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Literature review on hand washing practices
Literature review handwashing
Importance of infection control
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Infection Control in the Home
If you have an infection or are taking care of someone who has an infection, it is important to know how to keep the infection from spreading. Follow these guidelines to help stop the spread of infection and talk to your health care provider.
HOW ARE INFECTIONS SPREAD?
In order for an infection to spread, the following must be present:
A germ. This may be a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite.
A place for the germ to live. This may be on a person, animal, plant, food, soil, water, or on surfaces, like a door handle.
A susceptible host. This is a person or animal who does not have resistance (immunity) to the germ.
A way for the germ to enter the host. This may occur by:
Direct contact. This may happen by making contact, such as shaking hands or
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This is when the germ enters the host through contact with an infected object, such as eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or touching a contaminated surface with your hands, and then touching your face, nose or mouth soon after.
HOW CAN I HELP PREVENT INFECTION FROM SPREADING?
There are several things you can do to help prevent infection from spreading.
Hand washing
It is very important to wash your hands correctly:
Wet your hands with clean, running water.
Apply soap to your hands. Liquid soap is better than bar soap.
Rub your hands together quickly to create lather.
Keep rubbing your hands together for at least 20 seconds. Thoroughly scrub all parts of your hands, including under you fingernails and between your fingers.
Rinse your hands with clean, running water until all the soap is gone.
Dry your hands using an air dryer or a clean paper or cloth towel, or let your hands air-dry. Do not use your clotihng or a soiled towel to dry your hands.
If you are in a public restroom, use your towel to turn off the water faucet and open the bathroom door.
Make sure to wash your
throw away. Once that is done rinse off the knife you used and either put it in the sink to be
The main objectives of the pathogen are to gain entry inside the host, once inside grow and reproduce, and avoid host defenses. There are three possible routes of infection: respiratory, alimentary, and traumatic. The respiratory route is the easiest and most direct means of entry. Under crowded conditions, the rate of infection is even more rapid. The diseases brought over to America were mainly spread by the respiratory method. The alimentary pathway of infection is through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. Throughout Europe during the 15th century, food and water were contaminated with fecal matter and by unsanitary habits ( i.e. the lack of bathing). The traumatic route of infection is through insect and animal bites.
been previously touched by an infected person, will transmit the disease to the healthy person who
... really able to be spread but also prevented. There are different treatments that can stop the process of this infection that will help cure it and stop the spread. If you didn’t know, there are three main prescriptions that are used to help stop this. “Doxycycline 100 mg 2-3 times a day for 10-14 days, Zithromax (azithromycin) 1.0 gm a single dose, and Zithromax Z-pak (azithromycin) - 500mg on day 1, followed by 1 tab (250mg) once a day for 4 more days will help your situation” (Sexually Transmitted Disease Guide). After this process, make sure you go to your normal doctor of local for check ups. Keep in mind to finish the prescription given even if you feel like you are better. In conclusion, to prevent all of this mass destruction and chaos, wait until you and your partner is both checked out by your doctor to make sure the both of you are clean from anything.
Pathogens are a type of microorganism that spreads viral and bacterial diseases. These diseases when present in human blood and body fluids are known as blood borne pathogens, and can spread from one person to another. (Worcester polytechnic institute) The most serious types of blood borne diseases are the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which can cause liver damage; and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which is responsible for causing AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). The blood borne pathogens can be spread when the blood or body fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, and amniotic fluid) of an infected individual comes into contact with mucous membranes or an open sore or cut on the skin of another person. Mucus membranes are located in the eyes, nose, mouth, and other areas as well. ("Bloodborne pathogens: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia") Two of the most common ways that pathogens are transmitted is through the exchange of fluids during sexual intercourse or by sharing infected IV needles. (Worcester polytechnic institute)
Health care facilities - whether hospitals, nursing homes or outpatient facilities - can be dangerous places for the acquisition of infections (EHA). The most common type of nosocomial infections are surgical wound infections, respiratory infections, genitourinary infections and gastrointestinal infection (EHA). Nosocomial infections are those that originate or occur in health care setting (Abedon). They can also be defined as those that occur within 48 hours of hospital admission, 3 days of discharge or 30 days of an operation (Inweregbu). These infections are often caused by breaches of infection control practices and procedures, unclean and non-sterile environmental surfaces, and ill employees (EHA). Immunocompromised patients, the elderly and young children are usually more susceptible to these types of infections. Nosocomial infections are transmitted through direct contact from the hospital staff, inadequately sterilized instruments, aerosol droplets from other ill patients or even the food and water provided at the hospital (EHA). The symptoms of nosocomial infections vary by type but may include inflammation, discharge, fever, abscesses, and pain and irritation at the infection site (Stubblefield).
Recent research shows that, there are three major means by which infections can be transmitted and they include direct transmission, indirect transmission and airborne transmission (Hinman,Wasserheit and Kamb,1995). Direct transmission occurs when the physical contact between an infected person and s susceptible person takes place (division of public health, 2011). An example is a health care worker who attends to an Ebola patient, without gloves, gown and mask plus forget to wash his or her hand with soap and hot water and or a person having flu without the use of mask or washes his hand after sneezing easily passes the infection to the other through hand shake or surface touch, living the bacteria there for another vulnerable person to also touch if the surface is not disinfected with bleach. Studies makes it clear that, the spreads takes effect when disease-causing microorganisms pass from the infected person to the healthy person through direct physical contact such as touching of blood, body fluids, contact with oral secretion, bites kissing, contact with body lesions and even sexual contact. However, measles and chicken pox are said to be conditions spread by direct
Patient education is of paramount importance if MRSA is to be reduced to its lowest minimum. According to Noble 2009, patient’s education stands a critical component of managing MRSA therefore; nurses are expected to be prompt in educating patients on specific measures in limiting and reducing the spread of MRSA by person to person contact. (Noble, 2009) The specific measures includes definition of MRSA, mode of transmission, the damage it can do to the body, specific treatments available and the process of treatment. This is to help the patient take part in the care. Noble 2009 explains that during care giving nurses and all other healthcare provider involve in giving care to a patient should communicate to patient all the precaution that will prevent the transmission of MRSA, and also giving the scientific rationale for the use of any precaution that is been used in the cause of care giving. (Noble, 2009.)
Prevention of hospital-acquired infections: review of non-pharmacological interventions. Journal of Hospital Infection, 69(3), 204-219. Revised 01/20 Haugen, N., Galura, S., & Ulrich, S. P. (2011). Ulrich & Canale's nursing care planning guides: Prioritization, delegation, and critical thinking. Maryland Heights, Mo. : Saunders/Elsevier.
Virus- An infectious agent found in virtually all life forms, including humans, animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Viruses touch us every day through water, food, physical contact, blood, animals, or even, the air you breathe. All though most are harmless there are some that...
Examine the ways that health professionals can use five steps of evidence based practice (EBP) as a practical framework to overcoming barriers to locating, appraising, and applying the best research evidence to an occupational health and safety practice.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop using the medicine even if your condition improves.
· If spilt on clothes or skin, wash with water to prevent harm to the
After cleaning, apply a thin layer of the antibiotic ointment recommended by your health care provider. This will help prevent infection and keep the dressing from sticking.