June 4, 2024

Tips and Tools for a Successful Accreditation Survey

INFECTION CONTROL & EMPLOYEE HEALTH

Answer the following True/False questions (answer below)

1. T or F – Bloodborne pathogens are pathogens found in the blood and certain other body fluids that, if transmitted, are capable of causing disease in another person.

2. T or F – Use of artificial nails by healthcare workers poses no risk to patients.

3. T or F – If you wear gloves while caring for a patient you don’t have to wash your hands.

4. T or F – The most important way to prevent the spread of infection is hand washing.

5. T or F – When entering a droplet isolation room, you do not need to wear a gown.

Answer: 1. TRUE, 2. FALSE –artificial nails can harbor germs, 3. FALSE-see below for when you need to wash hands during patient care, 4.TRUE, 5. FALSE - PPE requirements: regular mask, gown, and gloves.

When should I wash my Hands?

Before and after contact with patients.
Before and after wearing gloves.
After contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, or mucous membranes.
After contact with equipment.
Before and after eating.
After using the bathroom, sneezing, or coughing.

What are Standard Precautions?

Standard Precautions include hand hygiene, safety-engineered devices, safe work practices, and the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) whenever touching or having exposure to the following:

1. Blood.

2. Body fluids, secretions, and excretions, except sweat.

3. Non-intact skin.

4. Mucous membranes.

Standard precautions are designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms from both recognized and unrecognized sources of infection in the healthcare facilities.
These precautions should be used with ALL patients regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infectious state.
Reduce everyone’s exposure to Bloodborne pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis B & C, and other dangerous organisms.

PPE – Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as "PPE", is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.

(https://www.osha.gov/personal-protective-equipment)

PPE includes: isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 respirator or mask, goggles or face shield, and exam gloves

Donning and Doffing PPE: Example video (4.32 minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCzwH7d4Ags

HANDOUTS FOR PPE:

https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/ppe/PPE-Sequence.pdf

What goes in contamination bags?

Review: Infection Control: Biohazardous Waste Policy in PowerDMS

Red Bags: any items contaminated with blood or other potential infectious materials.

Examples:

Any saturated with blood or wound drainage
Any container with bulk blood or body fluids
Blood transfusion tubing/bags
Central venous lines
Dressings, cotton balls, and gauze saturated with blood or wound drainage
Emptied suction canisters (bloody)
Emptied wound drains (i.e. Hemlock, Jackson-Pratt, etc.…)
Isolation Waste, including disposable isolation gowns, mask, gloves, etc.… only if saturated with blood or body fluids

Dos and Don’ts While Handling Red and Yellow Biohazard Bags:

DO make sure the bag is labeled with biohazard symbol
DO seal the bags properly
DO - Always wear gloves, apron, face mask or eye protection while handling, changing or shifting the bags
DO - Line your medical waste container with the biohazard bags
DON’T - Dispose of them in municipal or city waste bins. Such wastes are collected by only licensed medical waste contractors.

Use the chart below as reference for PPE Requirements for Direct and Indirect Patient Care Staff.

It can also be accessed at:

https://powerdms.com/docs/706755?q=covid%20ppe

Transport of an Isolated patient:

Patient transport shall be limited to the movement of patients outside of the room for medically-necessary purposes.
When transport or movement is necessary, the infected or colonized areas of the patient’s body shall be contained and covered.
Place a clean blanket and gown on the patient prior to transport outside the patient’s room.
Any contaminated PPE shall be removed and disposed, and hand hygiene shall be performed prior to transporting patients on Contact Precautions.
Clean PPE shall be donned to handle the patient at the transport destination.

Isolation signs location:

PPE cabinets in patient rooms and in hallways.
At the nurses station
Via PowerDMS

Questions? Send them to mandathompson@chcsks.org