Salon EcologyIn this chapter you will be learning

about:Microbiology

Infection ControlFirst Aid and Safety

Microbiology• The study of small living organisms called

microbes, such as bacteria.• Because infectious bacteria and viruses are

easily transmitted from person to person, it is important that a professional cosmetologist, coming in contact with many people on a daily basis, understands particular aspects of microbiology.

Bacteria• Bacteria - One-celled microorganisms; germs;

microbes.• The study of bacteria is referred to as

bacteriology.• Germ – is a non-scientific name for small

organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that invade the body and cause disease.

NONPATHOGENIC• Nonpathogenic - Harmless, non-disease

producing bacteria• Cause decay of refuse, improve fertility of soil• Can be beneficial (ex. Yogurt has health

enhancing bacteria.)• 70% of all bacteria are nonpathogenic

PATHOGENIC• Pathogenic bacteria - Live everywhere • Cause of infection and disease and some

produce toxins.• Spread easily

– In salon by using unsanitary styling implements

– Or dirty hands and fingernails• Have distinct shapes that aid in their

microscopic identification.

Example of Pathogenic Bacterial Infection

Wound Infection is caused by multiplying pathogenic bacteria which cause a reaction in the patient. Infection can be systemic, causing the patient to become ill, or local only affecting the wound bed and surrounding tissues.

Pathogenic Bacteria• Cocci

– Round - shaped cells– Appear singularly or in groups– There are 3 groups of Cocci

• Staphlococci– Forms a bunch or clusters

(like grapes)– Pus – forming – Found in boils– Cause of staph infection

• Streptoccocci– Form in long chains– Pus – forming– Cause strep throat, blood

poisoning, rheumatic fever and more.

• Diplococci– Round and grow in pairs – Diplo means two.– Cause pneumonia

• Bacilli– Most common– Bar or Rod – shaped– Cause fever, tetanus, bacterial

influenza, typhoid fever, tuberculosisand diphtheria.

• Spirilla– Spiraled, corkscrew shape– Cause syphilis and cholera– Treponema pallidah

(a stain of Spirilla) that causes syphilis

ActivityTake the information you have just learned and do the exercise on the next page.

Growth of Bacteria• It is very important to keep areas clean,

dry and unfavorable for bacterial growth!• Bacteria grow best in warm, damp

conditions.• Bacteria grow through a growth cycle that

consists of two stages:– Active – Inactive

Active Bacteria• Reproduce and Grow Rapidly• Grow in dark,damp,dirty areas where a food

source is available.• Grow in size and divide creating two cells.• As much as16 million cells can produce in as

little as 12 hours

Inactive Bacteria• Conditions unfavorable = No Growth• Form spores not hurt by disinfection, cold

or heat.• Conditions good – they return to active

stage.

Movement of Bacteria• Bacilli and Spirilla have flagella (cilia)

– Hair-like projections which extend from the sides of the cell.

• Act as propellers to help bacteria travel through air and liquids.

• Without this, movement of bacteria would be limited.

Viruses• Smaller than bacteria; cause familiar diseases:

Cold, Measles, Hepatitis, HIV• HBV – Human Hepatitis B; affects liver; may

need vaccine; (PSW – personal service worker)• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) – causes

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome); affects natural immunity of body fluids into bloodstream of non-infected.

• Cosmetologist are licensed to prevent the unnecessary spread of infectious diseases, such as HBV and HIV.

What Is HIV?• HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

It’s similar to other viruses, such as colds and the flu, with one important difference—the human body cannot get rid of HIV. That means once a person has HIV, he or she has it for life.

HIV affects specific cells of the immune system (called CD4 cells). Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infection anymore.

There is no cure, but with proper medical care, the virus can be controlled.

HIV / AIDS• AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency

Syndrome.  It is the final stage of HIV infection. People in this stage of the disease have badly damaged immune systems and are vulnerable to other infections, called opportunistic infections.

• These are infections that occur because of a weakened immune system. People are diagnosed with AIDS when they have one or more specific opportunistic infections, certain cancers, or a very low number of CD4 cells, which are important parts of the immune system.

• Symptoms can include diarrhea, night sweats, fatigue, fever, chills, vomiting, and severe weight loss.

External Parasites• Parasites - Plants or animals that live on or

obtain their nutrients from another organism.• Ringworm (tinea capitis)

– Produced by parasitic plant or fungi• Contracted by improperly disinfected implements.

Ringworm that has spread!

Continue External Parasites• Scabies, Itch Mite, Head Lice

– Caused by parasitic animals• Certain insects that cause contagious disease.

