Principles infection control Essay Example for Free

Principles transmittal match Es nar roveExplain employees roles and responsibili forces in relation to the legal profession and cover of transmittalANSWERAs an employee the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 give tongue to that I arrive a duty and responsibility to ensure that I as an employee dedicate a duty to be responsible in showing reasonable explosive charge for my own resort. I decl be the responsibility of my own safety in limits of sweet accountss and hygiene observation and practice I am responsible for cooperating and following the wellness and safety guidelines and expectations of my employer I am responsible for maintaining and taking c ar of entirely hygiene equipment and materials and to report when there is a faulty I am responsible for using PPE fittingly and attending the demand preparation in health and safety, keeping my skills up to date I read a responsibility of to monitor the hygiene practices of my ply as a senior cargon substantiate s ubject araer making sure that they observe practices much(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) as wearing appropriate PPE and airstreaming reach appropriately as well as updating their training. I essential be of the attitude that when it comes to contagion taproom and control that either one-on-ones (including myself) atomic number 18 high bump and practice my control of hygiene accordingly. This substance wearing PPE such as gloves and aprons when assisting a attend drug put onr to toilet or wash disposing of the PPE appropriately laterwards and washing my quite a littles thoroughly. It includes using new clean PPE between attending to opposite aid drug drug users making sure pads and soiled linen argon bagged and abandoned posely disinfecting and wiping pop come to the fore areas when requisitestoring foods to correct temperatures preparing foods to correct temperatures before serving using clean food implements and equipment and following the instru ctions of the use and storehouse of substances hazardous to health. I moldiness similarly keep my personal hygiene up to jut outards at work by wearing appropriate clean costume andkeeping my hair tidy and tied onward for my face, no jewellery or dangling parts and sensible foot wear.Wearing inappropriate clothing such as clothes with tassels tail assembly drop into food and type cross contaminant habilitate that will cause unbalance and cause me to topple oer would be dangerous e supernumeraryly if carrying food, decompose or assisting a person to manoeuvre. Not wearing appropriate PPE would increase the chance of cross taint as substances such as natural fluids, chemical substances and opposite foreign particles such as hair etc base be easily transferred to ingest or inhale in some way. Reporting faulty equipment is immanent as if a dish washer or washing machine breaks down thence this increases the risk of exposure of the items they would ferment to non be pr ocessed properly or sit around harbouring bacteria for nightlong thus increasing the risk to cross contamination. Updating my k instantaneouslyledge in subjects such as health and safety and food safety is vital as it reinforces knowledge and practice and informs me of on the whole legislation and practices that have changed.If a wait on user break ups an contagious complaint then I essential record and report this solid away making sure that the plaza nurse or manager is aware and that it is handed over to the staff team with instructions of how to give fright. The attend user must receive medical concordup vigilance from the home nurse or a GP. These types of transmissions must as well include account to necessary bodies such as RIDDOR at the local billet by the GP, especially in lot of food drunkenness or contagious contagious diseases such as Health veneration Associated Infections (e.g. MRSA, MSSA, C. Difficile and E. Coli which are all very contagious bacteria).If a member of staff has an transmission system and they pose a risk to former(a)s of cross contamination then they should explore medical attention and not come into work advising me by phone call of what the issue is so that I buttocks alert the manager or home nurse and we mint check for any risk of cross contamination. This staff member (including myself it upholded) should not return to work unless the risk had gone and it is medically safe to do so. A certificate from my (or staffs) GP must be provided in these cases. Continue on a separate page if necessaryQUESTION- ( 1.2 )Explain employers responsibilities in relation to the pr publicationion and control of infectionANSWEREmployers have a commodious duty to ensure that health and safety regulations (HASAWA 1974) are met in the maintainion and control of infections because they as well have a duty of care to ensure it is pr until nowted and/ or kept under control and terminated. Health and safety legislati on states that employers must protect employees from danger and harm as far as reasonably possible so the work premises that they provide for utility users to know and staff to work in must be safe and free from danger. In terms of infection control, all substances that are hazardous to health including bodily fluids, chemicals and wastes must have provisions so that they can be stored, handled, cleaned, processed and disposed of safely with minimal risk to individuals.Risk assessments must be carried turn up in the work step up to ensure that any risks are identified, minimised and monitored as a way of control and controlling the risk of infection. Risk assessment of stored and