Download RT A Infection control & Medical Emergencies

RTA
Medical Emergencies
and Infection Control
Week 13
Caution – some images may be disturbing to the viewer
…but this is what we may see in the course of our work
TRAUMA- X-RAY READY
2 PROJECTIONS ARE BEST FOR THE
PATIENT
SPINAL INJURY PT
X-TABLE LATERALS
CERVICAL SPINE
Dislocation of the C3 and C4
articular processes
Note that C7 is not well
demonstrated
Some studies of
spinal trauma have
recorded a missed
injury rate as high
as 33%.
C1 c2 sublux
c4 wedge fx
GSW TO ABD
QSW
MARKING ENTRANCE /EXIT WOUNDS
Fractured Forearm
Trauma and Surgical
Radiography
Blast wave injury
NEAR DROWING
Compound Fx of Femur
Medical Emergencies
• Definitions
• What should the
RT know?
• Common
Radiology
Emergencies
Medical Emergencies
• Definition: Sudden change in medical
status requiring immediate action.
• For RT’s medical emergencies are rare,
however as medical personnel we must be
prepared to recognize emergencies.
What an RT should know…..
• How to…..
• Avoid additional harm to the patient
• Obtain appropriate medical assistance
quickly
• Recognize emergency situations
• Remain calm and confident
Anaphylactic Reaction
An immune response to foreign material
 Bronchospasm – wheezing and edema
in the throat and lungs


Can lead to shock
Requires prompt recognition and
treatment from the technologist
Water Soluble Iodine
High atomic # 53
Radiopaque
Used to radiograph
–
–
–
–
Vessels
Arteries
Veins
Function of internal
organs
Radiology Department
Patients are usually sent to the
radiology department only after
they have been stabilized,
however, their status may
change!
General Priorities
Ensure an open
airway
Control Bleeding
Take Measures to
Prevent shock
Attend to wounds
or fractures
appropriately
Provide emotional
support
Continually
reevaluate and
follow up
ABC
• A = Air Way
• B = Breathing
• C = Circulation
Become familiar with………..
• In your work environment:
– Emergency assistance protocol (how to
get help)
– Emergency Cart/Crash Cart Location
Important Conditions to be Aware
of……
Level of Consciousness: ALOC

Altered Level Of Consciousness
Anaphylactic Shock: vasogenic shock
Hypoglycemic/Hyperglycemia

NPO – Nothing by Mouth
Important Conditions to be
Aware of:
NPO instructions can result in:
Hypoglycemia – excessive insulin, can result
from normal dose of insulin & no food.
Hyperglycemia – excessive sugar, usually seen
in diabetics, pt. needs insulin
Medical Terms to Know…..
Pallor = paleness; absence of skin
coloration
Shock = failure of the circulatory system
CPR = cardiopulmonary resuscitation

For program must be for Health Care Provider
More Medical Conditions:
Stroke = Cerebrovascular Accident (brain)
Heart Attack = Myocardial Infarct (heart)
N/V = Nausea & Vomiting
Epistaxis = nosebleed
Vertigo = dizziness
Syncope = fainting
Hemorrhage = bleeding outside the blood
vessels.
• Zoomed lower
pelvis
demonstrating
multiple fractures
(arrows).
Zoomed bony thorax shows rib fractures
Radiologic Technology
• You never know
when a medical
emergency may
occur.
• Helping your
patients depends
on your abilities to
stay calm and
perform you duties!
FX RADIAL HEAD
greenstick
Open fracture
comminuted
Rt leg torn off after patient hit by a car
Third Degree Burn
INFECTION CONTROL
Infection Control
• Microorganisms
• Infectious
Disease
• Chain of Infection
• Nosocomial
Infection
• Disease Control
• Environment
Microorganisms that cause
disease:
Bacteria
Viruses
Fungi
Protozoa
Microorganisms
Can grow in or on an animal or plant and
cause diseases.
Host: animal or plant that provides life
support to another organism.
Disease: Any change from the normal
structure or function in the human body.
Infection: Growth of a microorganism on or
in a host.
Varicella Zoster (Shingles)
Disease

