Download Standard 15

Standard 15 – Infection Prevention
and Control
It is not always possible to identify people who may spread infections to others, or
people most vulnerable to acquiring infection, hence the need for a set of standard
principles that include best practice recommendations to ensure that patients, staff
and others are protected from infection and these standard principles should be used
with all patients at all times.
The blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions of patients in any health care
setting may contain either a blood borne virus or other pathogens. It is not always
easy to determine the risk posed by individual patients until the results of
microbiological and viral investigation are known. Therefore all patients are
considered to pose a risk for cross infection and standard precautions must be
adopted by all healthcare workers who have direct patient contact and exposure to
blood or body fluids, unfixed tissues or organs.
The reason for standard infection control precautions is to reduce opportunities for
transmission of micro-organisms and protect the healthcare worker and others. Due
to the procedures that they undertake, health-care staff may be at greater risk of
exposure to blood/body fluid. Some professional bodies have produced their own
guidance, for example laboratory staff.
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15.1a there are many ways infection can get into the body, can you list 5 ways?
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Waste – Definitions
Clinical Waste
This means any waste which consists wholly or partly of human or animal tissue,
blood or other body fluids, excretions, drugs or other pharmaceutical products,
swabs or dressings, or syringes, needles or other sharp instruments, being waste
which unless rendered safe may prove hazardous to any person coming into contact
with it.
Infectious Waste
Infectious Waste is defined as waste that poses a known risk of infection. Even
minor infections are included in the definition of infectious.
Any implanted medical device that has been in contact with medical fluids should
also be classified and treated as infectious waste.
Chemical Hazard Healthcare Wastes
Many infectious or non-infectious healthcare wastes contaminated with hazardous
chemicals will be classified as a clinical waste
Medicinal Waste
Medicinal waste includes expired, unused, spilt and contaminated pharmaceutical
products, drugs, vaccines, and serum (sera) that are no longer required and need to
be disposed of appropriately.
Sharps Waste
Sharps are items that could cause cuts or puncture wounds. They include needles,
hypodermic needles, scalpels and other blade, knives, infusion sets, broken glass
and nails.
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Offensive Waste (Non Hazardous)
Waste that has been assessed by a healthcare professional not to possess any
hazardous properties or require specialist treatment or disposal, but which may
cause offence to those coming into contact with it due to the presence of
recognisable healthcare and laboratory waste items or bodily fluids.
15.1c Using the list you have made above, explain how your own health or hygiene
might pose a risk to patients.
15.1d List common types of Personal Protective clothing & Equipment (PPE) and
procedures – and how and when to use them.
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PPE / Clothing
How
When
Procedures
How
When
15.1e Using the definitions above, explain the principles of safe handling of infected
or soiled
linen and clinical waste and the correct waste segregation.
Type of waste
Infected or soiled linen
Clinical waste
Correct waste
segregation
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Action to take