NIGHTINGALE INSTITUTE OF NURSING,

NOIDA

ASSIGNMENT
ON
INFECTION CONTROL
AND STANDARD SAFETY MEASURES

(Subject: Nursing Management)

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:
MS. KAPEELTA DEVI MS. DHAIRYA ARORA
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR M. SC (N) 2ND YEAR

NIN, NOIDA NIN, NOIDA

 INFECTION CONTROL

INTRODUCTION:

Infection involves interaction between the animal body (host) and the injecting
microorganism. Practice or techniques that prevent transmission of infection protect clients and
health care workers from disease. Clients in all health care setting are at risks for acquiring
infections because of lower resistance to infectious microorganisms, increase exposure to
numbers and types of disease and causing microorganisms and invasive procedures.

NATURE OF INFECTION:

An infection is the entry and multiplication of an infectious agent in the tissue of a host.

- If the infectious agent (pathogen) fails to cause injury to cells or tissues, the
pathogen is colonizing the cells or tissues without causing harm.
- If the pathogens multiply and cause clinical signs and symptoms, the infection is
symptomatic.
- If the infectious disease can be transmitted directly from one person to another,
it is a communicable or contagious disease.

DEFINITION:

1. According to Bailliere’s Nurses Dictionary

Infection is the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, specially

that causing local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular
replication or antigen-antibody response.

2. Brunner And Suddarth’s; 9th Edition; Page no. 1870

Infection is a condition in which the host interacts physiologically and immunologically

with a microorganism.

3. Potter & Perry; 5th Edition; Page no. 149

An infection is the invasion of a susceptible host by pathogens or microorganisms

resulting in disease.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTION:

The occurance and manifestation of any disease whether communicable or non-

communicable are determine by the interactions between the agent, the host and the
environment, which together constitute the epidemiological triad.

Envio
nmen
t

Agen Host
t

Agent:

The first link in the chain of infection transmission is agent, which is defined as a
substance, living or non living. A disease may have a single agent, a number of independent
alternative agents or a complex of two or more factors whose combine presence is essential for
the development of disease.

Agent may be classified broadly into following groups:

i. Biological agent: fungi, bacteria, protozoa, viruses, etc.

ii. Nutrient agent: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. Any excess or
deficiency of the nutritive elements may result in nutritional disorders like PEM, anemia,
goiter, obesity, etc.
iii. Physical agent: exposure to excessive heat, cold, pressure, radiation, electricity may
result in illness.
iv. Chemical agents:
a) Endogenous: some of the chemicals may be produced in the body as a result of
disarrangement of function e.g. serum bilirubin (jaundice), urea (uremia), calcium
carbonate (kidney stones), etc.
b) Exogenous: agent arising outside of human host e.g. fumes, dust, gases, etc.
v. Mechanical agents: exposure to chronic friction and other mechanical forces may result
in crushing, tearing, dislocation, and even death.
 vi. Social agent: poverty, smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, unhealthy lifestyles, social
isolation and maternal deprivation.

Host:

The host is the man itself. In some situation host factors play a major role in determining the
outcome of an individual’s exposure to infection. The host factors may be classified as:

i. Demographic characteristics: age, sex, race.

ii. Biological characteristics: genetic factor, blood group, enzymes, immunological factors
etc.
iii. Socio-economic characteristics: economic status, social class, religion, education,
occupation, marital status, housing, etc.
iv. Lifestyle: living habits, food habits, physical activity, personal hygiene, use of alcohol,
tobacco, drugs, etc.

Environment:

The environment of man is of two types – internal and external.

Internal environment – is comprised by the various tissues, organs and organ systems within the
human body.

External environment – is defined as “all that, which is external to the individual human host.”

Generally we study the environment under three headings –

 Physical
 Biological and
 Social.

Physical environment: applied to non-living things and physical factors e.g. air, water, soil,
housing, climate, geography, heat, light, noise, radiation, etc.

