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Chapter 22
Infection Control
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Infection Control
• Infectious diseases
– Contagious or communicable diseases
and community-acquired infections
– Persistence of infectious diseases
– The current public health problem of
AIDS, HIV, and SARS
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Facts and Myths About
Transmission of HIV
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Infection
• Infection: condition that results when
microorganisms cause injury to a host
• Colonization: condition that results when
microbes are present but host is without
signs or symptoms of infection
• Progress of infections through distinct stages
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Question
• Is the following statement true or false?
Colonization is a condition that results when
microorganisms cause injury to a host.
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Answer
False.
Colonization is a condition in which
microorganisms are present, but the host
does not manifest any signs or symptoms
of infection.
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The Course of Infectious Diseases
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Infection Control Precautions
• Infection control precautions: physical
measures designed to curtail the spread
of infectious diseases
– The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
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Infection Control Precautions (cont’d)
• Standard precautions: reduce transmission
of microorganisms from both recognized and
unrecognized sources of blood, body fluids
(except sweat), nonintact skin, mucous
membrances
• Three new elements: Respiratory Hygiene/
Cough Etiquette; Safe Injection Practices;
Special Lumbar Puncture Procedures
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Infection Control Precautions (cont’d)
• Transmission-based precautions
– Airborne
– Droplet
– Contact
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Question
• Precautions that are used to reduce
pathogen transmission from close contact,
usually 3 feet or less, belong to which category
of precautions?
a. Droplet
b. Contact
c. Airborne
d. Isolation
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Answer
a. Droplet
Droplet precautions are measures that block
pathogens within moist droplets larger than
5 microns. They are used to reduce
pathogen transmission from close contact
(usually 3 feet or less) between an infected
person or a person who is a carrier of a
droplet-spread microorganism and others.
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Question
• Is the following statement true or false?
Transmission-based precautions were
formerly called universal precautions.
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Answer
False.
Transmission-based precautions are also
called isolation precautions and are measures
for controlling the spread of infectious agents
from clients known to be or suspected of being
infected with highly transmissible or
epidemiologically important pathogens.
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Transmission-Based Precautions
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Infection Control Measures
• Personal protective equipment
– The purpose and characteristics of cover
gowns
– Face-protection devices
– Gloves
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Personal Protective Equipment
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Infection Control Measures (cont’d)
• Personal protective equipment (cont’d)
– Removing personal protective equipment
– Disposing of contaminated linen,
equipment, and supplies
– Double bagging
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Double-Bagging Technique
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Infection Control Measures (cont’d)
• Client environment
– Infection control room
– Equipment and supplies
• Methods of discarding biodegradable trash
• Removing reusable items
• Delivering laboratory specimens
• Transporting clients with infectious diseases
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Question
• Is the following statement true or false?
Biodegradable trash can be flushed down
the toilet in the client’s room.
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Answer
True.
Biodegradable trash is refuse that will
decompose naturally into less complex
compounds. It includes items such as
unconsumed beverages, paper tissues, the
contents of drainage collectors, urine, and
stool. All these items can be flushed down
the toilet in the client’s room.
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Psychological Implications
• Being attentive to client sensibilities
• Promoting social interaction
• Combating sensory deprivation
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Providing Sensory Stimulation
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Nursing Implications
• Frequently identified nursing diagnoses
when caring for clients with infectious
diseases
– The nursing diagnosis of risk for infection
transmission
• Imparting of infection prevention teaching
measures to client and family
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Preventing Infections
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General Gerontologic Considerations
• Susceptibility to infections among older
clients due to decreased immune system
function and inadequate fluid/nutrition intake
• Subtler symptoms of infections among older
adults
• Infections more likely to have a rapid course
and life-threatening consequences once
established
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General Gerontologic Considerations
(cont’d)
• Change in behavior and mental status can
signal infectious process
• The high incidence of TB among older
adults, especially those in long-term care
• Maintaining intact skin is excellent first-line
defense against nosocomial infections
• Prompt perineal hygiene is best technique
for preventing urinary tract infections
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