What is infection control article?

Infection control refers to the policy and procedures implemented to control and minimize the dissemination of infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings with the main purpose of reducing infection rates. Infection control as a formal entity was established in the early 1950s in the United States.

What are the 4 main universal precautions?

Universal precautions apply to the following body fluids:

  • Blood.
  • Semen and vaginal secretions.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Synovial fluid.
  • Pleural fluid.
  • Pericardial fluid.
  • Amniotic fluid.

What are the six chains of infection?

The six links in the chain are:

  • The Infectious Agent – or the microorganism which has the ability to cause disease.
  • The Reservoir or source of infection where the microorganism can live and thrive.
  • The Portal of Exit from the reservoir.
  • The Mode of Transmission.
  • The Portal of Entry.
  • The Susceptible Host.

Why is IPC important?

Without effective IPC it is impossible to achieve quality health care delivery. Infection prevention and control effects all aspects of health care, including hand hygiene, surgical site infections, injection safety, antimicrobial resistance and how hospitals operate during and outside of emergencies.

What are the 5 moment of hand hygiene?

Infection prevention and control Moment 1 – before touching a patient. Moment 2 – before a procedure. Moment 3 – after a procedure or body fluid exposure risk. Moment 4 – after touching a patient.

What are the 3 levels of hand hygiene?

There are three separate types of handwashing. They are social handwashing, antiseptic handwashing, and surgical handwashing….There are several important points that everyone should keep in mind.

  • Social Handwashing.
  • Antiseptic Handwashing.
  • Surgical Handwashing.

What are the 8 standard precautions for infection control?

Standard precautions include: • hand hygiene, before and after every episode of patient contact (ie 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene); • the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) – see Table 2; • the safe use and disposal of sharps; • routine environmental cleaning; • reprocessing of reusable medical equipment and …

What are the two steps of infection control?

Cleaning: As stated, infection control has two steps: cleaning and then disinfecting. Remember that when you clean, you must remove all visible dirt and debris from tools, implements, and equipment.