Biological environment: universe of living things which surrounds man, including man himself.

e.g. viruses, microbial agents, insects, animals and plants.

Psychological environment: e.g. cultural values, customs, habits, beliefs, attitudes, morals,
religion, education, lifestyles, community life, health services.
CHAIN OF INFECTION:

The presence of a pathogen does not mean that an infection will begin. Development of an
infection occurs in a cycle that depends on the presence of all the following elements:

1. Infectious agent:

The development of an infectious disease depends on the number of organisms present;

their virulence, or ability to produce disease; their ability to enter or survive in the host;
and the susceptibility of the host.

2. Reservoir:

Places where microorganisms can survive, multiply, and await transfer to a susceptible
host are called reservoirs. Common reservoirs are humans and animals (host), insects,
food, water, and organic matter or inanimate surfaces (fomites).

3. Portal of exit:

After microorganisms find a site to grow and multiply, they must find a portal of exit if
they are to enter another host and cause disease. Microorganisms can exit through a
variety of sites such as skin and mucous membranes, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal
tract, reproductive tract, and blood.
 4. Mode of transmission:

There are many modes for transmission of microorganisms from the reservoir to the host.
Although the major mode of transmission of microorganisms is the hands of the health
care worker, almost any object within the environment can become a means of
transmitting pathogens.

5. Portal of entry:

Organisms can enter the body through the same route they use for exiting. Common
portals of entry include non intact skin, mucus membranes, genitourinary tract,
gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract.

6. Susceptible host:

Susceptibility to an infectious agent depends on the individual’s degree of resistance to

pathogens. An infection does not develop until an individual becomes susceptible to the
strength and numbers of microorganism capable of producing infection.

STAGES OF INFECTION:

1. Incubation period: It is the time interval between entrance of pathogen into the body and
appearance of first symptoms. (e.g. chicken pox – 2-3 weeks; common cold – 1-2 days;
influenza – 1-3days; mumps – 15-18 days).
2. Prodromal stage: Interval from onset of nonspecific signs and symptoms (malaise, low-
grade fever, fatigue) to more specific symptoms.
3. Illness stage: Interval when client manifests signs and symptoms specific to type of
infection.
4. Convalescence: Interval when acute symptoms of infection disappear. Length of
recovery depends on severity of infection and client’s general state of health; recovery
may take several days to months.

INFECTION CONTROL PRAGRAM:

Purpose: To identify and reduce risks of infections in patients, staff, and volunteers.

Affected areas: Clinical staff and supervisors, volunteers and supply staff.

General information:

Three things must be present at the same time for an infection to be considered an
organization- acquired or community-acquired infection:
 a) An infectious agent.
b) A susceptible host.
c) A chain of transmission.

Policy:

1. The agency’s infection control program is designed to lower risks and improve the rates of
employee and patient organization-acquired infections.
2. The infection control program includes the following processes:
i. Surveillance:

- The agency collects data about infections to detect any changes in infection
trends. Targeted surveillance, which focuses on specific patient populations
and / or specific procedures, is tracked on an annual basis.

ii. Identification:

- Surveillance data are used to identify problems or undesirable trends.

Undesirable trends will lead to further investigation to determine whether the
infection is organization-acquired.

iii. Prevention:

- The agency implements policies and procedure to prevent the occurrence or

spread of infection. Prevention strategies are incorporated into the patient and
staff education plan.

iv. Reporting:

- Patient and staff infections are reported internally and externally, as required by
law.

3. The basic components of the agency’s infection control program include the following:

i. Surveillance based on systematic data collection to identify home-care-acquired

infections in patients.
ii. A system for detection of institutional outbreaks of infectious diseases in multiple
patient dwellings (for hospices having an inpatient facility).
iii. An isolation/ precaution system to reduce risk of transmission of infectious
agents.
iv. Infection control policies and procedures.
v. Orientation and in-service education for staff / volunteers in infection control.
 vi. An employee health program.
vii. A system for antibiotic review.
viii. Disease reporting to public health authorities.
ix. A patient health / education plan.

