International Federation of Infection Control
Education
Programme for Infection Control
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International Federation of Infection Control
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Education
Programme for Infection Control
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The same microorganisms that pose a risk for hospital staff (see table in occupational health risk section P) can also be transmitted from patient-to-patient in the hospital.
In addition, other pathogens (e.g. E. coli, S.aureus) which may cause infections in the patient may be transmitted from patient-to-patient, but they usually do not pose an infection risk for the staff.
The routes of transmission of micro-organisms in patients are the same as those mentioned in the section on occupational health risks. Patient-to-patient transmission via the hands of the staff is regarded as the most important route.
Handwashing is the single most important means of preventing spread of infection in the hospital. (see additional information in the section on handwashing).
In all patient care, transfer of potentially harmful microorganisms between patients and staff should be avoided. For this reason, the following general precautions are used:
· Wash hands promptly after touching infective material (blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions, infected patients or their immediate environment, and contaminated articles used for patient care). (see information on hand washing )
· Use no touch technique when possible to avoid touching infective material.
· Wear gloves, if available, when in contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions and contaminated items.
· Wash hands immediately after removing gloves.
· Clean up spills of infective material promptly (see section on disinfection). General disinfection of floors and walls is then not necessary.
· Ensure that patient-care equipment, supplies, and linen contaminated with infective material is disinfected or sterilized between each patient use (see section on cleaning disinfection and sterilization).
· Used dressings and other waste are preferably burnt or deeply buried.
· If no washing machine is available for linen soiled with infective material the linen can be boiled
Gowns and aprons are frequently recommended to prevent transmission of infection, but they are of less importance than hand hygiene and are costly. They could be of benefit in situations where soiling of staff clothing is likely when dealing with patients with infected or discharging wounds or when cleaning soiled material
Thin, surgical type masks provide minimal protection against airborne pathogens. High efficiency, respirator type masks, however, may offer some protection, but these are costly and usually not available for use
Shoe covers and hats or caps do not prevent transmission of infection. They are also costly to use.
In addition to the general precautions, some patients, particularly those infected with pathogens transmitted by the airborne route, need to be placed in single rooms which are physically separated from other patients to reduce the risk of transmission of infection.
If ventilation is provided for these rooms, the air should be extracted to the outside of the building and away from entrances or where people are standing or gathering. Patients with the same infection can be placed together in the same room.
Single rooms are also desirable for patients whose infections result in gross soiling or contamination of the environment, such as occurs with large wounds with heavy discharge or massive uncontrolled bleeding or diarrhoea, or heavy dispersal of skin scales. These patients include those with the following infections
It is very important that family members providing care to patients in hospitals be educated by the staff to use good hygiene and appropriate precautions to prevent spread of infections to themselves and to other patients.
The precautions for the family members should be the same as those used by the staff.
· Handwashing after handling infected patients, secretions or excretions or contaminated items.
· Isolation in single room if available for airborne or particularly hazardous infections.