employ substances including COSHH and biohazard substances and risk assessments of working parts including risk assessments in serviced users care plans must be carried proscribed and updated.Employers must provide the means for staff to access training so that their employees knowledge and skills a re up to date they must provide the means to PPE so that employees can protect themselves and others whilst they work with hazardous substances and they must ensure that regular health and safety checks are carried out so that any issues can be identified and corrected in the building and in the re origins. Employers must also provide the necessary infection prevention and control in policies and procedures so that I and my staff team can access the necessary information on how we carry out our work.The main source of Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs) are transferred via hand contact therefore it is vital that my employer provides thatadequate resources for myself and staff to wash our hands and dry our hands on a regular basis, appropriately and to procedure. The facilities to wash with warm water and use a WC should be clean and safe (not damaged and kept clean) provided with necessary hand wash, fluid hand towels and pedal commit ins. such(prenominal) resources are vit al to the control and prevention of infections.Continue on a separate page if necessaryQUESTION- ( 2.1 )Outline current legislation and regulatory clay standards which are relevant to the prevention and control of infectionANSWERAs well as the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 that stipulates that each employee and employers have a responsibility of showing reasonable care for ourselves and others and to provide a safe get off to work respectively other acts that state much circumstantialally how the prevention and control of infections must be met in my work place and these include Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (2002) or COSHH and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and grievous Occurences Regulations 1995 or RIDDOR.A hazardous substance is any substance or material with the electric potential to cause illness or fault to the people whom come into contact with it and are wish wellly to come in the forms of liquids, dust, fumes, gases and living organisms. The c ontrol of these substances involve the prevention of accidents and ill health and therefore COSHH stipulates that such hazards must be identified risk assessed prevent exposure to or control exposure to and staff should be regularly check if they are continuously working with some high risk substances. COSHH also requires that people at work handling substances should follow the instructions or be trained to handle the substances know what control measures to take and how to take appropriate action in an emergencyIn a care home environment the employer must make sure that the retention of any substances is safe and legally adequate i.e. incorrect containers, in suitable room, in suitable temperatures, dry area, off of the floor, locked securely etc all chemical substances should have their data sheets listing the ingredients storage rooms sign posted appropriately and have simply authorised persons using them etc. The regulation should also explain of how to deal with spillways s afely and this would include the spillage of declivity and/or urine how to dispose of sharps and dispose of soiled materials such as pads.RIDDOR (1995) covers the recording and reporting of dangerous occurrences and accidents in the study. I must ensure that these reports be kept for 3 years and they must be available for inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as and when required. Work places should have a system of reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences as a result of accidents and incidents. An accident is something that happens that results in an injury or pass acrossout and an incident is something that almost could have happened that might not have caused harm now but could cause an injury, ill health or a fatality in the future. I must report some incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (via RIDDOR) directly and these includeDeath or a major injury Injury resulting in employees being 3 or more Poisoning age off of work Occupational canc ers Occupational asthma or lung disease Skin condition such as (from asbestos)skin cancers or dermatitis Musculo-skeletal disorders including fracturesUnder the Health and Social Care Act 2008 a decree of practice was established for the prevention and control of Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs) setting out how the NHS will go rough attempting to prevent HCAIs.1Systems to manage and monitor the prevention and control of infection. These systems use risk assessments and shell out how susceptible service users are and any risks that their environment and other users may pose to them.2 support and maintain a clean and appropriate environment in managed premises that facilitates the prevention and control of infections.3Provide suitable sinless information on infections to service users and their visitors.4Provide suitable accurate information on infections to any person concerned with providing further support or nursing/ medical care in a timely fashion.5Ensure that peo ple who have or develop an infection are identified promptly and receive the appropriate treatment and care to reduce the risk of passing on the infection to other people.6Ensure that all staff and those employed to provide care in all settings are fully involved in the process of preventing and controlling