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Patient Safety 1: Infection Control: Yi-Hsiu Liu RN, Med Carol Allen PH D
Patient Safety 1: Infection Control: Yi-Hsiu Liu RN, Med Carol Allen PH D
Infection Control
Yi-Hsiu Liu RN, MEd
yhliu@wsu.edu
Carol Allen Ph D
carola@wsu.edu
Acknowledgments
o World Health Organization
– The World Health Organization is committed
to promoting healthy outcomes for all of the
world’s people.
– This lecture is primarily based on the World
Health Organization Patient Safety
Curriculum Guide retrieved from
http://www.who.int/patientsafety/educatio
n/curriculum/en/index.html
Learning Objectives
1. Recognize patient safety as an important
nursing responsibility in global health care
systems.
2. Apply required knowledge in preventing
and/or minimizing infection.
3. Perform appropriate behaviors required to
prevent health care associated infections.
4. Demonstrate required competence to provide
patients with safe care.
Introduction to Patient Safety:
Definition
o Patient safety is a discipline in the health care
sector that applies safety science methods
toward the goal of achieving a trustworthy
system of health care delivery. Patient safety is
also an attribute of health care systems; it
minimizes the incidence and impact of, and
maximizes recovery from, adverse events
(Emanuel et al., 2008) .
Introduction to Patient Safety:
Background
o Adverse medical events are widespread and
preventable (Emanuel et al., 2008) .
o Much unnecessary harm is caused by health-
care errors and system failures.
– Ex. 1: Hospital acquired infections from poor
hand-washing.
– Ex. 2: Complications from administering the
wrong medication.
Introduction to Patient Safety:
Goal
o Prevent and/or minimize the adverse events
and eliminate preventable harm in health care.
o All health care professionals including nurses
are responsible for ensuring patient safety
Introduction to Patient Safety:
Protect Yourself
Be sure you have been immunized against
Hepatitis B since it is very easy to transmit!
Main Sources of Infection
Burke J Infection control-a problem for patient safety New Eng Journal
of Medicine (February 13, 2003)
Four Ways to Prevent HAI
1. Maintain cleanliness of the hospital.
2. Personal attention to handwashing before and
after every contact with a patient or object.
3. Use personal protective equipment whenever
indicated.
4. Use and dispose of sharps safely.
Prevention in Hospitals and
Clinics
o Studies show infections are minimized when
hospitals/clinics:
– Are visibly clean;
– Use increased levels of cleaning during
outbreaks;
– Use hypochlorite and detergents during
outbreaks.
Prevention through Handwashing
o Handwashing: the single most important
intervention before and after patient contact.
o Required knowledge and skills:
– How to clean hands
– Rationale for choice of clean hand practice
– Techniques for hand hygiene
– Protect hands from contaminants
– Promote adherence to hand hygiene guidelines
Five moments for hand hygiene