Infection Prevention and Control

Infection Prevention and ControlWhat you cant see can hurt you

What you cant see can hurt you

MicroorganismsAre everywhere, estimated at 5 x 1030 worldwide Include: bacteria, virus, parasites, fungiMost are harmlessMany are useful, used in baking and food-production, genetics, and molecular biology A few cause disease or infection3 billion species of bacteriathere are about 40 species that cause disease in humans

Everyone has bugs on them, all the timeSome are normal, some are potentially harmfulThere will always be someone around who can get sick from bugsWe can get sick or infected by bugs if they find a portal of entryEyes, nose, mouth, breaks in the skin, etc.

agentportal of exitmode of transmissionportal of entrysusceptible hostreservoirThe Chain of Infection44To best illustrate how infections are spread we talk about the chain of infection, how one link connects to the other link.

Breaking the Chain

Interrupting 1 or more links breaks the chain of transmission

5Agent: routine cleaning will reduce #s in the environment

Mode of transmission: most common place to break chain- hand hygiene, cleaning, use of PPE5Modes of TransmissionAirborneOrganism spread by aerosolization, very small particles < 5 mRemain suspended in the air, spread by air currents and inhaled by hostE.g. Tuberculosis, Measles, Varicella (chickenpox)DropletGenerated from respiratory tract by coughing, sneezing into the air, > 5 m diameterTravel 1-2 meters and settle to the surfacesCan survive on environmental surfaces for some timeCome in contact with mucous membrane of the hostE.g. Cold, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis (Whooping cough)

Contact TransmissionMost frequent mode of transmission

Direct- person to person contact with physical transfer of microorganisms between infected and susceptible host

Indirect-contact between a susceptible host and a contaminated object - equipment, needles, dressings, and environmental surfaces

Examples of diseases spread by direct and/or indirect contact NorovirusInfluenzaSTIs

Causativemicro-organismPortal of exitMode oftransmissionPortal of EntrySusceptible hostBreak a link in the chain and prevent the spreadChain of Infection Reservoir

Hand Hygiene is the Single Most Important Way to Prevent the Spread of Infections !

9Your Health is in Your Hands. Hands are the part of the body that are most exposed to germs because they touch many things every dayThink of all the activities you do and surfaces you touch in a day, did others before you wash their hands?

Hands: Whats on yours?Resident germs

Transient germs

What you cant see can hurt you:Harmful microorganism (germs) are microscopic and cant be seen with the naked eye if your hands look dirty you clean them

RIGHT?

Using Soap and WaterWet your hands and apply soapRub your hands vigorously, making sure to clean around nails and backs of handsContinue for 15 secondsRinse well and dry your handsTurn off taps with paper towel if possible

12Hand washing prevents infections like the common cold, influenza and gastrointestinal infections.

Remove jewelleryUse running stream of warm water and wet handsApply liquid soap Use friction to clean between fingers, palms, back of hands, wrists and finally under nails (min 15 sec)Rinse hands under running waterDry hands with towelTurn off the tap with the towel

Alcohol-based Hand RubsConvenient and portable

As effective as hand washing

Should use soap and water if hands are visibly soiled

13Convenient and portable way to wash your hands that can be as effective as hand washing with soap and water. Its important to remember to use soap and water if your hands are visibly soiled.When cleaning hands with an alcohol-based hand rub, apply product to palm of one hand and rub hands together, covering all surfaces of hands and fingers, until hands are dry.Ive brought along sample bottles with me today. When you are purchasing hand sanitizer look for one that has = or > 60% alcohol content.