– Head Lice • Transmitted directly from one person to another, or

by contact with articles that have come in contact with an infested person.

• Symptoms: scratching, redness, or small bite marks on the scalp.

• Treat by using a pediculicide (lice-killing) shampoo.

What do head lice look like?Louse Lice Eggs Lice Shampoo

Responding Instead of Reacting• Responding to a situation means to deal

with the situation in a calm mature manner. Solve the problem.

• Reacting to a situation is when a person reacts first and thinks later. When we do this we may not say and do the right thing. We could end up making the situation worse.

• Have empathy and be a professional.– Put yourself in the other persons shoes.

Infection• Infection - Caused by pathogenic bacteria

or viruses; entering the body and multiplying.– Contagious (communicable) – Infection that

can transmit through touch or the air.– Bloodborn pathogens – infection that is

carried through blood or body fluids.– Primary reason behind additional infection

control procedures.

• Common means of spreading infection in a salon:– Open sores– Unclean hands and implements– Coughing or sneezing– Common use of drinking cups and towels– Use of same implements on infected areas and

non-infected areas– Unsanitary salon conditions

Universal Precautions• Wash Hands

• Wear gloves whenever there is a possibility of coming in contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials (body fluids and tissues)

• Wear face masks and eye protection whenever there is a possibility of blood splashing into the rescuer's face

• Dispose of all contaminated sharp objects in an appropriate puncture-proof container

• Dispose of all contaminated personal protective equipment in an appropriate container marked for bio-hazardous waste

• Local Infection – Effects a small area– Often indicated by a pus-filled boil,

pimple or inflamed area.

• General Infection (systemic) – Effects the whole body– Occurs when the circulatory system

carries bacteria and their toxins to all parts of the body.

• Asymptomatic – Carries disease – SHOWS NO SIGNS!! That’s why we have Universal Precautions! – Ex. – A person can have HIV and

show no visible signs.

Two Basic Classes of InfectionLocal Infection

General Infection

Staph infection that is spreading

Immunity• Your body can destroy an infection that enters

the body, if you are immune to that particular infection.

• Immunity gives your body the ammunition to fight disease.

• Doctors can test the white blood cell count as a way to determine the level of illness suffered by a patient.

Natural Immunity• Partially inherited, natural resistance to

disease.• Body produces white blood cells and

antitoxins to fight disease• Skin protects body from microbes

– 1st line of defense!

Acquired Immunity• Acquired

– Developed through the injection of antigens

– Stimulate the body’s immune response

– Ex: Polio vaccine

Infection Control• Infection Control – Efforts to prevent the spread

of disease and kill certain or all microbes.– Efficacy = effectiveness

• Efficacy- “ability to produce results” or “effectiveness”• Efficacy labels are on all disinfectants to inform the user

about what the product is “effective in fighting against”.

• Understanding how to destroy microbes and prevent disease from spreading in the salon will help protect professional cosmetologists and their clients from the unnecessary spread of infectious diseases and maintain a safe, efficient working environment.

Infection Control Pyramid• Sterilization: the most effective level of infection control.

– Used on tools and implements that are used to puncture or invade the skin.

– Kills – all infectious diseases.– Destroys or kills all microbes including bacterial spores.

Sterilizers Sterilized Implements

• Bloodborn Pathogen Disinfection: Must use an EPA-registered broad spectrum disinfectant labeled as effective against HIV and HBV or tuberculocidal.– Required for all tools and

implements that have come in contact with blood or body fluids.

– Kills: HIV and HBV or Tuberculocidal

• Disinfection: chemical products used to destroy or kill bacteria and some viruses (except bacterial spores).– Kills - Certain bacteria– On nonporous surfaces, such as

implements.

Antiseptic: Product applied to the skin to reduce microbes.

Clean surface on which to perform procedures and you have helped to prevent the future growth of microbes.

Prevents - Growth of bacteria

Ex. Numbing cream with antiseptic to apply before waxing.

• Sanitation: Clean and reduce microbes on the surface, but do not kill germs.– Removes - Dirt and debris– 1st level of infection control– Prevents the growth of microbes.– Does not kill bacteria (Removes, but does not kill)

Infection Control Pyramid

Sterilization

Bloodborn Pathogen

Disinfection

Disinfection

Antiseptic

Sanitation

Proper Hand Washing Procedure

Liquid Soap vs. Bar SoapLiquid Soap

In closed bottle Not exposed to microbes

Bar SoapLeft out wet

Exposed to microbesPerfect environment for

bacterial growth

What We Just ReadHead to Head

Challenge

Disinfectant Safety• Disinfectants are powerful,

professional-strength tools that can be hazardous if used incorrectly.