infection.7Provide or secure adequate isolation facilities.8Secure adequate access to laboratory support as appropriate.9Have and adhere to policies, designed for the individuals care and provider organisations that will help to prevent and control infections.10Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that care workers are free of and are protected from exposure to infections that can be caught at work and that all staff are suitably educated in the prevention and control of infection associated with the provision of health and social care.The Department of Health 2010 The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and relat ed guidance.My employer has to show how it is implementing these codes as best suited to the organisation and assessed and inspected by the Care Quality Commission.The Public Health Control Of Diseases Act 1984 and the Public Health (infectious Diseases) Regulations provides information about disease which are risks such as Dysentery, cholera, diphtheria and food poisoning etc . It explains how an clap should be handled, recorded and report and the responsibility of informing the environmental health officer of the eructation so that an investigation can be carried out.Continue on a separate page if necessaryQUESTION- ( 2.2 )Describe local and organisational policies relevant to the prevention and control of infectionANSWERPolicies that cover the prevention and control of infection at my work place include those ofHand washing technique procedure To wash hands thoroughly after assisting service users (for example after assisting them to use the toilet, change their pad or even aft er dressing them or feeding them) it is of paramount importance that I (and my staff team) follow the established method of hand washing. conveyance of bacteria via hand to hand contact is the most common way of the transmit of infections and pathogens that cause them so it is vital that I carry this out end-to-end my working practice. My work place has this method displayed in appropriate places (i.e. above hand wash basins) so that it is there to guide me and my staff team. It is a process that should take no more than 15 to 30 seconds and it is a process that is carried out frequently, even if disposable or non disposable gloves are used hand washing technique is still necessary. The facilities must be available and this includes the basin with hot water, soap and disposable towels.My work place has policies and procedures outlining what to do in the event of the outbreak of infection. It will outline a procedure of recording and reporting on the necessary forms not solo for our records but also for RIDDOR. It will direct me to report and outbreak or the suspicion of an outbreak to the home manager or nurse so that they can report to the Environmental Health authorities. If compulsory a GP will be called in to tend to the service user and will also advise to or report to the localenvironmental health inspector for RIDDOR of a notifiable disease such as dysentery, cholera, MRSA, MSSA, C, Difficile or E, Coli (to name a few).The policy will outline the various circumstances of which to notify the Environmental Health Authorities because even though sickness like looseness and flu are quite common and most people can overcome them with over the counter medications, for sr. people these can pose more of a threat an cause pneumonia or even death if they are not supported straight away because of their weakened tolerant system or if they already have a chest condition.The procedures outline what to do if there is an outbreak in the home depending on wha t the suspected infection is i.e. best practice in cases of flu should instruct along the lines of making the conditions limn indicate the threat i.e. The signs and symptoms of influenza e.g. Onset of fever, headache, myalgia, cold or runny nose, sore throat etc symptoms like these in 2 or more individuals in the home within a 3 mean solar day period and the preventative treatment that needs to be put into place as a result.Policies of storage and use of substances that are hazardous to health also cover chemical products that are used throughout the work place (i.e. detergents, dry cleaners, antiseptics, aerosols etc) and the routine and schedule of change areas particularly areas such as bathrooms, nettled rooms, toilets and kitchens. indemnity and procedure are also provided on how to dispose of items such as sharps and soiled pads Soiled pads should disposed of in yellow sanitation bags which can be disposed of in the clinical waste bin needles and other forms of sharps d uring drug government activity or phlebotomy must be disposed of in special sharps containers that are collected and incinerated. some service user may have to use true aid to help them in their day to day lives and these can also require care and attention so as to reduce infection and fiesta of infection. Such items as catheters need to be cleaned and the service user would need to clean or assistance to clean their most intimate areas so as to prevent infections.Procedure advice on how to clean and care for the aids and how to protect ourselves with appropriate PPE before tending to them. all told new catheter bags will be interior of sterile packaging and we must ensure that these are kept sealed and renew according to care plan. Policy and procedure instructing on care of service users porete bags would also be another example of such aids where infection prevention and control is of great importance.Continue on a separate page if necessaryQUESTION- ( 3.1 )Describe proce dures and systems relevant to the prevention