4. The design, data collection, and assessment of the infection control program is completed
by the quality improvement (QI) staff as a component of the QI program. Infection control
policies and procedures are reviewed and updated as needed, but are formally reviewed by
the QI staff and the Director of Clinical Services on an annual basis.
5. Education of home care staff in infection control and isolation precaution is required at
orientation and annually. At a minimum, this education should include:

- Hand washing
- Personal hygiene
- Employee health infection control issues
- Transmission of infection
- Care of patients with communicable diseases.
- Standard precautions and blood borne pathogens
- Disposal of infectious waste and sharps.
- Appropriate cleaning issues.
- Principles of asepsis.
- Personal protective equipment.

CONTROL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION:

 Hospital infection can be ‘hospital associated or hospital acquired’.

 Hospital associated infections are those, that are acquired during hospitalization as well
as those that are present upon admission, having been acquired prior to hospitalization.
 Hospital acquired or nosocomial infection can be defined as “infection acquired by the
licenses in the hospital, manifestation of which may occur during hospitalization or after
discharge from hospital staff and visitors.

CONTROL MEASURES:

A. General measures:
a) Personal hygiene and environmental sanitation kept at high level in the hospital of any
kind, is mandatory requirement towards control of hospital infection.
b) Efficient house keeping including clean supply of bed linen and patient’s dress, proper bed
arrangement; frequent mopping and periodic washing of hospital wards and department
floors.
c) Provision of ancillary facilities like:
 i. CSSD – Facilities for standard sterilization of all hospital supplies e.g.
syringe, needles, surgical instruments, O.T. linen, sets of trays for
diagnostic and therapeutic purpose, rubber goods and other
requirements.
ii. Mechanical laundry – in referral institutional hospitals and larger
hospitals will endure clean and adequate linen sully to patients and
reduce infections.
iii. Food-ordering, procurement, preparation and distribution must be
arranged through organized kitchen service.
Minimum of handling must be ensured. Adequate water supply and
washing facilities of food items and utensils to be made available.
iv. Prompt and coordinated system of waste disposal e.g. dry waste
materials and sewage must be established through incinerators,
underground drainage.
v. Each ward must be provided with isolation facilities in separate rooms
for infectious patients over and the isolation wards.
vi. In small hospitals procedure manuals for workers to be provided for
strict compliance.
B. Special control measures:

i. Operation theater, Pediatric wards, Maternity and Nurseries are particularly

sensitive areas in hospitals and need special attention. Some of the important
considerations are:

- Located away from general traffic.

- Protective, clean, aseptic or sterile and disposal zones must be scrupulously
adopted.
- Floor and walls in good repair state.
- Air conditioning through fresh filtered air.
- 24 hours water supply.
- Washing, disinfection at periodic interval.
- Adherence of strict aseptic measures for procedures in OT and frequent check.
- Periodic bacteriological test of OT swabs.
- Avoidance of over-work in OT and provision of interval.

ii. Pediatric ward:

- 4-6 bedded ward facilities with provision of isolation.
- Similar age-group patients in one room.
- Strict aseptic procedure to be ensured.
- Nursing staff must ensure strict personal hygiene and hand washing.
- Minimum attendants.
 - Prompt removal of any attendant with infection.
iii. Nurseries:
- Scrupulous cleanliness and asepsis.
- 4-6 bedded cubicles.
- Visitors are not to be permitted.
- Gowning and use of mask to be encouraged.
- Due care for preparation of feeds and sterilization of bottles and other
accessories.
iv. Maternity Ward:
- Delivery room planning on the line of OT.
- Strict aseptic measures to be followed.
- Facility for isolation should be provided in 4-6 bedded wards.
- Regular floor washing and cleaning.

Other control measures will include infection oriented training to hospital staff to assess
the importance of standards of asepsis, personal hygiene and cleanliness.

Patients, relatives and visitors should be educated by the hospital staff about matters of
infection, isolation, hand washing and other related areas.

