Concepts of

Infection Control
 The risk of infection is always present.

 Patient may acquire infection before admission to the

hospital = Community acquired infection.

 Patient may get infected inside the hospital =

Nosocomial infection.

 It includes infections
 not present nor incubating at admission,
 infections that appear more than 48 hours after admission,
 those acquired in the hospital but appear after discharge
 also occupational infections among staff.
 INFECTION
• Definition: Injurious contamination of body or parts
of the body by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and
rickettsia or by the toxin that they may produce.

 Infection may be local or generalized and spread

throughout the body.

 Once the infectious agent enters the host it begins

to proliferate and reacts with the defense
mechanisms of the body producing infection
symptoms and signs: pain, swelling, redness,
functional disorders, rise in temperature and pulse
rate and leucocytosis.
Frequency of Nosocomial
Infection
 Nosocomial infections occur worldwide.
 The incidence is about 5-8% of hospitalized
patients, 1/3 of which is preventable.
 The highest frequencies are in East
Mediterranean and South-East Asia.
 A high frequency of N.I. is evidence of poor
quality health service delivered.
 Impact of Nosocomial
Infections
They lead to functional disability and
emotional stress to the patient.
They lead to disabling conditions that reduce
the quality of life.
They are one of the leading causes of death.
The increased economic costs are high:
Increased length of hospital stay (SSI - 8.2
days), extra investigations, extra use of drugs
and extra health care by doctors and nurses.
Organisms causing N.I. can be transmitted to
the community through discharged patients,
staff and visitors. If organisms are multi-
resistant they may cause significant disease
in the community.
 Nosocomial Infections
Cost
The cost varies according to the type and
severity of these infections.
An estimated 1 to 4 extra days for a urinary
tract infection, 7 – 8 days for a surgical site
infection, 7 – 21 days for a blood stream
infection, and 7 – 30 days for pneumonia.
The CDC has recently reported that US$5
billion are added to US health costs every
year as a result of NI.
 In Egypt one LE spent for infection control
saves LE 60 spent on NI.
 Nosocomial Infection
Sites
Urinary tract infection: most common type of
N I (30-40% of reported cases), associated
with an indwelling urinary catheter or
instrumentation.
Lower respiratory and surgical wound
infections are the next ( each about 15%).
Less frequent include bacteraemia (5%),
intravenous site infection, gastrointestinal
tract and skin infections.
 Criteria of Nosocomial Infections
Surgical site infection Any purulent discharge, abscess or
spreading cellulitis at the surgical
site during the month after operation
Urinary infection Positive urine culture (1 or 2
species) with at least 100000
bacteria/ml, with or without clinical
symptoms
Respiratory infection Respiratory symptoms with at least
2 signs: cough; purulent sputum;
new infiltrate on chest, appearing
during hospitalization
Vascular catheter Inflammation, lymphangitis or
infection purulent discharge at the insertion
site
Septicaemia Fever or rigours and at least one
positive blood culture
 Factors Influencing N.I.

The microbial agent

Patient susceptibility

Environmental factors
 Microbial Agent

Many sick people are treated in a closed area;

micro-organisms, frequent contact between
carriers & susceptible, contaminated waste,
equipment and supplies to be handled.

Developing of clinical disease depends on

organism s virulence, infective dose and
patient resistance
 Bacteria are the most common pathogens.
1. Commensal bacteria: found in normal flora of
healthy humans, prevent pathogenic bacterial
colonization eg skin, colon, vagina
2. Pathogenic bacteria: have great virulence and
cause infection as :
- Anaerobic gram +ve rods e.g Clostridium
causing gangrene.
- Gram +ve bacteria: Staph. aureus found on
skin &nose. - Beta -hemolytic Strep.
- Gram -ve bacteria as E.coli, Proteus, Klebsiella.
- legionella species.
Viruses: HIV, HBV, HCV can be also be
transmitted through blood & B F
(transfusion, injections, dialysis)
respiratory syncytial virus, rota virus,
ebola, infleunza, herpes simplex viruses.
Parasites & Fungi: e.g. Giardia lamblia is
easily transmitted between adults or
children, Aspergillus sp. affecting
imunocompromised.
Scabies an ectoparasite causing outbreak.
 Patient Susceptibility

Age: infants and old age have decreased

resistance to infection.
Immune status: Patients with chronic
diseases as malignancy, leukaemia,
diabetes mellitus, renal failure or AIDS
have increased susceptibility to infection.
Immunosuppressive drugs or irradiation
 Environmental Factors

