Infection and PreventionCONTROL

D. D. Millett, RN, BS

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Infection and Prevention Control An infection acquired in the hospital is known as a NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION, or HAI, for Hospital-Acquired Infection.

These can be viral, fungal, or bacterial. Germs are EVERYWHERE and they

particularly attack the patients who are weak, extremely ill, or immunosuppressed.

Pneumonia, MRSA, and Urinary Tract Infections are just several of these potentially life-threatening diseases.

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Infection and Prevention Control

The areas of the hospital that contain the most susceptible patients:

Labor and Delivery, New Mothers, and Infant Nursery Special Care Units, like the ICU Renal, or kidney, areas Surgical Care Operating Room, where there are open skin

surfaces.

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What the weak, ill, and immunosuppressed patients need are an environmentally clean room and area, standard precautions, medical staff that regularly wash their hands, and strong and numerous antibodies to PREVENT and FIGHT infections.

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Infection and Prevention Control

100,000 people die each year from a nosocomial infection. These deaths can be contributed to the

multitudes of microorganisms that cause approximately 1.7 million nosocomial infections a year, per the Center of Disease Control. Nosocomial infection costs the United

States over $45 Billion every year.

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HOW DO WE, AS NURSES, HELP TO CONTROL NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS?

NUMBER ONE WAY:

WASHING YOUR

HANDS!!

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HOW DO WE, AS NURSES, HELP TO CONTROL NOSOCOMIAL

INFECTIONS? You should BRISKLY wash your

hands for 15 seconds: under your nails, in between your fingers, your fingers, and the backs and fronts of your hands.

The time it takes you to sing “Happy Birthday” is the time it SHOULD take you to wash your hands.

May sound simple and obvious ~ but nurses are not ALWAYS washing their hands and infections are numerous…

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HOW DO WE, AS NURSES, HELP TO CONTROL NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS?

When SHOULD you wash your hands? Every time you have patient contact. Every time you take off your gloves. Every time you touch ANYTHING that may have germs. Every time you change bed linens, towels, et cetera. Every time you eat or do other personal things. Every time you THINK THEY MAY BE DIRTY!

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HOW DO WE, AS NURSES, HELP TO CONTROL NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS?

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.

Make certain that other parts of the medical team are washing their hands.

Teach patients and their family how, when, and why, they should wash their hands.

Wear face shields, gowns, masks, and eye protection when required.

Use Standard Precautions! Follow Policy and Procedures

Precautions Properly dispose of

hazardous materials. Dispose of all sharps

CAREFULLY. Get ALL of the recommended

shots to avoid acquiring a disease or illness. Get shots like Hepatitis, Flu, Pneumonia, Shingles, et cetera.

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THE WRONG WAY (sneezes travel up to 3 feet!)

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THE RIGHT WAY:

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Last, but not least, STAY HEALTHY!!