HOSPITAL INFECTION CONTROL COMMITTEE:

To control hospital infection, it is essential that the hospital according to its available
resources and requirement establishes a Hospital infection control committee and invest it with
authority to persue:

- Investigation of all hospital infections.

- Establish surveillance programme.
- Provide guidance and leadership in the prevention and control of hospital infection.

A. Composition:

Should compose of all major specialties as members like

- Surgeon
- Physician
- Anesthetist
- Pediatrician
- Bacteriologist
- Gynecologists
- Nursing matron
 - House keeping staff
- Engineering service representative
- Dietician
- Microbiologist

In a district hospital set up, the organization should be composed of:

- Available professional specialist,

- Matron of the hospital or any other specialist officer as infection control officer,
- Superintendent of hospital as chairman.

In a still smaller hospital situation, the whole responsibility can be given to one Medical
Officer only.

B. Role and function:

i. Establishing and reporting system.

ii. Nursing unit report – daily / weekly.
iii. Individual patient report.
iv. Review of bacteriological service record of the hospital.
v. Autopsy report.
vi. Meet periodically to take decision.
vii. Lay down standards of aseptic procedures in hospitals.
viii. To distinguish between infections acquired in the hospital and those acquired
outside.
ix. To prepare manual for control of infection and lay down training of programme of
personnel.
x. Take all decision based on report received through hospital infection control officer
regarding investigation and control measures in the event of sudden rise of hospital
infection rate.

C. Investigation of epidemic hospital infection:

The hospital surveillance programme should be geared to determine the endemic level of
infection and be responsive to any epidemic situation like.

- Sudden cluster-like increase at any period of time and in a particular hospital area.
- Unusual sporadic cases.
- Investigating actions.
- Confirm diagnosis including bacteriological culture.
- Total number of cases established.
 - Investigations for carrier, common source, break-in technique, vehicle of infection
and any other abnormal situation.
- Obtaining cultures from carrier and from vital areas CSD, OTS, Nurseries, etc.

ISOLATION PRECAUTIONS:

Isolation refers to measures designed to prevent the spread of infections or potentially

infectious microorganisms to health personnel, clients, and visitors. A variety of infection control
measures are used to decrease the risk of transmission of microorganisms in hospitals.

CDC Isolation Precautions (1983 and 1987):

In 1983 the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established isolation
guidelines that allowed health facilities to choose between two systems: category – specific or
disease – specific isolation.

Category – specific isolation precautions are based on seven categories: strict isolation,
contact isolation, respiratory isolation, tuberculosis isolation, enteric precautions, drainage /
secretion precautions, and blood / body fluid precautions.

Disease – specific isolation precautions provide precautions for specific diseases.

For example, pulmonary tuberculosis precautions specify putting the client in a private room
with special ventilation or having the client share a room with other clients who are infected with
the same organism and the use of masks for nurses entering the room and gowning only to
prevent gross soilage of clothes.

Universal precautions (CDC 1987):

1) Wear masks and protective eyewear or face shields in situations where droplets of blood
or other body fluids may spray onto the mucus membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth.
2) Wear gloves when in contact with blood or other body fluids containing blood and when
handling supplies and equipment or surfaces soiled with blood or other body fluids.
Change gloves after client contact.
3) Wear gown in situations where it is likely that droplets of blood or body fluids will be
sprayed.
4) Immediately and thoroughly wash hands or other skin surfaces that come into contact
with blood or other body fluids.
5) To prevent needle stick injuries, deposit used needles in a puncture-resistant container
that has a secure lid and has been placed near the area where the needles were used. Do
not recap, break, or bend needles after use.
 6) Use mouth pieces, resuscitation bags, or other ventilation equipment when providing
resuscitation. This reduces the need for mouth-to-mouth contact.
7) Do not provide direct client care when you have open or exudative skin lesions.

Body Substance Isolation (BSI) System (1991):

Body Substance Isolation (BSI) employs generic infection control precautions for all
clients except those with the few diseases transmitted through the air.