and control of infectionANSWERMy work place also has guidance in the form of policies of when to use in the flesh(predicate) Protective Equipment such as gloves, aprons or gowns, masks and affectionateness protection. These are vital as a safety-related bulwark against transference of pathogens from service user to me (or staff) and from me to service user. These must be worn when assisting the service user to toilet, change pads, wash, dress and a fresh set when preparing food. They should also be worn when changing bins or gaining up spillages, especially of hazardous substances. The gloves and aprons must be disposable as this reduces the harbouring of pathogens and cuts down the spread of infections.The procedures cover how to don and remove such items as carrying out such methods in sequence cuts down the risk of the spread of infections and transference of pathogens e.g. it may outline a process such as load down out hand hygie ne immediately before and after donning and removing PPE. take over a gownDon a mask (if used)Don eye wear (if used)Don gloves.Such donning of protection must be carried out in this order as to put gloveson for the first time would make it difficult to tie and adjust other garments also if hands are gloved it may encourage the user to progress to things that may carry infection and then they would transfer when donning other PPE. Donning a mask or eye wear firstly would also be impractical as they would get in the way when donning other items.It is best to don the gown firstly as this has to be done up at the back up and then the others (where applicable) and gloves lastly. The procedure will also outline how to don each item of PPE e.g. for donning gloves it may say to don them lastly by inserting hands into gloves and then making sure that the gloves also cover the wrists and also how to (and in what order to) remove each item of PPE in order to cuts down the risk of the spread of infections and transference of pathogens.Cleaning of certain rooms and facilities in the care home require regular alter and decontaminating, disinfecting and sterilisation. Toilets, bathrooms, commodes, equipment such as hoists, bath chairs and handle rails all need to be cleansed in line with the procedure of the home.For example procedure in my care home stipulates that the commodes must be generally cleaned and decontaminated and disinfected after each use, as well as the residents toilets. Soiling may not be visible to the eye however the bacteria still persists so this must be cleaned and disinfected immediately. Similarly bathrooms and wet rooms must be cleaned and disinfected after each use as residue from the service users body would be left behind causing bacteria to build up, especially in a divulge place.According to procedure I ensure that staffs or myself frequently check the residents toilets (hourly). A checking schedule is placed in the toilet where we tick of f that it has been checked. In addition to this when we assist the service user to use the toilets after their use we used disinfecting wipes to clean down the seat area and a spate wipe to clean the flushing handle whilst applying disinfectant to the toilet paradiddle. If debris is in the toilet bowl, this must be scrubbed away using the toilet brush. Many service users need our assistance to use the toilet however some are able to use the toilet themselves and may not immortalise or be able to disinfect the toilet appropriately after use so we check the toilet hourlyfor this purpose. aft(prenominal) we finish assisting the service user, making sure that they wash their hands and they are made comfortable outside of toilet we change gloves to clean gloves (as to not cross contaminate from assisting them to other surfaces) and use cleaning materials that are stored in a secure cupboard in the toilet firstly applying toilet bowl disinfectant to the bowl and scrub bowl with toilet b rush (if required) use a disinfecting wipe to clean top of bowl, a fresh one for the seat and another last wipe during the flush. We clean the flushing handle lastly using the wipe so as to not risk contamination after touching anywhere else.Where wipes are not used or have run out we use colour coded disposable cleaning cloths and liquid detergents (to remove physical debris) then liquid disinfectant to disinfect the surfaces. These are readily made up to the correct solutions (according to manufactures specifications) and are bottled in colour coded pliable bottles and labelled. For cleaning supplies used in toilets the spray bottles containing the detergent and disinfectants, cleaning cloths, mops and mop-buckets are all red. This gives a clear indication that these are the materials and equipment to be used in the toilet areas only and ensures that these are not used elsewhere in the home providing a procedural barrier against cross contamination.When using the liquid cleaners/ disinfectants and cloths we clean and disinfect the flush handle firstly and then work our way down to the bowl to spread of infection from toilet bowl to flush handle. If there is a spillage of urine on the floor then we use water and detergent with a designated mop and mop-bucket (colour coded red) to clean away the spillage. After the physical debris has been removed then we use disinfectant to disinfect the area, ensuring that hazard warning signs are put in place whilst cleaning is taking place so as to warn others of sly floor surfaces. We open the window so as to encourage quicker drying of the floor and monitor it for safety and remove signage when drying is complete.After cleaning these areas and supplies are