Hand hygiene is the single most important method of preventing and controlling infection. The hands normally have a "resident" population of micro-organisms. Other micro-organisms are picked up during every-day activities, and these are termed "transient" organisms. Many infection control problems are caused by these transient organisms. Hand washing with soap & warm water should remove these transient organisms before they are transferred to surfaces, another patient or to a susceptible area on the same patient.
As one touches people, surfaces, and objects throughout the day, germs accumulate on ones hands. We have always been taught to wash our hands after using the restroom and before we eat. What about during and after preparing food, treating wounds or caring for a sick person? How about blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, handling garbage, household chemicals, or anything that could be contaminated or simply shaking hands with someone else? All of these situations call for proper hand washing technique.
In the hospital ward scenario where there was a patient suffering from dementia, my first recommendation was that cleaners should be trained regularly on how to clean dirty cups properly and should be ensured the consequences for the patients if this was not done properly. I recommended this because if cleaners are trained regularly and reminded on how to clean cutlery properly, and were ensured that this should be done as regular as possible. This recommendation could be referred to the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) because this act includes safe training for the employees, in this case the cleaners. It includes high standards of hygiene which fits into this recommendation because the training involves ensuring how to clean dirty cups properly. (www.legislations.gov.uk, Accessed 04/10/13).
Can be spread by touch, coughs and colds, it is good practise to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and washing your hands after, disposing of any tissues in bins. It could also be prevented if residents do not share cutlery, cups or anything that may transfer infection to one another. Infection Control in your work place should be a part of everyday practice, and if followed to the correct procedure, can help to contain illnesses being spread. Diarrhoea, vomiting, coughs and colds are hard to contain in a nursing home because those residents who are mobile don't always understand that its in he interest of the home and the other residents that they are asked to stay in their rooms. Infections can also be transferred through visitors coming in to see their relatives.
For example when assisting a service user to have a bath, shower or to use the toilet you must always wear the PPE (personal protective equipment) provided when removing any soiled clothing you must dispose of it in the correct way using the sluice bags that are provided and the sluice bags should be tided shut thus preventing any infection among other service users clothes. Any PPE used should be disposed of in the room you have used and before leaving that room employees must ensure they wash their hands using the correct hand washing method displayed. Another responsibility employees have is to prepare and maintain environment before and after patient care making sure all PPE is worn if there are any bodily fluids in the room i.e. on the floor sink etc this spiliage should be cleaned up immediately using the appropriate disinfectant cleaning products to prevent any infection spreading such as MRSA, C Diff and the norovirus. Q: 1.2 Explain employers’ respsonsibilitys in relation to the prevention and control of infection.
Through these trainings, the employee will learn the proper measures regarding infection control and prevention in spreading infection. Must also be updated on Health care. One of the ways infection is spread is thru dirty or infected hands. So, proper hand washing must be done especially after using the wash room, holding money, and before holding the medicines and the patient. Must maintain proper hygiene.
You should always get vaccinated and always use safe methods of cooking and preparing food. It is also vital to maintain good personal hygiene as not doing so can lead to the spread of infection, regularly change clothing and regularly wash body as well as you using fresh PPE for different tasks. There are 4 main types of infection and many ways in which they can enter the body. The four main types of infection: Bacteria - are small single-celled life forms that reproduce quickly and are capable of causing disease. Bacterial infections can usually be treated with anti-biotics however some types of bacteria can form a protective spore which can make them more resistant to heat and chemicals.
If I come across a hazard such as bodily fluids spilt in an area or a staff member not wearing gloves I must report it immediately to a senior staff member and not ignore it as this may cause infection to spread. If a resident has past urine or bodily waste on the floor a member of staff should still clean it up and wear an apron and gloves even if the resident doesn’t have a infection as urine and bodily waste contain lots of other things. In my workplace I need to put these safe ways of working into practice; for example by effective hand washing, not coming into work when you’re not feeling well allowing myself 48 hours after id had a sickness bug as I will be putting other staff residents and visitors at risk, by not wearing jewellery when do activities with the residents as jewellery carries many germs and infections, by always wearing protective clothing; wearing an apron and gloves for procedures will reduce the spread of infection by preventing infection passing on from me to others
Roles and Responsibilities of Personnel In a health and social care setting each member of staff has a specific role when dealing with service users and the prevention and control of infections. Care workers such as nurses have a responsibility to keep the risk of infection to a minimum in a health and social care setting. They must consider themselves, their colleagues, their patients and visitors while on duty. Care workers must maintain a good personal hygiene at all times and wash hands thoroughly before and after contact with the patients that they are treating. They must also wash hands after using the toilet and before handling food.
Instead, nurses use hanging sponge holders, similar to that of over the door shoe holders, as well as a white board to count what kind and how many surgical sponges are removed as the surgery comes to an end. Lastly, surgeons can carefully conduct a wound exam in each procedure