The main elements of BSI are:

1) Wash hands thoroughly before and after client care and when gloves are removed.
2) Wear clean gloves before contact with any body fluids, mucus membranes, non intact
skin, and any moist areas.
3) Wear gowns, plastic aprons, masks, protective eyewear, hair covers, and shoe covers are
required to keep moist body substances off clothing, skin, hair, and mucus membranes.
4) Discard all needles and sharp instruments in a puncture-proof container at the place of
use.
5) Bag soiled linen securely before it is transported to the laundry area.
6) Place disposable trash in plastic bags and dispose off it according to agency protocol.
7) Handling and reprocessing practices are the same for all equipment used on all clients.
8) Place all specimens in plastic bags, seal the bags, and arrange for transport to the
laboratory.

CDC (HICPAC) Isolation precautions (1997):

The Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) of the CDC
presented new guidelines for isolation precautions in hospital. These latest guidelines designate
two tiers of precautions:

Tier 1: Standard precautions

Tier 2: Transmission – Based Precautions.

Standard Safety measures:

  Design for all clients in hospital.
 These precautions apply to blood, all body fluids, excretions and secretions except
sweat, non intact skin and mucus membranes.
 Designed to reduce risk of transmission of microorganisms from recognized and
unrecognized sources.

1. Wash hands after contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions and
contaminated objects whether or not gloves are worn.

- Wash hands immediately after removing gloves.

- Use an antimicrobial agent or an antiseptic agent for the control of specific
outbreaks of infection.

2. Wear clean gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions and
contaminated items.
3. Wear a mask, eye protection, or a face shield if splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids,
secretions, or excretions can be expected.
4. Wear a clean, nonsterile gown if client case is likely to result in splashes or sprays of
blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
5. Handle client care equipment that is soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions or
excretions carefully to prevent the transfer of microorganisms to others and to the
environment.
6. Handle transport and process linen that is soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions, or
excretions in a manner to prevent contamination of clothing and the transfer of
microorganisms to others and to the environment.
7. Prevent injuries from used equipment, i.e. scalpels or needles, and place in puncture-
resistant containers.

Transmission-Based Precautions:

Airborne precautions:

1. Place client in a private room that has negative air pressure; 6 to 12 air changes per hour
and discharge of air to the outside or a filtration system for the room air.
2. If a private room is not available, place client with another client who is infected with the
same microorganisms.
3. Wear a respiratory device when entering the room of a client who is known or suspected
of having primary tuberculosis.
4. Susceptible people should not enter the room of a client who has rubella (measles) or
varicella (chicken pox). If they must enter they should wear a respirator.
 5. Limit movement of client outside the room to essential purposes. Place a surgical mask
on the client if possible.

Droplet Precautions:

1. Place client in a private room.

2. If a private room is not available, place client with another client who is infected with the
same microorganisms.
3. Wear a mask if working within 3 feet of the client.
4. Transport client outside the room only when necessary and place a surgical mask on the
client if possible.

Contact precautions:

1. Place client in a private room.

2. If a private room is not available, place client with another client who is infected with the
same microorganism.
3. Wear gloves as described in standard precautions.
4. Wear gown when entering a room if there is a possibility of contact with infected
surfaces or items, or if the client is incontinent, has diarrhea, a colostomy or wound
drainage.

- Remove gown in the client’s room.

- Make sure clothing does not contact possible contaminated surfaces.

5. Limit movement of client outside the room.

6. Dedicate the use of non critical client care equipment to a single client or to clients with
the same infecting microorganisms.

Role of the nurse while caring a patient with air borne diseases like tuberculosis:

 Encourage about early detection and treatment of tuberculosis.