securely pit away, we discard of our PPE in a specific manner which also acts as a procedural preventativebarrier against the spread of infection gloves (turned inside out), apron and then hand hygiene.At the end of a residency and once the room has been impaired and all belongings have been removed it is the procedure of our workplace that it should be cleaned and decontaminated, disinfected and sterilised. To do this we have a void team who remove any leftover items to throw away at a local authority refuse centre and get ready to refurbish the room. Wearing PPE we clean, disinfect and use a steam steriliser to sterilise the bed frame and commode (a new mattress is always ordered at the first base of new residencies) and move these temporarily into a storage room. We also strip the windows of curtains and drapes to launder. The void team then remove the lino and sterilise the room walls and ceiling, skirting door and door frame and handles repaint and lay new lino to flooring. We then replace the window dressings, bed frame and commode.Many other procedures are particular to our home some of which includeDaily, weekly and monthly cleaning of the kitchen and its contents. The storage and maintenance of products and equipment e.g. cleaning ch emicals and the required documentation, food stores and the stock rotation, health aids particular to each service user (such as catheters, stoma bags, dressings and pads), hoists, commodes, stand and twists, transfer boards, PPE etc. Disposal of clinical wastes.Safe handling and disposal of sharps.Managing spillages of blood and bodily fluids products.How to report and record and manage occurrences or suspicions of an outbreak.How to report and record accidents and incidents.Best practice of hand hygiene.Handling and laundering of soiled clothes and linen.Continue on a separate page if necessaryQUESTION- ( 3.2 )Explain the potential impact of an outbreak of infection on the individual and the organisationANSWERThe potential impact of an outbreak of infection on the individual can be devastating because it not only means that they have to be cared for in isolation to limit the risk of infection to other service users but it also means that the infection poses great risk to the indiv iduals life as their tolerant system is usually compromised and an infection poses a greater threat to their life. The symptoms of having an infection can be very uncomfortable for them in the mean time as their body is trying to fight the infection they can suffer symptoms such as fever and weakened muscle pain. If their skin is fragile and they are bed bound extra care must be taken to make sure that they are cleaned well and turned often to limit the onset of bedsores that can lead to even more complications.In cases of their treatment using some antibiotics (particularly stronger antibiotics that can give risk to the onset of other bacterial infections such as C. Diff because these antibiotics can have the effect of killing the initial infection in the digestive footpath but can also kill beneficial, naturally occurring bacteria essential to the health of the digestive system. The nonessential imbalance can give rise to C. Diff (which also naturally occurs in the system) to breed causing an imbalance by over population that is toxic to their system. The resulting symptoms include can give the side effect of diarrhoea and vomiting which in turn create aerosols and risk of airborne transmission.The isolation that follows when the individual needs to be cared for and treated separately from others so as to reduce the risk of spread of infections to others can also affect the individuals emotional/ mental wellbeing as they may feel more lone(prenominal) and depressed during this time and this can affect their self esteem. It is therefore essential that myself and members of staff visit the individual often to maintain social contactwith them and ensure support of their mental health. Visits to the individual from friends and relatives must be stopped until the outbreak has cleared so as limit the risk of cross contamination to the visitors and also protect the resident from bacteria the visitors may unwittingly bring with them. The potential difficulties that follow an infection outbreak for the individual are complex and life threatening.The impact of an infection out break on the organisation can also be devastating as it can be costly for the treatment that has to be implemented and the organisations reputation can suffer as if poor practice or negligence was find after an investigation of the outbreak then it is within the rights of the HSE to prosecute individuals and this can lead to a very well or imprisonment.QUESTION- ( 4.1 )Define the term riskANSWERA risk within a care setting applies to a number of possibilities that can involve the risk posed from use of equipments, the use of substances or the danger of a service user to themselves and others.In terms of infection prevention and control the term risk applies to the level of risk posed from biological hazards or biohazards to people (including service users, staff and visitors). Some biological hazards are those substances that come from living organisms such as peop le and they can be ground in bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, waste matter, saliva etc. Organisms that exist in bodily fluids include HIV, MRSA, influenza, MSSA, C. Difficile, E. Coli and many others.Once a biohazard in my workplace has been identified then I must be able to identify the level of risk that it poses to all people which means at what rate and by what means can the organism spread? Is