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Pathogen

a disease-causing microorganism

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Standard Precautions

guidelines, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, for protecting healthcare workers from exposure to blood-borne

pathogens and body secretions

Copyright © 2002 Career Publishing, Inc.Visual 11-3

Chain of Infection

Copyright © 2002 Career Publishing, Inc.Visual 11-4

Breaking the Chain of Infection

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Preventing the Spread of Infection

1. Wash your hands frequently.

2. Wear gloves and other protective clothing (such as gowns, goggles, and masks) when the possibility of exposure to blood or other body fluids exists, and when working on patients who may be infectious.

3. Keep your immunizations up-to-date. (especially hepatitis vaccinations)

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Aseptic

sterile; preventing infection

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Handwashing

• when first arriving to work• before performing each medical procedure on a

patient• during a procedure if your hands become

contaminated• between each patient for whom you provide

medical care• after using the restroom• after removing gloves from your hands• before eating

To prevent the spread of disease, handwashing must be done at the following times:

Visual 11-8Copyright © 2002 Career Publishing, Inc.

Avoiding Contaminated Sharps

1. Never recap, bend, or manually remove a dirty needle.

2. Always deposit the entire syringe and needle or sharp object in the puncture-resistant container.

3. Immediately clean any puncture wound with alcohol and Betadine and cover the wound. Report the incident to your supervisor or instructor.

4. Never carry needles or sharps from one location to another with the tips pointing toward other people or yourself. POINT THEM TOWARD THE FLOOR.

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AIDS

the abbreviation for acquired immune deficiency syndrome; a viral disease

caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys the immune

system and renders the patient susceptible to other infections. It is contracted through

blood and other body fluids, and is incurable.

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Hepatitis A

inflammation of the liver that is caused by a virus and spread by the fecal-oral route

either from poor handwashing or contaminated food

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Hepatitis B

inflammation of the liver that is caused by a virus and spread

through contact with infected blood and body fluids. It is the most common form contracted by

healthcare workers.

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Standard Precautions

1. WEAR GLOVES whenever contact with blood, body secretions, or broken skin may occur. Do not re-use gloves!

2. WEAR PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR AND A MASK during any procedures that may expose you to splattering blood or other body fluids.

3. WEAR DISPOSABLE GOWNS if blood or body fluids may splatter.

4. Thoroughly wash your hands and other skin surfaces immediately following contamination.

5. AVOID GIVING DIRECT MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESUSCITATION; instead, use the mouth-to-mask method, resuscitator bags, and other available equipment. Keep an airway nearby when working in a healthcare environment.

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Standard Precautions, Cont.

6. AVOID DIRECT PATIENT CONTACT if you have open wounds or other skin conditions.

7. WASH YOUR HANDS after each patient contact and after removing gloves.

8. Carefully and properly dispose of all sharp objects (needles, scalpel blades, etc.) in appropriate puncture-resistant containers. Do not recap, bend, break, or manually remove needles! If you get stuck by a used needle, clean the area with Betadine, fill out the necessary forms to notify supervisors of the needle

stick, and get a blood test for hepatitis and AIDS.

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Shanica was assigned to work a weekend wrestling tournament with Mr. Babcock, the head athletic trainer. Mr. Babcock requires that all his student athletic trainers be certified in CPR and First Aid and have their hepatitis shots.

During the first match of the tournament Isaac, one of Mr. Babcock’s wrestlers, got a bloody nose. The officials stopped the match for a blood time out.

What are some of the dangers associated with blood borne pathogens?What should Shanica do to stop the nose bleed? Under what conditions would Isaac be able to continue in the match?