This program will outline infection prevention measures known to help reduce the risk of patients getting a healthcare associated infection (HAI).

Hand Hygiene

Spread the Word..

Not the Germs..

Clean Your Hands

The SINGLE most important strategy to reduce the risk of transmitting organisms from one person or one site to another is…

Clean Hands

World Health Organization Guidelines

All employees must perform Hand Hygiene during these Five Moments of Care

1. Use warm, running water and moisten hands well

2. Apply soap to moistened hands 3. Lather well and rub hands together for a

minimum of 15 seconds 4. Clean under and around fingernails 5. Rinse hands by holding downward 6. Dry hands with a paper towel and use the

towel to turn off the faucets

Soap and water hand washing must be performed when caring for a patient with C-difficile.

• Apply product to the palm of one hand

• Rub hands together, covering all surfaces until hands and fingers are dry Gloves DO NOT replace the need for

hand hygiene.

Remember!

Alcohol-based hand rubs should not be used if hands are visibly soiled.

A HAI is an infection that is acquired while the patient is in the hospital and was not present at the time of admission.

The Chain of Infection

A model that helps to understand the components

that lead to patients getting an HAI.

Transmission of the

Bacteria or Virus

Break Chain!

the

Bacteria or Virus

Susceptible Patient

Patient gets an

HAI

• Bacteria and viruses are all around us. They can be on surfaces, our hands, and sometimes in the air.

• Some of the bacteria can become multi-drug resistant (MDRO) and can occur when a patient is on antibiotics for a long time.

– Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) – Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

• Some common MDROS seen in the hospital are:

• The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

• When you receive the vaccine you help reduce the risk of transmission of the flu to your patients, co-workers, yourself, and family.

• UPMC offers ALL employees the flu vaccine FREE of charge.

The “x” represents an area in a patients room that could be contaminated with bacteria and viruses.

AFTER TOUCHING A PATIENT

BEFORE A CLEAN OR ASEPTIC PROCEDURE

AFTER TOUCHING PATIENT SURROUNDINGS

AFTER BODY FLUID EXPOSURE RISK

BEFORE TOUCHING A PATIENT

SPREAD THE WORD – NOT THE GERMS - CLEAN YOUR HANDS

Standard Precautions apply to: • ALL patients receiving care, regardless of infection

status. • ALL blood and body fluids and must be treated as

potentially infectious.

NOTE: Utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) when indicated.

Transmission-Based Precautions: • Use when a patient is known or suspected to have a

transmissible bacteria or viruses. • Use in addition to standard precautions. • A precaution sign and PPE box will be posted on patient’s

room door. Read the sign before entering the patient’s room.

• There are 3 categories recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These categories can be used in combination such as Airborne/Contact for chicken pox. – Contact – Droplet – Airborne

• Bacteria found on equipment can lead to HAIs.

• Hand Hygiene is required after using any equipment.

• Equipment needs to be cleaned between patient use.

• Some examples of commonly used equipment are keyboards, phones, IV poles, blood sugar testing units, wheelchairs, blood pressure units, and medication carts.

• Proper use of respiratory protection by employees is critical to prevent the spread of TB.

• This protection is provided by a: – N-95 Respirator Powered Air Purifying Respirator

(PAPR)

• This protection MUST be worn by all employees who enter the room of a patient with known or suspected TB.

• Construction work can generate dust, which may contain pathogens that can lead to HAIs. – These HAIs can be severe and can result

in death in some patients with conditions that weaken their immune system.

• For this reason, strict infection prevention and control measures, such as containment and barriers, are put in place during hospital construction/renovation.

• All patients admitted to the hospital are at some risk of contracting an HAI. Some people are more susceptible to infection. These include: – Premature babies and very sick children – The elderly and the frail – Those with medical conditions - such as diabetes – People with diseases that compromise their immune

system or people who are being treated with chemotherapy or steroids

• There are other risk factors that may increase your likelihood of acquiring an HAI. These include: – A long hospital stay can increase the risk: for example,

admission for complex or multiple illnesses. – Operations and surgical procedures (the length and

type of surgery can have an impact). – Inadequate hand washing by hospital employees and

patients may increase risk.

• The overuse of antibiotics can lead to resistant bacteria, which means that antibiotics become less effective.

• Invasive procedures can introduce infection into the body: (example: procedures that require the use of equipment such as urinary catheters, IV drips and infusions, respiratory equipment, and drain tubes.)

• Wounds, incisions (surgical cuts), burns, and ulcers are all prone to infection.

• Some areas of the hospital are more likely to have infection, such as intensive care units (ICU) and high dependency units (HDU).

• What is Influenza? – The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by

influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

• The hospital educates licensed independent practitioners and employees about the importance of: – The influenza vaccine – Non-vaccine control and prevention measures

• Use of tissues to cover the mouth and nose • Using droplet precautions • Maintain good hand hygiene practices

• When you receive the vaccine you help reduce the risk of transmission of the flu to your patients, co-workers, yourself, and family.

• UPMC offers ALL employees the flu vaccine FREE of charge.

• Do not work when you are sick. • UPMC facilities prepare annually, during late

summer/early fall, for the coming flu season. During this time, the flu vaccine schedule is prepared and communicated via posters, website homepages, meetings, and newsletter articles.

The truth behind the flu shot: • A flu shot cannot cause flu illness. The influenza viruses contained in a flu shot

are inactivated (killed), which means they cannot cause infection. – 1% of people who are vaccinated with the injectable vaccine develop mild flu-like symptoms, such

as low-grade fever and muscle aches. Some people believe that these side effects represent influenza infection.

• Protective immunity does not develop until 1 to 2 weeks after vaccination. – Some people who get vaccinated later in the season may get influenza shortly afterward. They

develop influenza because they were exposed to someone with the virus before they became immune, not because of the shot.

• To many people, "the flu" is any illness with fever and cold symptoms. – People may become ill from non-flu viruses that circulate during the flu season, which can also

cause flu-like symptoms (such as rhinovirus). The flu vaccine will not protect people from respiratory illnesses that are not caused by flu viruses.

• Unfortunately, some people can remain unprotected from the flu despite getting the vaccine. – This occurrence is more likely among people that have weakened immune systems or the elderly.

However, even among these people, a flu vaccine can still help prevent complications.