it likely to spreadwithout precautions put in place? What level of harm is posed to others if precautions are not implemented? I would need to rate the level of risk to these factors as low, medium or high.QUESTION- ( 4.2 )Outline potential risks of infection within the workplaceANSWERIn a care home setting the potential for the risk of infection greatly increases because the service users are more vulnerable to getting infection then most people. Their susceptibility to infection is increased by a great many factors that affect their immune system, such as their age. actually old pe oples immune systems are weaker due to their age and therefore are more susceptible to getting infection. Service users may also be suffering from certain terminal illnesses and this may compromise their immune system or they may be receiving medication or treatment for a terminal illness and this may compromise their immune system e.g. chemotherapy for cancer weakens the immune system. When people are ill or are elderly and suffer from degenerative diseases such as dementia their dietings can change and they can begin to eat less or not feel like eating at all. For instances if they undergo a major operation like a pelvic arch replacement or have part of their digestive tract removed and acquire a stoma then they may have lost their appetite or find it difficult to change their diet risking them of becoming malnourished.Their nutritional status becomes poor as a result hence compromising their immune system. If they have had surgery and have wounds, stitches or some kind of skin t rauma as a result, this greatly increases the risk to infection as the skin has been breached and this is the bodys greatest defence barrier against infection. These areas of the skin are undergoing healing and must be kept cleansed regularly to reduce bacteria. Stomas for the exit of excreting via the bowl or urine, catheters for the drainage of urine from the bladder via the urethra and cannulas inserted into the service users arm for the administration of intravenously all give a way to entry directly into the body.This increases the risk to theservice user of infection not only as a direct passage but also if the bags, needles or tubing are not sterile when used or if they become blocked and bacteria can then quickly build up. As mentioned before the use of some drugs can increase a service users risk to infection e.g. strong antibiotics changing the levels of natural bacteria in the body and causing an imbalance creating C. Diff infection or chemotherapy drugs weakening the im mune system exposing the service user to risk of infection.The service user in a weakened state also becomes at greater risk of carrying infections and can spread pathogens themselves. There are highly contagious blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis B, HIV or MRSA that can be transferred to others who have to interact with them such as myself and staff who are providing care. Friends and relatives and other visitors can also be exposed to these infections. Aerosols from air borne pathogens such as the norovirus or influenza can transfer to others from the carriers vomit. The same is true of outside visitors bringing in such pathogens and risking infection to the service users who have weakened immune systems and who would find it more difficult to fight off such pathogens and sometimes fatal.People coming into the care home environment from outside also include myself and the staff team. We must be aware of our own personal hygiene and health as we can also be carriers of air born e viruses such as colds, flu, diarrhoea and vomiting. As care workers staff and myself need to be even more vigilant about our personal hygiene, state of health and our infection control practice. We must be extra vigilant when working within the care home as we are tending to different service users so it is vital that we practice a high standard of infection control procedure and adhere the requirements as set out in our organisations procedures so as to prevent cross contamination and the spread of infections between potentially contagious and vulnerable service users.We must ensure that we are clean and tidy for work and that our personal hygiene and attire does not pose a risk of infection to the service users and we must be responsible for our health and monitor this as if we do have a cold or flu it is best that we do not enter the work place as these illnesses can be detrimental to ourservice users. It is therefore vital that we follow our organisations procedure on our fit ness for work and take the appropriate action and inform our manager of our state of health as this could save a persons life. It is therefore essential that I and my staff treat all individuals as high risk in the light of potential risk factors of infection in a care home environment.The equipment that we use with the service users often come into contact with the service users. Equipment such as hoists, stand and turns, banana boards, commodes, walking frames, profiling beds all come into contact with service users who may be carrying infections or pathogens that will cause infections. In addition areas such as toilets, bathrooms, doors and door handles and stand rails are also areas where bacteria and pathogens can sit and go. Some pathogens are very resistant and can survive in a dormant state until the conditions in their surroundings becomes right then they can multiply e.g. the spores of C. Diff. It is therefore essential that regular cleaning to the schedule is carried ou t thoroughly as to limit the prospect for pathogens to harbour.