Infection Control Health Article

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Definition

Infection control is the protection of patients and health care workers by the prevention of infection in the health care setting in a cost-efficient manner.

Standard precautions for infection control
SOURCE: CDC, 1996.
Environmental control	Follow hospital procedures for routine care, cleaning, and disinfection of all surfaces, beds, bedrails, bedside equipment, and other frequently touched surfaces.
Linen	Handle, transport, and process used linen soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions in a manner that prevents exposures and contamination of clothing, and avoids transferring microorganisms to other patients and environments.
Occupational health and bloodborne pathogens	Prevent injuries when using needles, scalpels, and other sharp instruments or devices; when handling sharp instruments after procedures; when cleaning used instruments; and when disposing of used needles.
	Never recap used needles using both hands or any other technique that involves pointing the needle toward any part of the body; instead, use a one-handed "scoop" technique or a mechanical device designed for holding the needle sheath.
	Do not remove used needles from disposable syringes by hand, and do not bend, break, or otherwise manipulate used needles by hand. Place used disposable syringes and needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp items in puncture-resistant sharps containers located as close as practical to the area in which the items were used, and place reusable syringes and needles in a puncture-resistant container for transport to the processing area.
	Use resuscitation devices as an alternative to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Patient-care equipment	Handle used patient-care equipment soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions in a manner that prevents skin and mucous membrane exposures and contamination of other patients and environments. Ensure that reuasable equipment is not used for the care of another patient until it has been appropriately cleaned and reprocessed and single use items are properly discarded.
Patient placement	Use a private room for a patient who contaminates the environment or who does not (or cannot be expected to) assist in maintaining appropriate hygiene or environmental control. Consult Infection Control if a private room is not available.
Wash hands (plain soap)	Wash after touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items.
	Wash immediately after gloves are removed and between patient contacts.
	Avoid transfer of microorganisms to other patients or environments.
Wear gloves	Wear when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items.
	Put on clean gloves just before touching mucous membranes and nonintact skin.
	Change gloves btween tasks and procedures on the same patient after contact with material that may contain high concentrations of microorganisms. Remove gloves promptly after use, before touching noncontaminated items and other surfaces, and before going to another patient, and wash hands immediately to avoid transfer of microorganisms to other patients or environments.
Wear gown	Protect skin and prevent soiling of clothing during procedures that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions. Remove a soiled gown as promptly as possible and wash hands to avoid transferring microorganisms to other patients or environments.
Wear mask and eye protection or face shield	Protect mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth during procedures and patient-care activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions.

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Author Info: René A. Jackson RN, The Gale Group Inc., Gale, Detroit, Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, 2002

Table of Contents

Definition Purpose Description Hand-washing indications Preparation Complications Results Health care team roles BOOKS PERIODICALS ORGANIZATIONS OTHER

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