GOVERNMENT COLLEGE OF NURSING,

RAIPUR(C.G.)
SUBJECT: NURSING EDUCATION
DEMONSTRATION ON:

INFECTION CONTROL METHODS

GUIDED BY, PRESENTED BY,

MRS. DEEPIKA KUMAR MS. REETA SAHU
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR M.Sc. NURSING 1 ST YEAR
INTRODUCTION
 Medical science is trying to control the various
infections that arise in the community by a
variety of methods.
 Prevention of infection is a major focus for
nurses.
 As primary caregivers, nurses are involved in
identifying , preventing, controlling and teaching
the client about infection.
TERMINOLOGY
INFECTION
The entry and development (multiplication) of a
disease producing agent in the body.
CROSS INFECTION
Cross infection occurs usually in the hospitals
during his stay means infection of a client with a
disease other than that for which he had been
admitted.
 DISINFECTION

It means destroying of all the pathogenic

organisms.

DROPLET INFECTION
It is the infection of the individual by means of
fine particles of saliva and mucus that are
expelled from the mouth and nose of another
person during coughing, sneezing or speaking.
INFECTION CONTROL METHODS

 The nurse follows certain principles and procedure

prevent infection and control its spread.
Certain basic measures on the part of the nurse involve;
 Hand washing
 Gowning
 Gloving
 Wearing masks
 Precautions while handling sterile supplies
HAND WASHING
 The infection can be transferred from person to person
through contaminated hands. Careful washing of the
hands reduces the number of bacteria.
 It is an effective infection control measures, as it
prevents spread of microorganism.

Hand washing should be done:

 When there are known multiple resistant bacteria
 Before invasive procedures
 In special care units, such as nurseries, ICUs and OTs
PURPOSES OF HANDWASHING
 To remove transient and resident
bacteria from fingers, hands and
forearms.
 To prevent the risk of transmission of
infection to patients.
 To reduce the risk of transmission of
infection organisms to oneself.
 To prevent cross infection among
clients.
EQUIPMENTS/ARTICLES
GOWNING
 The isolation gown should be made with long
sleeves, long skirt and high neck to cover the
clothing of the wearer.
 Clean or disposable gown or plastic aprons are
worn during procedures when the nurse’s
uniform is likely to become soiled.
 Sterile gowns may be indicated when the nurses
changes the dressings of a client with extensive
wounds and burns etc.
PURPOSES OF GOWNING
 To prevent soiling of cloths during
contact with the patient.

 To protect health care personnel

from coming in contact with
infected materials.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
 Gown is worn only in the client’s unit and never outside.
 The gown is worn by a nurse when caring for a client whose
infection is known to be spread by indirect contact or when it
is necessary to protect nurse’s uniform from contamination by
the client’s pathogens.
 The gown is worn by the infected person when he is
transported outside his room.
 The gowns are worn by the nurses when caring for the persons
whose resistance to infection is diminished. E.g. premature
babies
 The outside of the gown is considered to be highly
contaminated and the inside of the gown is considered to be
clean.
 If the gown is to be re-used, hang the gown inside the client’s
unit with the contaminated side folded out. Hang the gown
outside the client’s unit with the contaminated side folded in.
GLOVING
 Gloves are worn to protect hands when the nurse
is likely to handle any body substances. E.g.
blood, urine, faeces, sputum, mucous membrane
and non-intact skin.
 For most activities, disposable clean gloves are
used.
 Sterile gloves are used when the hands will come
in contact with an open wound or when the hands
might introduce micro-organisms into a body
orifice.
WEARING MASKS
 Masks are worn to reduce the risk for transmission of
organisms by the droplet contact, air borne routes and splatters
of body substances.

Masks should be worn:

 By personnel who work close to the client if the infection is
transmitted by large particle aerosols.
e.g. measles, mumps, acute respiratory diseases in children.

