INFECTION CONTROL

Linda HendersonCNC Infection Control

Royal District Nursing Service & Domiciliary Care SASeptember 2006

0411 657 054

Objectives

• Understand how infection is spread

• Knowledge of how to prevent the spread of infection through the use of standard precautions

• Applying the principles of infection control in laundry settings

How?• 5 modes of transmission

– Airborne- very small, expelled when coughing, sneezing, remain airborne and can travel some distance (aerolised)

– Droplet – larger, travel up to a metre, close contact, larger molecules

– Contact – direct contact/indirect contact

– Vehicle - contaminated food/water/blood

– Vector - insects, animals/rodents

AS/NZS 4146:2000• Hand washing facilities

• Design: dirty clean (prevent cross contamination)

• Staff report infections; have I/C knowledge

• Provision of PPE

• Time, temperature, agitation + detergent

• 60° for 30mins kills HIV; 98° for 2mins kills Hep B;

Blood Borne Viruses• Hepatitis B, C & HIV/AIDS

• Transmission by direct blood contact – sexual intercourse, sharing needles, needlestick injuries, razors etc.

• Standard precautions only – Personal protective equipment when anticipating

contact with body fluids

• Safe handling of sharps

HBsAg Prevalence

8% - High 2-7% - Intermediate

<2% - Low

Geographic Distribution of Chronic HBV Infection

Q Fever

• Q fever is a highly infectious disease that is carried by animals and passed to humans

• People who work with livestock are at highest risk of the disease and it is very prevalent in Queensland

• Vaccine available for people who work with or come into contact with animals

Hepatitis A

• Transmission – faecal/oral

• Liver virus

• Vaccine preventable

• Hand hygiene

• Wearing of PPE

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS INFECTION

Infectious Gastroenteritis

Management of Infectious Gastroenteritis in Aged Care Facilities. January 2005

5.9 SOILED LINEN• Ensure minimal handling of soiled linen and

clothes to avoid microbial contamination of the air and staff

• Soiled linen should be placed in collection bags immediately

•

• ‘Hosing off’ gross soiling from clothing/ linen prior to laundering should be done away from resident facilities and should be performed with extreme care

• The wearing of face protection, gowns and gloves is essential for this procedure

• Transport used linen in an enclosed bag and place the linen bag in a plastic outer bag if leakage is anticipated

• Wash linen as usual in detergent, for the maximum washing cycle and then dry

Immunisation

• Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis B

• Tetanus

• Influenza – prevent sick leave, absenteeism

Conclusion • Prevent infections by following Standard

Precautions

• All blood and body fluids are potentially infectious

• Always use PPE when handling soiled/dirty linen prior to cleaning

• Education/training for all staff

• Immunise for preventable diseases