertion of in-dwelling catheters, and insertion of intravenous lines
or endotracheal tubes.
 General Aseptic Procedures

1 Handwashing

3
2
Regular checking and emptying of containers
Prompt and safe disposal of contaminated for surgical drains
materials
General Aseptic Procedures

4 Prompt cleaning of soiled or moist areas

5 Proper labelling of containers regarding the date

and time of disposal
Isolation Precautions
 Isolation - process of separating
an individual with an infectious
disease from the rest of healthy
population to prevent spread of
infection.
Standard precautions Transmission-based precautions

• Universal precautions
•Airborne precautions
• Body substance isolation
•Droplet precautions

•Contact precaution
Standard Precautions

• The minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care,
regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status of the patient, in any
setting where health care is delivered.

• Combination of Universal Precautions (UP) and Body substance Isolation (BSI)

• Assumes that all body fluids except sweat, non-intact skin and mucous membranes
may have transmissible infectious disease
Universal Precaution
• Guidelines for protecting healthcare worker because
the emergence of HIV & other bloodborne pathogens

• Are good hygiene habits e.g., hand washing, use of

gloves & other barriers, correct sharps handling,
aseptic techniques
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION
Handwashing Proper disposal of
Sharps

Wear PPE

Proper handling of sharps

Body Substance Isolation
• Focused on protecting patients and health personnel
from all moist body fluids not just blood: semen,
vaginal secretions, wound drainage, sputum, saliva
etc
 Elements of Standard Precaution

1 Proper handwashing 5 Clean and disinfected environmental

surfaces

2 Use of personal protective equipment

6 Safe injection practices and Proper
3 Proper handling and disposal of secretions handling/disposal of sharps

7 Patient Placement (isolation)

4 Proper handling and disposal of soiled linen and
equipment 8 Respiratory hygiene / cough
etiquette
  Hands- most frequent source of
microorganisms
 Importance of Handwashing
 To reduce the flora on the healthcare worker’s
Handwashing skin
 Protect the healthcare worker in the event that
there is a break in his or her skin
 To reduce risk of contact with infectious agents
if gloves worn are punctured
 To reduce the chances of disease transmission
 Handwashing

Healthcare-acquired infections
• Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
(VRE)
• Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus
pneumoniae
 Handwashing

 Handwashing is the most basic and

universally accepted measure used to
prevent the spread of infection
 Routine handwashing for at least 15
seconds with a 10-second rinse is
recommended.
 Handwashing

1 At the beginning and end of each shift

2 When the hands are visibly soiled

WHEN? 3 After contact with a possible source of microorganisms such as blood or body fluids,
mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or contaminated objects

4 Before and after performing invasive procedures

5 Before removing gloves if they are visibly soiled and after removing gloves
“My five moments for hand hygiene”
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Gloves Masks Sterile Gowns

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 Serve as protective barrier when handling or

touching open wounds, blood or body fluids
 Provide protection from microorganisms
 Help prevent the spread of infectious agents from
one person to another
 Disposable

Gloves
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 Must cover the mouth and nose

 Provide protection from microorganisms
 Single-use item
 Avoid touching masks while worn
 Replace once damped

Masks
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 Sufficient to protect the skin

 Prevent soiling of clothing during
procedures or other in-patient activities that
may lead to splashing or spraying of blood
and body substances
 Single-use item

Sterile Gowns
 Changing of
Regular disinfection of doorknobs and linens
other inanimate objects commonly weekly
touched or contaminated
Transmission – Based Precautions
• used when patients have diseases that can
spread through contact, droplet or airborne
routes (e.g., skin contact, sneezing, coughing)
and are always used in addition to Standard
Precautions. 
 Transmission-based Precautions

Contact
Precautions

needed for germs that are spread by touching

Droplets are > 5 AEROSOLS are < 5
microns can travel in microns can travel in
short distance up to long distance more
6 ft. for a shorter than 6 ft. for a
period of time longer period of
time
 Transmission-based Precautions

Droplet
Precautions
used to prevent contact with mucus
and other secretions from the nose
and sinuses, throat, airways, and
lungs.
 Transmission-based Precautions

Airborne
Precautions
 needed for germs that are so
small they can float in the air and
travel long distances.
Learning Objectives
• Define Nosocomial Infection
• Explain the difference between Universal Precaution
and Standard Precaution
• Enumerate the different elements of standard
precaution
• State the different types of transmission – based
precautions and their application
• ANNOUNCEMENT:
1. Please answer the Laboratory Activity 3 (assignment quiz) – Bacteria and Diseases to be
submitted on March 29, 2021 (Monday) until 12mn

2. Please submit all requirements (LA1, Assignment Quiz 1, Lab act 1 to 3) before April 5, 2021 to
avoid in – progress status in your midterm grade.

3. Please review for your Midterm (Summative) Exam on April 5, 2021 (Monday) 9am to 11am via
BB
a) 2 hours exam, 60 items – Multiple choice
b) Coverage – all synchronous and asynchronous topics uploaded in BB and gclassroom (Week 1 to Week 4
topics)
 Thank you
Sources:
 Microbiology and Parasitology 2nd edition A textbook and Laboratory Manual for Health Sciences by Bartolome
and Quiles
 https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/summary-infection-prevention-practices/standard-
precautions.html
 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000446.htm#:~:text=Isolation%20precautions%20create
%20barriers%20between,before%20entering%20the%20patient's%20room.