 Start and complete treatment (DOTS) without delay.
 Instruct coughing / sneezing patients to turn their heads, cover the mouth with a cloth or
rag, wash hands regularly and wash/ burn the cloth used.
 Identify the procedures that may put a health care provider at risk for TB

 Suctioning
 Nebulization
 Intercostal drainage insertion and dressing
 Bronchoscopy
  Sputum collection in poorly ventilated areas
 Surgery
 Handling mycobacterium cultures
 Cleaning suction cups
 Post-mortem care

 Use mask appropriately.

 Ensure good ventilation

 Open windows.
 Ensure proper airflow direction in wards with TB patients.
 Supervise proper patient placement and spatial separation – ideally 3 feet, of
persons with respiratory infections in OPD and between beds in infectious wards
to reduce risk of transmission of droplet infection.

 Educate patient and families to

 Report signs and symptoms of TB and seek treatment.

 Take the complete course of treatment as prescribed.
 Observe cough hygiene.
 Ensure good ventilation around them.

Standard work precautions against Blood borne pathogens:

Blood borne pathogens are microorganisms such as viruses or bacteria that are carried in blood
and cause disease in people.

Hepatitis B – Stable virus, can survive outside the body after the body fluid dries.

Hepatitis C – Stable virus, can survive outside the body after the body fluid dries.

HIV – Fragile virus, usually dies outside the body after the body fluid dries.

Precautions:

 Disinfect surfaces contaminated with body fluid or blood.

 Follow the hospital policy for waste management.
 Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
 Reducing risk of sharp injuries:
 Dos
 Use needle cutter or destroyer
immediately after use.
 Separate sharps from other waste.
 Use rigid, puncture proof disposal
bins.

 Empty sharp containers when they

are ¾ full.

Hand hygiene:

Hand hygiene includes an instant alcohol hand antiseptic before and after providing client care,
hand washing with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled, and performing surgical scrub.
Hand washing is a vigorous, brief rubbing together of all surfaces of the hands lathered in soap,
followed by rinsing under a stream of water (CDC, 2002). The decision of when and what type
of hand hygiene should occur depends on the following:

- the intensity of contact with clients or contaminated objects,

- the degree or amount of contamination that could occur with that contact,
- the susceptibility of the client or the health care worker to infection and
- the procedure or activity to be performed

The use of alcohol-based waterless antiseptics is recommended by the CDC (2002) to improve
hand hygiene practices, protect health care worker’s hands, and reduce transmission of pathogens
to clients and personnel in health care settings.

The CDC recommends the following:

1. Wash hands with plain soap or with antimicrobial soap and water when hands are visibly
dirty.
2. If hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol based waterless antiseptic agent for
routinely decontaminating hands in all other clinical situations:

a) After contact with a client’s intact skin (as in taking a pulse or blood pressure, or
lifting a client)
b) After contact with body fluids or excretions, mucous membranes, non intact skin,
or wound dressings as long as hands are not visibly soiled.
c) When moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site during client
care; after contact with inanimate objects in the immediate vicinity of the client.
 d) Before caring for clients with severe neutropenia or other forms of severe
immune suppression.
e) Before inserting indwelling urinary catheters or other invasive devices.
f) After removing gloves.

Personal protective equipment (PPE):

PPE is designed to protect employees from workplace injuries or serious illnesses resulting from
contact with chemical, radiological, physical or mechanical or other workplace hazards.

