FUNERAL INDUSTRY WORKERS 16/04/2010 Infection Prevention & Control Wilhelmine Digney Launceston General Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Unit
What is Infection Control? Infection control is the prevention or minimisation of preventable infection and improvement of self health outcomes. It includes: Management practices that support infection control procedures and work practices Procedures and practices that prevent transmission of infection An understanding of infectious agents and means of transmission An understanding of specific factors that affect disease transmission in differing health care settings. Successful Infection Prevention & Control is based on the identification of hazards and the classification of risk.
Standard Precautions Standard precautions are standard operating procedures that apply to the care and treatment of all patients, regardless of their perceived infectious risk. These precautions include aseptic technique, handwashing, use of personal protective equipment, appropriate reprocessing of instruments and equipment and implementation of environmental controls. Standard precautions should incorporate safe systems for handling blood (including dry blood), other body fluids, secretions and excretions (excluding sweat), nonintact skin and mucous membranes. (INFECTION CONTROL IN THE HEALTH CARE SETTING, 2004. Chapter 2) Older name: Universal Precautions
HANDLING OF SHARPS AND SINGLE USE POLICY, REPROCESSING OF EQUIPMENT Disposal of sharps should be as close to it s generation as possible. Single person and single use means no reprocessing of these objects. Items used during any procedure must be able to be cleaned effectively before reprocessing can be undertaken (sterilizing). Procedures that can occasion O.E. consider added protection e.g., under glove, Kevlar, double gloving.
Personal Protective Items Gloves Aprons Gowns Eye wear goggles, glasses, shields etc Respiratory Protection: Surgical mask, Mask Respirators Positive pressure hoods Sharps awareness disposal and safe handling of MIX and MATCH to suit need
Donning: Perform Hand Hygiene immediately before putting on PPE 2. P2 (N95) Mask / Surgical Mask
Doffing:
PERFORM HAND HYGIENE IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVING GLOVES 2 GOWN PERFORM HAND HYGIENE IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVING GOWN 3 GOGGLES OR FACE SHIELD PERFORM HAND HYGIENE IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVING GOGGLES OR FACE SHIELD
4. P2 (N95) Mask / Surgical Mask PERFORM HAND HYGIENE IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVING GOGGLES OR FACE SHIELD Adopted from the Centre for Disease Control
Conclusion Standard precautions should become usual practice and be performed automatically after assessment of the situation / practice need. Use of Standard precautions can decrease the occurrence of occupational exposure. Infection Control Practices, based on the national guidelines should prevent most Hospital Acquired Infections. Infection control is not only for health care establishments but the community at large.
PREVENT DISEASE when you cough or sneeze When coughing or sneezing use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth and turn away from people. If tissue not handy use the crook of your elbow. Dispose of tissue after use into a waste container or plastic bag Wash or cleanse your hands after disposing of tissue. SOCIAL DISTANCING 1 metre, beside, above
Transmission of Respiratory Diseases 1. Contact (direct and indirect) Respiratory secretions may be passed directly from person to person by hand-to-hand, or handto-eye, hand-to-nose or hand-to-mouth contact. Respiratory secretions may be passed indirectly from person to person when they contaminate surfaces, such as household or office items, toys, door handles, or light switches which are then handled or contact the mouth, nose or eyes.
TRANSMISSION CONTINUED 2. Droplet Respiratory droplets are expelled from the nose and mouth when talking, coughing or sneezing. The droplets are heavy but can travel up to one metre before landing on surfaces.
TRANSMISSION CONTINUED 3. Airborne Respiratory droplets that are very small may remain suspended in the air for some time and be carried by dust or smoke particles for in excess of two metres. Transmission through this route is more common in crowded, enclosed spaces.
Noro virus -Viral gastroenteritis. Meningococcal A, B, C T.B. Hepatitis B VRE Flu vax Avian Flu H1N5 Acute Infectious Viral Respiratory Illnesses Pertussis SWINE Flu H1N1 2009 MRSA SARS Childhood diseases measles Bacterial Enteritis Roto virus VACCINATION / IMMUNISATION
PLEASE DO NOT COME TO WORK OR VISIT HOSPITALS OR NURSING HOMES IF YOU HAVE: 1. FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS OR THE FLU. 2. GASTRO - NO SOONER THAN 48 HOURS, AFTER YOUR SYMPTOMS STOP. 3. Other infectious illness
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THEY HAVE A BBV HIV Hep B Hep C
WHAT IS AN OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD BORNE VIRUSES? FLUIDS BLOOD, SEMEN, VAGINAL SECRETIONS, BREAST MILK, BLOOD STAINED ANY FLUID, VESICLES (blisters) PORTALS OF ENTRY - BROKEN / UNINTACT SKIN, SHARPS - PERCUTANEOUS, MUCOUS MEMBRANES
First Aid for Occupational Exposure Skin penetrated by contaminated needle / sharp: Wash area well with soap and water Rinse with alcohol Cover with waterproof dressing before patient contact. Blood on skin - broken (non-intact) or unbroken (intact): Wash well with soap and water. Eye contamination: Rinse area and eye gently but thoroughly, with water or normal saline, with eye open Blood in mouth / nose: Spit / blow blood / fluid out then rinse mouth / nose thoroughly with water
BLOOD BORNE VIRUSES Sufferers, carriers of Blood Borne Viruses are protected by the HIV/AIDS PREVENTIVE MEASURES ACT 1993. Public health Act and Privacy Act Whilst the onus of letting prospective sexual partners or sharing IV drug users know of their BBV status, and taking precautions against transmission of the BBV, under the Acts they do not have to inform others undertaking their care of their positive status. Treating physicians may know about the BBV but the person must give consent for the carer to pass the information on.