Cough Etiquette

One millilitre of saliva can have 100,000,000 bacteria and viruses in it!Every drop of respiratory secretions can have 10,000 bacteria in itWhen you are ill- there will be even more bugs present in the respiratory secretions

Droplets travel 1-2 meter at approx 160kph (sneeze or cough)

Keep Personal Items Personal!Please dont share water bottles

Many diseases are spread from person to person through saliva Colds, gastro, and other

Keep your mouth guard in youown mouth

Dont share spit

Group A StreptococcusA bacteria often found in the throat and on the skinIt is the same bacteria that causes:Strep throatScarlet feverImpetigoFlesh eating diseaseTreated with antibioticsTransmitted by contact with contaminated body fluids

WHATS OUT THERE?Common And Not so CommonIllnesses

Common:Gastroenteritis

stomach flu not influenza; NO protection from the influenza vaccineNausea & vomiting, cramps, diarrheaIncubation period: 24 to 48 hoursInfectious: until 48 hours after diarrhea and/or vomiting stops

spread via handsFecal/oral route

20First lets talk about gastroenteritis. It is commonly referred to as stomach flu and many of you have likely heard talk of Norwalk in the community. The stomach flu is not influenza and it is NOT covered by the influenza vaccine.Common symptoms are nausea & vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, sore muscles, low grade fever.Incubation period: 24 to 48 hours (from exposure to onset)Infectious: until 48 hours after diarrhea and/or vomiting stops

Influenza (flu)A respiratory infection caused by the influenza virusSudden onset fever, shakes and chills, headache, muscle aches, dry cough and sore throat, loss of appetite.Can spread quickly from person to person

Incubation period: 1 to 3 daysInfectious: 5 days

21The next most common illness to acquire is influenza. Influenza is a serious respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. It is commonly known as the flu and is most common between November and April. It spreads quickly from person to person especially where people live, work or study close together. It is much worse than a cold and can cause healthy people to become ill. It can also worsen a current medical condition. Between 500-1500 Canadians die from the flu every year.

How is it spread? Coughs and Sneezes

virus are spread through droplets that come from the nose and mouth during coughing or sneezingInfected people transfer the virus from their hands to other objectsInfluenza viruses can live for several hours on hard surfaces such as doorknobs and light switches.

Practice good cough etiquette

22Lets talk about how colds and flu are spread.The virus is spread through droplets in the air that come from the nose and mouth during coughing or sneezing.When we cough or sneeze the droplets can spread up to 6 feet (2 meter).The droplets travel though the air and reach the noses or mouths of others.

SHOW VIDEONot so Common:RABIES

What is Rabies?Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) of warm-blooded mammals, including humans.

Once symptoms of rabies appear, it is almost always fatal

In Canada there have been 24 documented human rabies cases since 1924

Death Due To Rabies!In April 2007 a patient in Alberta died after nine weeks in intensive care from rabies associated with Silver-haired bats*His family recalled that he was bitten by a bat 6 months before symptoms began

Lime Disease

No LYME Disease:

What is Lyme Disease:An infection caused by bacteria

Spread by from the bite of a black-legged tick (deer tick) which is found sporadically throughout the province

Most tick bites do not result in disease

How do ticks transmit it: - not all ticks carry Lyme disease - even with a bite from an infected tick there is only a small chance of getting Lyme disease - ticks feed on blood by inserting their mouth into the skin of host - they are slow feeders and have to be attached for >24 hrs. before the bacteria can get into your blood

Symptoms:Usually occur within one to two weeks

Symptoms: rash (bulls-eye), fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, fatigue

See a doctor if having symptoms

A blood test will confirm if Lyme Disease

Treatment antibiotics

How to avoid ticks:When in tick habitat

- wear long pants and long sleeved shirt- wear closed footwear and socks, tuck pants into socks (I know --- fashion mistake)- use tick repellant that has DEET- put a tick collar on your pet- at the end of the day check yourself for ticks. - pay close attention to areas such as groin, scalp and armpits

If you find a tick:

Remove it promptly!

Carefully use tweezers.

Grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible. Pull it straight out, gently but firmly

Save the tick alive in a jar if you can and take it to your doctor or Public Health for testing

Disinfect the bite with rubbing alcoholThank you Questions?What is the best way to prevent the spread of infections?With what?Rabies is caused by what kind of microorganism?How about food poisoning?When should I check my pet or myself for ticks and why?Do you think infection control is interesting?