PPE When to wear Points to keep in mind

Gloves Wear sterile gloves when Wearing clean or sterile gloves:
handling sterile procedures.  Wash hands.
 Slip each hand into glove, pulling snugly
over the fingers to ensure a good fit.
 Pull glove over the wrist as far as it will
go to maximize coverage.
Wear utility gloves when Utility gloves:
cleaning or managing waste.  Do not use them to touch patients, patient
care items, or anything near patient.
 Use the same utility gloves for the same
task.
 Use separate gloves for dirty and clean
task.
 Wash with detergent and bleech at the
end of the shift.
Eye wear Protect eye when anticipating  The eye wear surrounds the rim of the
splash of infectious body fluids. whole eyes without any gap.
 Disinfect if there is a splash of potentially
infectious fluid on it.
 Wash thoroughly before reuse.
 If eye wear is not available make use of
the face shield / visor.
Gowns and Protect skin when risk of  Gowns need to be thick enough so that
aprons splashing or spraying of blood or blood will not soak through easily.
body fluid contact is expected  Cotton gowns are inappropriate as the
using impervious/ plastic gowns. cloth absorbs dirt very easily and needs to
Prevent soiling of clothing be disinfected and cleaned daily.
during procedures that may  Aprons need to be water resistant
involve contact with blood or preferably made of plastic.
 body fluids.  Wash hands after removal of gowns.
 Disinfect the cotton cloth gowns.
 Soak in bleeching solution (1%) for 20
minutes, than wash and sun dry. OT and
labour room gowns would need to
sterilized, disposable gowns need not be
sterilized.
Masks Protect nose and mouth from  Cover both the nose and the mouth
(cloth and potential splashes of infectious during procedures and patient-care
paper) fluid. activities.
Use when handling patients with  While wearing a mask, make sure it is
respiratory infections and while fitting properly over the nose, mouth,
doing any invasive procedures. face, lower and below the jaw line in a
tight enough fit (face seal) to prevent air
leakage.
 Change for each procedure.
 Replace if wet or contaminated.
 Not worn under the chin or dangling
around the neck after use.
 When removing hold mask by the strings/
ties as the centre of the mask is most
contaminated.
 Dispose immediately after use.
 Wash hands after disposing the mask.
Caps Used to keep the hair and scalp  Should be large enough to cover all hair.
covered so that flakes of skin
and hair are not shed into the
wound during surgery.
Footwear Worn during procedures and  Slippers are not sufficient protection.
patient care activities when large  If foot wear does not completely cover
particle droplet spatter or sprays the foot then put a plastic cover over it
of blood or body fluid is and secure it with a rubber band.
anticipated.  Footwear should be fluid proof.
 They should be washable and easily
disinfected.
ROLE OF NURSE IN INFECTION CONTROL:

Infection control nurse must possess the following qualities:

I – Intelligent

N - Neatness

F – Faithfulness

E – Energetic

C – Courageous

T – Truthful, tactful

I – Immediate action

O – Organized

N – Non-threatening

C – Conscious

O – Orient

N – Nursing

T – Touch

R – Reactive

O – Observant

L – Listening
  Provide staff education on infection prevention and control.
 Design policies following natural guidelines to control infection and evaluate the
effectiveness of policies.
 Investigate cases of infection.
 Maintain total statistic related to number and types of infection.
 Offer continuing education for health care personnel to prevent infection.
 Report diseases and infection to local, states and federal authorities.
 Identify infection control problems with equipments.
 All employee of the hospital including biomedical waste handlers must be vaccinated
against tetanus and Hepatitis B.
 Extreme care must be taken while handling needles and other sharp objects.

CONCLUSION:

Good health depends in part on a safe environment. Practices or techniques that control
or prevent transmission of infection help to protect clients and health care workers from disease.
By practicing infection prevention and control techniques, the nurse can avoid spreading
microorganisms to clients.

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1. Francis CM de Souza Mario C; Hospital Administration; 3rd Edition; Jaypee Publications;

Page No. 329-340.
2. Dr. Sahni Ashok Clinical Updates and Management of Nursing Services; 2nd Edition;
Page No. 159-175.
3. Sayer Jean C, Deady M. Emilie; Hospital Administration Manual; Mosby Publications;
Page No. 291-292.
4. Anathanarayan R; Textbook of Microbiology; 6th Edition; Orient Longman Publications;
Page No. 61.
5. Perry and Potter; Basic Nursing; 5th Edition; Mosby Publications; Page No. 148-150.
6. Kozier. Erb.Blias. Wilkinson; Fundamentals of Nursing; 5th Edition; Page No. 679-682.
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773-777.
8. Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical surgical Nursing; 10th Edition; Lippincott
publications; Page No. 2115.
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