• Can be poisonous if ingested.

• Can cause serious skin and eye damage, especially in a concentrated form.

Follow these guidelines when using Hospital Grade Disinfectants:

• Wear gloves and safety glasses when mixing chemicals with water.

• Always add disinfectant to water, not water to disinfectant.

• Use tongs, gloves, or a draining basket to remove implements from disinfectant.

• Keep disinfectants away from children.

• Never pour disinfectants on your hands. Can cause skin irritation and increase the chance of infection. Wash hands with soap and warm water and dry them thoroughly.

• Carefully weigh and measure all products to ensure that they perform at peak efficiency.

• Always keep disinfectants in a marked container.

• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for mixing and using, and check the efficacy to make sure you are using the right disinfectant.

• Avoid overexposure. Disinfectants are chemicals, and overuse id detrimental to the environment.

• When using jars or containers to disinfect implements be sure to change the solution every day.

• Or, as often as needed to keep free from debris.

• Implements should be cleaned with soap and water before placing in solution.

Type of tools that can be disinfected:

Combs Brushes Rollers

Scissors Tweezers Nail Clippers

OSHA• Department of Labor regulatory agency• Occupational Safety and Health

Administration• Regulates and enforces safety and health

standards to protect employees in the workplace.

MSDS• Key info on product ingredients.• Material Safety Data Sheets

– Information about hazardous ingredients, safe use and handling procedures, precautions to reduce the risk of harm and overexposure, flammability and data in case of a fire, proper disposal guidelines, and medical information should anyone have a reaction to the product.

EPA• Approves efficacy of products.• Environmental Protection Agency

– The EPA licenses different types of disinfectants.

– The type used in the salon are hospital grade disinfectants that kill HBV, HIV and tuberculocidal.

FIRST AID

First AidAccidents and

emergencies happen everywhere. Basic

knowledge of first aid will prove invaluable.

Bleeding and Wounds• Step 1 – Place clean cloth or

gauze and gloved hand over wound. Apply firm pressure for 5 minutes.

• Step 2 – Call 9-1-1 (if bleeding is severe)

• Step 3 – Elevate injured arm or leg above level of victims heart if practical.

• Step 4 – When bleeding stops, secure cloth with a bandage – Don’t lift cloth to see if bleeding stopped. Make sure that bandage is not too tight.

Chemical Burns1. Rinse away all traces of chemicals while

moving away any contaminated clothing.2. Cover burn loosely with clean, dry cloth.3. Refer person to medical personnel.

Heat or Electrical Burn1. If skin is not broken, immerse in cool

water or gently apply cool compress.2. Do NOT break a blister if one forms. Do

NOT apply ointments or creams.3. If skin is broken or if burn is severe:

• Call 9-1-1• Do NOT clean• Cover burn

1st Degree Burns• First Degree

• Symptom is redness• Burn only effects the surface, the epidermis layer

of the skin.• Apply ice or cold water.

2nd Degree Burns– Second Degree

• Symptom is redness and watery blisters.• Burn effects the two upper most layers of the skin

(epidermis and dermis).• Apply ice or cold water and may refer to a

physician.

3rd Degree Burns– Third Degree

• Symptom involves deeper structures of flesh and possible charring of tissue.

• Burn effects all 3 main layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous) and may even reach the muscle.

• Refer to a physician immediately!

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degree Burns

ChokingStep 1 – Determine if victim can talk or

cough. If no, have someone call 9-1-1, while you do abdominal thrusts.

Step 2 – Stand behind victim; wrap arms around his/her stomach.

Step 3 – Make thumbless fist with one hand and place that fist just above navel and well below the ribs with thumb and forefinger side toward the victim.

Step 4 – Perform upward thrust by grasping fist with other hand and pulling it quickly toward you; repeat if necessary.

Fainting• Step 1 – lay victim down on

back – allow plenty of fresh air.

• Step 2 – Reassure victim and apply cold compress to face

• Step 3 – If victim vomits, roll onto side, keep windpipe clear.

• Call 9-1-1 if victim does not regain consciousness.

Chemical Eye Injury• Hold eyelids apart – flush

eyeball with luke warm water for 15 – 30 minutes; don’t let runoff flow into the other eye.

• Place gauze pad or cloth over both eyes and secure with bandage.

• Get to an eye specialist or emergency room immediately.

Cut, Scratch or Embedded Object in Eye

• Place gauze pad or cloth over both eyes and secure with a bandage.

• Do NOT try to remove an embedded object!

• Get to an eye specialist or emergency room immediately.

Examples of Object In Eye