Infection Prevention and

Control
 MEDICAL ASEPSIS

• Medical Asepsis- or clean technique includes procedure used to

reduce the number of microorganisms and prevent their spread.
• It is followed while examining patients, minor procedures like IV
cannula insertion.
 SURGICAL ASEPSIS

• Surgical Asepsis- or Sterile technique

• It is defined as the complete removal of microorganisms and their spores from the
surface of an object.
• The practice of surgical asepsis begins with cleaning the object using principles of
medical asepsis followed by a sterilization process.
 CHAIN OF INFECTION

• The chain of infection- is a concept used in epidemiology and infection

control to understand and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• It describes the sequence of events that must occur for an infection to be
transmitted from one individual to another.
 The chain of infection consists of six links:

• 1. Infectious Agent:
• This is the first link in the chain and refers to the microorganism or pathogen that causes the
infection.
• It can be a bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite. Each infectious agent has specific characteristics
that determine how it is transmitted and the type of infection it causes.
 The chain of infection consists of six links:

• 2. Reservoir: The reservoir is the second link and refers to the source or location where
the infectious agent resides and multiplies. It can be a human, animal, or environment
(such as contaminated water or soil) that provides a suitable environment for the
pathogen to survive.
 The chain of infection consists of six links

• 3. Portal of Exit: The third link is the portal of exit, which is the route
through which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir. Common portals of
exit include respiratory secretions (such as coughing or sneezing), bodily
fluids (such as blood or saliva), or skin lesions.
 The chain of infection consists of six links

• 4. Mode of Transmission: The fourth link is the mode of transmission, which

refers to the method by which the infectious agent is transferred from the
reservoir to a susceptible host.
 Three main modes of transmission

• a) Direct Transmission: This occurs when the pathogen is directly transferred

from an infected individual to a susceptible individual through physical
contact, such as touching, kissing, or sexual intercourse.
 Three main modes of transmission

• b) Indirect Transmission: This occurs when the pathogen is transferred

through an intermediate object or person, such as contaminated surfaces,
contaminated food or water, or through vectors like mosquitoes or ticks.
 Three main modes of transmission

• c) Airborne Transmission: This occurs when the pathogen is spread through

droplet nuclei or dust particles that remain suspended in the air for long
periods and can be inhaled by a susceptible individual.
 The chain of infection consists of six links

• 5. Portal of Entry: The fifth link is the portal of entry, which is the route
through which the infectious agent enters a susceptible host. Common portals
of entry include the respiratory tract, the digestive tract, mucous membranes,
or breaks in the skin.
 The chain of infection consists of six links

• 6. Susceptible Host: The final link is the susceptible host, which refers to an
individual who is vulnerable to infection by the infectious agent. Factors that
can increase susceptibility include a weakened immune system, underlying
health conditions, age, or lack of immunization
 Guidelines for maintaining Medical Asepsis

1. Remember that thorough hand washing is the most important and basic technique for infection
control.
2. Always know a patient’s susceptibility to infection . Age, nutrition status, stress, disease process,
and forms of medical therapy can place patients at risk.
3. Recognize the elements of the infection chain and initiate measures to prevent the onset and spread
of infection.
 Guidelines for maintaining Medical Asepsis

4. Never practice aseptic techniques haphazardly. Rigid adherence to aseptic

procedure is the only way to ensure that a patient is at minimal risk for infection.
5. Protect fellow health care workers from exposure to infections agents.
Nosocomial infections occur with greater frequency when patients become exposed
to health care workers who are carriers of infection.
 HAND WASHING

• Hand Washing is the act of cleansing the hands with water and soap
for the purpose of removing soil or microorganism (germs) in order to
prevent cross-contamination and minimize nosocomial infection.
 2 TYPES OF HAND WASHING

1.Medical Hand Washing

2.Surgical Hand Washing
EQUIPMENTS
 Before Washing the Hands
• Cut the nails
• Avoid nail polish
• Remove all the rings
• Remove wrist watch
• Remove bangels and threads
According to World Health Organization (WHO) there are five moments
for hand washing.

1. Before patient care

2. After environment contact
3. After exposure to blood/body fluids.
4. Before doing any procedure.
5. After patient care
 STEPS IN HAND WASHING

• 1. Wet your hands with clean, running water.

• 2. Apply enough soap to cover all surfaces of your hands.
• 3. Rub your hands together palm to palm, creating a lather
 STEPS IN HAND WASHING

• 4. Place your right palm over the back of your left hand with interlaced fingers, and vice
versa. Interlock your fingers and rub your hands together. 5. Interlock your fingers and
rub the backs of your fingers against your palms, with your fingers interlocked.
• 6. Clasp your left thumb with your right palm and rub in a rotational motion. Repeat
with your right thumb and left palm.
 STEPS IN HAND WASHING

• . 7. Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of your opposite hand in a circular motion.
• 8. Rinse your hands thoroughly under running water, allowing the water to flow from
your wrists to your fingertips.
• 9. Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer. Use a towel to turn off the
faucet if needed.
 OPEN GLOVING

Open Gloving is defined as the putting on of a pair of sterile gloves to protect

ones own hand from pathogenic micro organisms and to avoid contamination of
a sterile area by hand.
 Purpose

• To protect the nurse from the pathogenic microorganisms.

• To safely use her hands to handle without contaminating any objects. Indications
• Contact with open wounds.
• For strict aseptic diagnostic procedures.
• Nurse or health personnel with any cut injury in hands or fingers.
• Handle with infected materials like blood, urine etc.
• For surgical procedure and delivery procedure.
 OPEN GLOVING TEHCNIQUE
1.Open outer glove package wrapper.
2. Open inner glove package on work surface.
3.Pick up glove at cuff of dominant hand and insert fingers. Pull glove completely over
dominant hand .
4.Pick up glove for nondominant hand.
5.Pull second glove over nondominant hand.
6. Interlock gloved hands.
Performing Surgical Dressing: Cleaning Wound
And Applying a Sterile Dressing

• Purpose:
1. To promote wound granulation and healing
2. To prevent micro-organisms fromentering wound.
3. To decrease purulent wound drainage
4. To absorb fluid and provide dry environment
5. To immobilize and support wound
Performing Surgical Dressing: Cleaning Wound
And Applying a Sterile Dressing

6. To assist in removal of necrotic tissue

7. To apply medication to the wound
8. To provide comfort
 Equipment required

• Sterile gloves
• Gauze disposable set containing scissors and forceps
• Cleaning disposable gloves if available
• Cleaning basin
• Plastic bag for soiled dressing or bucket
• Waterproof pad or mackintosh
• Tape
• Surgical pads as required
• Additional dressing supplies as ordered e.g antiseptic ointments, extra
dressings
• Sterile normal saline
 References

• Fundamentals of Nursing – Volume 1 ; Potter and Perry