 Healthcare settings are environment

where both infected persons and persons
at high risk of infection congregate.
 Crowded conditions within hospital,
frequent transfers of patients between
units.
 Microbial flora may contaminate objects,
devices and materials which subsequently
contact susceptible body sites of patients.
 Transmission
• Where do nosocomial infection come from?
 Endogenous infection: When normal
patient flora change to pathogenic bacteria
because of change of normal habitat, damage
of skin and inappropriate antibiotic use.
About 50% of N.I. Are caused by this way.
 Exogenous cross-infection: Mainly
through hands of healthcare workers, visitors,
patients.
Exogenous environmental infections:
several types of micro-organisms survive well in
the hospital environment (hospital flora):
* In water, damp areas and occasionally in
sterile products or disinfectants eg pseudomonas,
Acinetobacter, Mycobacterium.
* On items such as linen, equipment and supplies
* In food.
* In fine dust and droplet nuclei
 Some procedures that save life may increase
risk of infection e.g urinary catheters, I.V.L
inhalation therapy, surgery.
 Inappropriate use of antibiotics.
 Basics of Infection
Control
 Prevention of nosocomial infection is the
responsibility of all individuals and services
provided by healthcare setting.
 To practice good asepsis, one should
always know: what is dirty, what is clean,
what is sterile and keep them separate.
 Hospital policies & procedures are applied
to prevent spread of infection in hospital.
 Infection Control
Program
• A comprehensive, effective and supported
program is essential for reducing infection
risk and increasing hospital safety.

• It should include surveillance, preventive

activities and staff training.
I. National program developed by
Ministry of Health: to support hospital
programs. It sets national objectives,
develops and updates guidelines
recommended for health care.

II. Hospital programs including:

1) major preventive efforts; keeping in mind
patients and staff.
2) It must be supported by senior management and
provided with sufficient resources.
3) It must develop a yearly work plan to assess and
promote all good health care activities.
 Hospital Program

Infection Conrtol Team Infection control committee Infection control manual

 Infection Control Team
• The optimal structure varies with hospitals
types, needs and resources.
• Hospital can appoint epidemiologist or
infectious disease specialist, microbiologist
to work as infection control physician.
• Infection control nurse who is interested
and has experience in infection control
issues.
Team should have authority to manage an
effective control program.
Team should have a direct reporting with
senior administration.
Infection control team members or are
responsible for day-to-day functions of IC and
preparing the yearly work plan.
They should be expert and creative in their
job.
 Infection Control
Committee
It is a multidisciplinary committee responsible for
monitoring program policies implementation and
recommend corrective actions.

It includes representatives from different

concerned hospital departments & management.
They meet bimonthly.

It establishes standards for patient care, it

reviews and assesses IC reports and identifies
areas of intervention.
 Infection Control
Manual
Every Hospital should have a nosocomial
infection prevention manual compiling
recommended instructions and practices for
patient care.
This manual should be developed and
updated in a timely manner by the infection
control team.
It is to be reviewed and accepted by
infection control committee.
 Infection Control
Responsibility
 Role of every hospital department and
service units must be identified, documented
as manuals kept in accessible place.

 Job description of every hospital staff;

defining details of his duties must be
discussed before employment. Infection
control precautions should be part of the
routine work and stressed for that.
 Program Components

Surveillance Preventive Activities Staff Training

 NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION
SURVEILLANCE
• Nosocomial infection rate in a hospital is an
indicator of quality and safety of care.
• Surveillance to monitor this rate is essential to
identify problems and evaluate control activities
• The ultimate aim is the reduction of infection rate
and their costs.
• The term surveillance implies that observational
data are regularly analyzed.
 Key points in Surveillance
• Active surveillance (Prevalence and incidence studies)

• Targeted surveillance (site, unit, priority-oriented)

• Appropriately trained investigators

• Standardized methodology

• Risk- adjusted rates for comparisons

 Organization for surveillance

Data collection and analysis

Ward activity Laboratory reports Data elements &analysis

devices or procedures culture& sensitivity patient data & infection
fever & inf. signs resistance patterns population & risks
antibiotics & charts serologic tests computerization of data
 Organization for surveillance

Feedback & dissemenation

prompt, relevent to target group Meetings & disscussions Dissemenation by committee

 Scope of Infection
Control
Aiming at preventing spread of infection:
Standard precautions: these measures must be
applied during every patient care, during
exposure to any potentially infected material
or body fluids as blood and others.
Components:
A. Hand washing.
B. Barrier precautions.
C. Sharp disposal.
D. Handling of contaminated material.
 A.HAND WASHING