 By all personnel entering the room if the infection is

transmitted by small particle aerosols.
e.g. pulmonary tuberculosis
SURGICAL ASEPSIS
 Surgical asepsis refers to all the procedures used to keep
objects or areas sterile or completely free from all
microorganisms.
 In medical asepsis, all practices are directed to the
prevention of pathogenic organisms entering into the
body but in surgical asepsis, all practices are directed to
the elimination of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic
microorganisms.
 In medical asepsis, a “clean technique” is used, but in
surgical asepsis a “sterile technique” is used.
S. NO. PRINCIPLES REASON
1. Always face the sterile field . do not turn your back or side on Sterile objects which are out of vision are considered questionable
a sterile field. and their sterility can not be guaranteed.
2. Keep sterile equipments above your waist level or above table Waist level and table level are considered margins of safety and
level. will promote maximum visibility of the sterile field.
3. Do not speak, cough or sneeze over a sterile field. If it is To prevent droplet infection.
necessary to do so, turn your head away from the sterile field.
4. Never reach across a sterile field When a non-sterile object is held above a sterile object, gravity
causes the microorganisms to fall into the sterile field.
5. Prevent excessive air currents around the sterile areas. Air Microorganisms are present in the air and they travel in currents.
currents can be caused by moving fast, flapping the clothes
and drapes and by closing the doors etc.
6. Keep the unsterile objects away from the sterile field. Microorganisms may be transferred whenever a non-sterile object
touches a sterile field, thus rendering the sterile objects
contaminated.
7. Handle liquids cautiously near the sterile field or prevent When a liquid connects a non-sterile field with a sterile field, the
drapes or wrappers from becoming wet. microorganisms may present.
8. Keep the sterile field dry Microorganisms do not pass easily through a dry surface.
9. The edge of the sterile field is considered unsterile Proximity to a contaminated area makes sterility doubtful
10. Each sterile supply should be clearly labelled as to its contents, To ensure sterility
time and date of sterilization.
11. Never assume that an object is sterile. Always check the Sterility of an object wrapped in paper or clothes becomes doubtful
sterility expiration date. after 4 weeks and those sealed in polythene bags becomes doubtful
after 1 year
12. Avoid sweeping and dusting when the sterile objects are Microorganisms travel in the dust particles.
opened.
13. Wash hands, put on gowns, gloves and masks before handling To prevent contamination.
the sterile supplies.

14. Open the sterile packages in such a way that the edges of the To prevent contamination.
wrapper are directed away from the worker.
S. NO. PRINCIPLES REASON
1. Hold the transfer forceps pointing To prevent the solution from flowing
downwards into the contaminated area and then
back to the sterile area.

2. When removing the forceps from The tip of the forceps will become
the container lift off without contaminated when touching the
touching the sides and the rim of container that is not in direct contact
the container. with the disinfectant solution

3. Keep the prongs(tip) of the forceps Sterile objects that are out of vision
within the vision while using them. may touch the unsterile objects
accidently.
4. Gently tap the prongs together To prevent the solution dribbling on
directly over the container to to the sterile field and wet it.
remove the excess solution.
5. Transfer forceps and the container There is a great possibility of these
should be sterilized daily. articles becoming contaminated
because of their frequent and varied
use.
S. NO. PRINCIPLES REASON

1. Remove the cover from the The air currents can contaminate the
container when necessary and only cover.
for a short period of time.

2. Lift the cover of the container in The air currents can contaminate the
such a way that the inside of the lid inside of the cover.
is pointing down.

3. Invert the cover only when it is Contact with the unsterile surface
necessary to place it down. contaminates sterile objects.

4. Consider the rim of the cover and Proximity to a contaminated area

the container to be contaminated. makes sterility doubtful.

5. Do not return the unused article It is considered to be contaminated

objects to the container, once they by the air currents.
have been taken out.
S. No. Name Strength Uses
1. Savlon 1:1000 (10 ml Savlon conc. Made  Cleaning of wounds.
(Conc.) up to 1 lit. with water)  Pre-operative preparation of skin.
 Swabbing and cleaning of body parts.
(eg- vagina, urethra)
 As an antiseptic.
2. Savlon solution (aqueous) 1:30 (31ml Savlon solution made Same as above.
up to 1 lit. with water)
3. Hydrogen peroxide As available in the market.  Cleaning of infected wounds and to remove slough.
 As bleaching agent to remove blood stains from clothes.

4. Hydrogen peroxide In every diluted form.  Cleaning of wounds and mouthwash.

5. Spirit 70% alcohol  Preoperative preparation of skin.
(alcohol)  Cleaning of clean wounds.
 Cleaning of skin before giving IM and IV injection.
 Quick disinfection of instruments.
6. Eusol solution 12.5gm boric acid  Always use freshly made solution.
1.25 gm bleaching powder in 100  Cleaning of wounds infected with pseudomonas bacteria

