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… is to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

An infectious disease is any disease caused by the growth of pathogens.

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• Pathogens are disease causing microorganisms (germs) in the body

• It is essential that health care workers maintain a safe environment by following specific policies and procedures designed to reduce the risk of transferring infectious diseases.

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• Pathogens can be transferred from patient to patient, patient to staff, staff to patient, or staff to staff.

• An infection can be generalized or systemic (affects the whole body) or localized (affecting one area of the body)

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• …are very small, usually one-celled, living plants or animals (bacteria, protozoa) They exist every where in the environment but can only be see with the aid of a microscope.

• The study of microorganisms is called microbiology.  

• The microscope invented in 1600 by Leeuwenhoek, it was not until Louis Pasteur’s work in the 1800’s that the germ theory was developed.

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•  Bacterium (example: bacterial meningitis or strep throat)

• Virus (example: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C)

• Fungus (example: athlete’s foot)• Parasites and Prions (transmissible pertinacious

infectious agent

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1843 Wendell Oliver – a contagious disease or communicable disease ( a disease that can be transmitted from one individual to another) might be spread by the contaminated (presence of infectious material) hands of doctors and nurses.

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• Ignaz Phillipp Semmelweis observed that mortality rates were higher when patients attended by physicians or medical students who came directly from the morgue or autopsy room without first washing their hands.

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• Lord Joseph Lister –1864 developed the surgical aseptic

technique to prevent contamination of the wound and operative sight

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Fun FactIt is estimated that each of us carries 1014

Bacteria (100,000,000,000,000, or 100 trillion) in and on our bodies and that the total population on our planet excretes 1022 bacteria in feces every day

(Thomas, 1989)

Centers for Disease Control• US Department of Health and Human Services •studies causes and distribution (epidemiology) of disease to formulate safety guidelines to help prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases.

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OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) a federal agency that establishes minimum health and safety standards for the work place and to enforce those standards.

OSHA is the “watchdog” of employee safety and conducts on site inspections to verify compliance with its standards

An extension of OSHA for hospital staff and deals with compliance of safety regulations, inspection procedures, and penalties for non-compliance.

• CLSI is an international institute that develops and publishes standards and guidelines for regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies for healthcare (and other) laboratories.

• These guidelines and standards must be adhered to in order for the lab to continue testing specimens and operating.

• Representatives from government, industry and patient-testing profession compose the members of CLSI.

• Include the following:• A formal safety program• Orientation of staff and periodic

updating of safety training• Specifically mandated Plans• CHEMICAL HYGEINE PLAN• BLOOD –BOURNE PATHOGEN

(exposure control plan)• Identification of physical, chemical

and biological hazards

• Where are they found?• What are some of the

main routes of exposure to BBP?

• What are blood Bourne pathogens?

• Which Healthcare workers are at greatest exposure risk?

• What are some recommendations that reduce the risk of BBP exposure?

http://www.schooltube.com/video/6f3f7609c9a947f0ac46/Blood-Borne-Pathogen-Video

• Chemical inventory• MSDS • Labeling• Documentation• Standard Operating

Procedures (SOP)• Safety equipment controls• PPE• Waste removal and

disposal• Precautions for hazardous

materials

• Maybe the simplest and most effective way to manage and handle hazardous substances

Contains information about a specific chemical to include chemical and trade name, chemical formula, chemical family, manufacturer, hazardous ingredients, physical properties, health and protection information, PPD and equipment requirements for use, first aid, spill and disposal information.

Example of MSDS: http://msdsauthoring.com/images/sulfuric_acid_nugentec_ghs_msds.pdf

BBP (Bloodbourne Pathogen) – Any infectious microorganism present in the blood and other body fluids and tissues that can cause disease.

The two most prevalent BBP are Hepatitis B and HIV.

Plan1.List of jobs tasks with potential BBP exposure2.Universal Precautions3.Engineering Precautions – • ex. Sharps, disposal containers, needle sheaths

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4. Work Habits –hand washing5. PPE(Personal Protective

Equipment)6. Disinfection7. Hepatitis B Vaccine for

employees8. Labeling9. Training for Employees10. Documentation

a. Medical record of patientb. Training recordsc. Sharps injury log

Treat all blood and bodily fluids as if they are contaminated/infectious• Standard precautions• Used for all patients• #1 strategy for control of nosocomial infection• Covers blood, all body fluids, skin breaks,

mucous membranes

- Standard Precautions synthesize Universal Precautions

Nosocomial infection: an infection acquired in the healthcare setting (hospital)

• Standard precautions are applied to every patient in the healthcare environment to prevent contact with potentially infectious body fluids. • Blood• All body fluids. Secretions and excretions except

sweat, regardless of whether or not they contain visible blood

• No intact skin• Mucous membranes• Any unidentified body fluids (blood, mucus, sputum,

saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, feces, vomitus, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, semen, vaginal secretions

• Precautions used as part of Infection Control regarding the prevention of the transmission of Blood Bourne diseases when first aid or healthcare is provided.

• Blood and certain body fluids are to be treated as if potentially infectious. Precautions include specific recommendations and the use of gloves, mask, gown and/or protective eyewear when contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated.