Lecture Clinical procedures for medical assisting (4/e): Chapter 2 – Booth, Whicker, Wyman

CHAPTER

2

Infection Control
Techniques

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­2

Learning Outcomes
2.1

Describe the medical assistant’s role in
infection control.

2.2

Describe methods of infection control.

2.3

Compare and contrast medical and surgical
asepsis.

2.4

Describe how to perform aseptic hand
washing.

2.5

Compare and contrast the procedures for
sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization.
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­3

Learning Outcomes (cont.)
2.6

Describe measures used in sanitization.

2.7

List various methods used in disinfection and
the advantages and disadvantages of each.

2.8

Discuss the goal of surgical asepsis.

2.9

Explain what an autoclave is and how it
operates.

2.10 List the steps in the general autoclave

procedures.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­4

Learning Outcomes (cont.)
2.11 Explain how to wrap and label items for
sterilization in an autoclave.
2.12 Describe how to complete the sterilization
procedure using an autoclave.
2.13 Define the Blood-Borne Pathogens Standard
and Universal Precautions as described in
the rules and regulations of the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­5

Learning Outcomes (cont.)
2.14 Explain the role of Universal Precautions in
the duties of a medical assistant.
2.15 List the procedures and legal requirements
for disposing of hazardous waste.
2.16 Describe Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) requirements for reporting
cases of infectious disease.

2.17 Discuss the need for specific guidelines for
isolating patients in health-care settings.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­6

Learning Outcomes (cont.)
2.18 Describe the appropriate use of personal
protective equipment in various situations.
2.19 Explain the purpose of immunization.
2.20 Describe your role in educating patients about
immunizations.
2.21 Explain how to educate patients in
preventing disease transmission.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­7

Introduction
• Patients coming to
the office for
treatment may be
more susceptible to
infections

• Immunizations and

patient education
are important
methods of infection
control

 You will be introduced to Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, the 
Blood­Borne Pathogen Standard, reporting 
guidelines, and isolation procedures.
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­8

MA’s Role in Infection Control
• To control infectious
diseases, the cycle of
infection must be
broken
• Apply principles of
infection control in
office setting

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­9

MA’s Role in Infection Control (cont.)
• Follow correct

sanitization, disinfection,
and sterilization
procedures
• Help patients understand
basic disease prevention
• Educate patients about
immunizations
• Administer immunizations

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­10

Apply Your Knowledge
What is your role as a medical assistant in
controlling infection in the medical office?
ANSWER: To apply principles of infection control by
following correct sanitization, disinfection, and
sterilization procedures.

Correct!
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­11

Infection Control Methods
• Eliminate elements needed for disease
to occur

• Knowledge of
– Medical asepsis
• Based on cleanliness
• As few microorganisms as possible

– Surgical asepsis
• Sterile environment
• No microorganisms

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­12

Medical Asepsis
• Keep office clean:
– Reception area: sick vs. well
patients
– Reception room clean, well
lit, and ventilated
– Keep furniture in good repair
– Strict “no food or drink”
policy
– Empty trash as necessary

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­13

Medical Asepsis (cont.)
• During medical assistant
procedures
– Prevent cross-contamination

• Hand washing
– Beginning of day
– After breaks
– Before and after each patient
– Before and after handling
equipment or specimens
– After blowing your nose or
coughing

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­14

Medical Asepsis (cont.)
• Other precautions
– Avoid leaning against sinks, supplies,
equipment
– Avoid touching your face and mouth
– Use tissues when you cough or sneeze, and
always wash your hands afterward
– Avoid working directly with patients when you
have a cold; wear gloves and mask if you
must
– Stay home if you have a fever

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­15

Apply Your Knowledge
Describe the difference between medical and
surgical asepsis.
ANSWER: Medical asepsis is based on cleanliness and
reducing the number of microorganisms as much as
possible. Surgical asepsis is maintaining a sterile
environment by eliminating all microorganisms.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­16

Sanitization
• Scrubbing with a brush and
detergent to remove blood,
mucus, and other
contaminants or media where
pathogens can grow
• For cleaning items that touch
only healthy, intact skin
OR
• First step in disinfection and
sterilization for other
equipment

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­17

Sanitization (cont.)
• Collect items for
sanitization
– Place in water and special
detergent solution
– Use utility gloves
– Separate sharps from other
equipment

• Scrub items
– Follow manufacturers’
guidelines
– Dry thoroughly
– Examine carefully
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­18

Sanitization (cont.)
• Rubber and plastic items
• Syringes and needles – use disposable
whenever possible
• Ultrasonic cleaning

– For delicate instruments and those with
moving parts
– Sound waves generated through a cleaning
solution to loosen contaminants

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­19

Apply Your Knowledge
What is sanitation, and what types of items is it
adequate for cleaning?
ANSWER: Sanitation is scrubbing with a brush and
detergent to remove blood, mucus, and other
contaminants or media where pathogens can grow. It
is adequate for cleaning items that touch only healthy,
intact skin.

Nice Job!
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­20

Disinfection
• Adequate for instruments that do not
penetrate skin or mucous membranes and
surfaces not considered sterile
OR

• Second step in infection control prior to
sterilization
• Will not kill spores, certain viruses

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­21

Disinfection (cont.)
• Using disinfectants
– Cleaning products
applied to inanimate
materials to reduce or
eliminate infectious
organisms
• Antiseptics are antiinfective
cleaning agents used
on human tissue

– Follow manufacturers’
guidelines

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­22

Disinfection (cont.)
– Factors impacting effectiveness

of disinfectants
• Number of times solution is used
• Wet items – surface moisture may
dilute solution
• Traces of soap left from
sanitization – alters chemical
composition
• Evaporation

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­23

Disinfection (cont.)
• Choose the correct disinfectant
– Germicidal soap products
– Alcohol
– Acid products
– Formaldehyde
– Glutaraldehyde – “cold
disinfection”
– Bleach
– Iodine and iodine compounds
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­24

Disinfection (cont.)

• Handling disinfected
supplies
– Prevent contamination
with other surfaces
– Use sterile transfer
forceps
– Wear gloves
– Store in clean, moisturefree environment

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.


2­25

Apply Your Knowledge
What is the difference between a disinfectant and
an antiseptic?
ANSWER: Disinfectants are cleaning products applied to
inanimate materials to reduce or eliminate infectious
organisms. Antiseptics are anti-infective cleaning agents
used on human tissue.

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.