Disease occurs
only when the
microorganism
causes injury
to the host
Pathogen
A disease producing microorganism.
– Multiply in large numbers and cause an
obstruction
– Cause tissue damage
– Secrete substance that produce effects in
the body
Exotoxins ( high body temp, nausea, vomiting)
Bacteria
 Strep Throat
 Bacterial
Pneumonia
 Food Poisoning
Viruses
Common cold
Mononucleosis
Warts
Oral Warts
Smallpox
Fungi
 Athlete’s Foot
 Tinea pedis
 Ringworm
Protozoan
• Trichomonas
Vaginalis
– STD
• Plasmodium Vivax
– Malaria
6 Steps of Infection
Encounter
Multiplication
Entry
Damage
Spread
Outcome
Chain of Infection



Host
Infectious
Microorganism
Mode of
Transmission
– Vector/ Fomite

Reservoir
Chain of Infection
Nosocomial Infections





Iatrogenic Infection
Compromised
Patients
Patient Flora
Hospital
Environment
Blood borne
Pathogens
Types of Nosocomial Infections

Iatrogenic Infection – related to
physician activities

Compromised Patients - weakened
resistance; immunosuppressed

Patient Flora - microbes in healthy
people

Contaminated Hospital Environment

Blood borne Pathogens – Hepatitis B
and HIV
Blood borne Pathogens
 Disease-causing
microorganisms that
may be present in human blood. Ex:
Hepatitis, Syphilis, Malaria, HIV.
 Two most significant blood borne
pathogens: Hepatitis B and HIV
Syphilis
Syphilis in the eye
How Blood borne Pathogens
are Transmitted:
• You must make contact with contaminated
fluids and permit them a way to enter your
body.
• Contaminated body fluids can be saliva,
semen, vaginal secretions, or other fluids
containing blood (urine).
Controlling the spread of Disease
• Chemotherapy
• Immunization
• Asepsis
– Medical
– Surgical
• Disinfectants
Physical Methods of
Controlling Diseases
• Handwashing
• Standard
Precautions
– Gloving
– Gowns
– Face masks
– Eyewear
Handwashing
Single most important means of
preventing the spread of infection.
7 to 8 minutes of washing to remove the
microbes present, depending on the
number present.
Most effective portion of hand washing is
the mechanical action of rubbing the
hands together.
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
Gloves
Masks
Gowns
Protective Eyewear
Caps
Universal Precautions
Since there is no way you can know if a person
is infected, you should ALWAYS use universal
precautions:
Wash your hands
Wear gloves
Handle sharp objects carefully
Properly clean all spills
Wear mask, eye protection, and apron if
splashing is a possibility.
Airborne Precautions
• Patients infected with pathogens that remain
suspended in air for long periods on aerosol
droplets or dust.
• TB, Chickenpox, Measles
• Respiratory protection must be worn when
entering pt room.
• Pt should wear mask.
Droplet Precautions
• Patients infected with pathogens that
disseminate through large particulate
droplets expelled from coughing,
sneezing, or even talking.
• Rubella, Mumps, Influenza
• Surgical mask must be worn when within 3
feet of the pt.
• Pt should wear a mask.
Contact Precautions
• Patients infected with pathogens that spread by
direct contact with the pt or by indirect contact
with a contaminated object (bedrail, pt dressing).
• Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA), Hepatitis A, Varicella, Flesh-eating
Virus
• All PPE should be used and equipment must be
disinfected after use.
So What, and Who Cares?
• Students and Techs are challenged both
physically and mentally by the microbial world.
• In this world of newly found, life-threatening
diseases, education has become the key to
survival.
• Health care providers must be committed to
infection control so that diseases can be
conquered!