Hand washing is the single most effective

precaution for prevention of infection
transmission between patients and staff.
Hand washing with plain soap is
mechanical removal of soil and transient
bacteria (for 10- 15 sec.)
Hand antisepsis is removal & destroy of
transient flora using anti-microbial soap or
alcohol based hand rub (for 60 sec.)
 Surgical hand scrub: removal or
destruction of transient flora and reduction
of resident flora using anti-microbial soap or
alcohol based detergent with effective
rubbing (for least 2-3 min)
 Our hands and fingers are our best
friends but still could be our enemies if they
carry infective organisms and transmit them
to our bodies and to those whom we care
for.
 Sinks & soap must be found in every
patient care room. Doctors, nurses must
comply to hand washing policy.
 When to Wash our
Hands
1. Before & after an aseptic technique or
invasive procedure.
2. Before & after contact with a patient or
caring of a wound or IV line.
3. After contact with body fluids & excreta
removal.
4. After handling of contaminated
equipment or laundry.
 5. Before the administration of medicines
6. After cleaning of spillage.
7. After using the toilet.
8. Before having meals.
9. At the beginning and end of duty.
10. Gloves cannot substitute hand washing
which must be done before putting on gloves
and after their removal.
How to Wash our Hands
Jewelry must be removed. If unable to
remove rings, wash and dry thoroughly
around them.
Wet your hands with running warm water,
dispense about 5 ml of liquid soap or
disinfectant into the palm of the hand.
Rub hands together vigorously to lather all
surfaces and wrist paying particular attention
to thumbs, finger tips and webs.
Rinse hands thoroughly.
Turn off water using elbow-on elbow taps,
dry hands thoroughly on a paper towel OR
where elbow taps are not present, first dry
hands, thoroughly, then turns off the taps
using fresh paper towel.
Hand cream can be used on persona basis.
If a staff member develops a skin problem,
he or she must consult dermatologist.
 B. Barrier Precautions
1. Gloves:
Disposable gloves must be worn when:

a) Direct contact with B/BF is expected.

b) Examining a lacerated or non-intact skin
e.g wound dressing.
c) Examination of oropharynx, GIT, UIT
and dental procedures.
 d) Working directly with contaminated
instruments or equipment.

e) HCW has skin cuts, lesions and dermatitis

 Sterile gloves are used for invasive

procedures.

 GLOVES MUST BE of good quality, suitable

size and material. Never reused.
2) Masks & Protective eye wear:

• MUST BE USED WHEN: engaged in

procedures likely to generate droplets of
B/BF or bone chips.

• During surgical operations to protect

wound from staff breathings, …

• Masks must be of good quality, properly

fixed on mouth and nasal openings.
 3) Gowns/ Aprons:
Are required when:
• Spraying or spattering of blood or body
fluids is anticipated e.g surgical
procedures.

• Gowns must not permit blood or body

fluids to pass through.

• Sterile linen or disposable ones are

used for sterile procedures.
 C.Sharp precautions
 Needle stick and sharp injuries carry the risk of blood born
infection e.g AIDS, HCV,HBV and others.
 Sharp injuries must be reported and notified
 NEVER TO RECAP NEEDLES
 Dispose of used needles and small sharps immediately in
puncture resistant boxes (sharp boxes).
 Sharp boxes: must be easily accessible, must not be
overfilled, labeled or color coded.
 Needle incinerators can be another safe way of disposal.
 Reusable sharps must be handled with care avoiding
direct handling during processing.
 D. Handling of
Contaminated Material
1. Cleaning of B/BF spills:
a- wear gloves.
b- wipe-up the spill with paper or towel.
c- apply disinfectant.
2. Cleaning & decontamination of equipment:
protective barriers must be worn.
3. Handling & processing lab specimens:
must be in strong plastic bags with biohazard
label
4. Handling and processing linen:
Soiled linen must be handled with barrier
precautions, sent to laundry in coded bags.

5. Handling and processing infectious waste:

a. must be placed in color coded, leakage
proof bags, collected with barrier
precautions
b. contaminated waste incinerated or better
autoclaved prior to disposal in a landfill.
Environmental control:
1. Including physical facility plans must meet
quality and infection control measures. Patient
equipment positioning and installation, traffic
flow.
2. Cleaning of hospital environment and dis-
infection according to policies.
3. Proper air ventilation.
4. Water pipes examination, check its quality.
5. Proper waste collection and disposal.
6. Cleaning and dis-infection of equipment.
7. Proper linen collection, cleaning, distribution
8. Food : ensure quality and safety.
9. Sterilization:
Central sterilization department serving
all hospital departments compiling with
infection control precautions.
.
Patient protection :
* corrective measures before major procedure,
vaccination, proper use of antibiotics.

* Isolation precautions.

* Limiting endogenous risk

Staff health promotion and education:
1. HCW are at risk of acquiring infection, they
can also transmit infection to patients and
other employee.
2. Employee health history must be reviewed,
immunizations recommendations to be
considered.
3. Release from work if sick, occupation injury
must be notified.
4. Continuous education to improve practice,
better performance of new techniques.
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