7. Glycerine magsulf solution Concentrated solution  Used as hygroscopic solution to reduce edema.
 Dressing of wounds as in cellulitis
8. Betadine (providine iodine) As available in the market  Dressing of wounds
pre-operative
 Preparation of skin
9. Gentian violet As available in the market  Dressing of infected wounds
 Painting of body cavities infected with fungus(e.g.
vagina, oral cavity)
10. Potassium permanganate 1:5000 to 1:1000  Mouthwash
 Irrigation of bladder
 Sitz bath
11. Lysol As available in the market  Disinfection of sharp instruments
CONCURRENT DISINFECTION
It means the immediate disinfection of all
contaminated articles and bodily discharges during
the course of the disease. It includes-
 Cleaning of the isolation unit daily including the
floors using an effective disinfectant.
 Disinfection of all articles including the soiled linen,
contaminated articles etc before it is sent out of the
unit.
 Disposal of all wastes by incineration.
 Safe disposal of excreta.
TERMINAL DISINFECTION

The terminal disinfection is the

disinfection of the client’s unit with all
the articles used on discharge, transfer
or death of a client who had been
suffering from an infectious disease
FUMIGATION
It is the process of disinfection by exposure to the fumes of a
vapourised germicide.
The commonly used agents are sulphur and formalin.
Fumigation with sulphur:-
 The room should be filled with steam by boiling a kettle of water
in the room as the sulphur fumes act better on a damp surface.
 A little methylated spirit is poured over the sulphur to ensure
burning the sulphur completely.
 Lit fire to the sulphur and close the door.
 The room is opened after 24 hours.
All articles should be kept open for the thorough
penetration by the fumes.
Fumigation with formalin-

 Formalin is more efficacious as a surface

disinfectant and is also more expensive.
 For every 100c feet of room space that is to be
disinfected, take 140gm of potassium
permangnate crystal and 250ml of formalin, mix
it and place them in a metal bowl.
 The heat produced by the chemical, action
evaporates the formaldehyde.
STERILIZATION OF ARTICLES
 Sterilization is the process by which an object become free of all
the micro-organisms.
 By Sterilization, both the pathogenic and non-pathogenic
organisms are destroyed.
 There are various methods used in the sterilization of articles
1. Boiling.
2. Cold sterilization or disinfection by using disinfectants.
3. Fumigation or gas sterilization.
4. Ultraviolet light sterilization or radiation.
5. Dry heat sterilization or hot air sterilization.
6. Steam under pressure or autoclaving.
BOILING
Total immersion in boiling water(100 deg. C) for 10 min. will kill
most of the pathogenic organisms and is the common and reliable
method disinfecting instruments.

Advantages:-
 Boiling can be used in the home environment and other situations
when other methods are not available.
 It is one of the economic ways of sterilizing articles.

Disadvantages:-
 Some bacteria and virus and all spores are resistant to boiling.
 Ineffective in sterilizing articles which are destroyed by moisture
and heat.
COLD STERILIZATION OR
DISINFECTION
BY THE DISINFECTNT:-
Advantages:-
 This is the method used to sterilize the articles that are
destroyed by heat and the metallic objects prone to
corrosion.
 This is the most easy method.

Disadvantages:-
 Disinfectants does not destroy the spores.
 Some disinfectants are injurious to the skin and articles.
FUMIGATION OR GAS
STERILIZATION
 Total surface exposure to formaldehyde gas
under conditions of controlled humidity,
temperature and time exposure will destroy all
vegetative form of bacteria, viruses and most of
the spores.
 The disadvantages of the gas are that it has a
pungent smell, is irritant to the eyes, skin and
mucous membrane.
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT STERILIZATION OR
RADIATION
Ultraviolet light sterilization is effective for disinfecting
working surfaces and air inside the rooms.

Disadvantages
 Light travels in straight lines and does not penetrate.
 Any bacteria in shadows are unaffected.
 Ultraviolet rays does not penetrate the liquids.
 Prolonged exposure to the ultraviolet rays causes
conjunctival damage.
 It is expensive.
DRY HEAT STERILIZATION OR HOT AIR
STERILIZATION

 It is method of choice for fine metal

cannula(e.g. L. P. needles) and for glass
syringes, since these can be sterilized
with a stillet in or the piston in position.
 The articles which are damaged by the
moisture are sterilized by this method.
STEAM UNDER PRESSURE OR AUTOCLAVING

 Autoclaving or sterilization by steam under pressure is

the most widely used, economical and one of the most
effective methods of destroying microorganisms.
 In an autoclave, steam is present under pressure to
maintain the necessary high temperature for sterilization
and it allows rapid penetration of articles packed in it.
 For effective sterilization, the steam in the autoclave
should be at 15 lbs/inch(1.05kg/cm) pressure, at 121
deg.C temperature and this should be maintained for 30
min.
THANKYOU