The Germs
This common virus can cause very serious illness in those with chronic conditions, the very young, and the elderly
What is: The flu
True or False: If I wear gloves, but they do not become visibly contaminated, I do not need to perform hand hygiene
What is: False.
The use of gloves does not replace the need for hand hygiene
The amount of time I should wash my hands with soap and water.
What is : 20 Seconds
According to the CDC.
Wet hands....apply soap....lather 20 seconds (not under water)....rinse....dry....turn off water with paper towel.
The cleaning agent that must be used when cleaning patient care equipment from the room of a patient on Contact Special precautions.
What is : BLEACH.
Use single-patient items as often as possible.
Your are emptying trash in a patients room- do you need to change your gloves between EACH patient?
What is: YES! Nobody should EVER be in the halls with gloves on
* exceptions are few
Antibiotics do NOT cure illnesses caused by this category of non-bacterial germs
What are: Viruses
The PPE that must be worn to enter the room of a patient on "Contact" or "Contact Special" Precautions
What is: Gown & Gloves
The amount of time I rub my hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer
What is: Until they are dry
True or False? I do not need to put on PPE if I am just going into the patient room to drop something off?
False. We must don PPE any time that we cross the threshold into the patient room.
* Consistency is very important
These individuals are responsible for keeping our facility clean and protecting our patients and staff from infection.
Who is: Everyone!
The most effective way to prevent the spread of infection
What is: Hand Hygiene
The PPE that must be worn when entering the room of a patient on "Droplet" precautions
What is : A standard surgical mask
The person responsible for educating patients and visitors about hand hygiene.
Who is: Everyone
Any chance we get.
There are "Isolation Precautions" for patients with infections that can spread to others, and "_______ Precautions" for all other patients.
What are: Standard Precautions
This is here because many new and/or resistant organisms and serious contagious conditions.
Every patient. Risk Assessment. Protect yourself without an isolation order. May include gloves, gowns, mask, etc.
The amount of time a surface has to stay wet to ensure proper disinfection
What is: Contact time, dwell time, wet time, kill time
Can you get the flu from the flu shot?
NO! The flu shot is not made from live virus, so you cannot catch the flu from receiving one.
The type of isolation precautions used for a patient with TB or Measles
What is: Airborne
True or False: I just came out of a patients room, but I do not need to wash my hands. I only dropped off a drink and did not touch the patient
What is: FALSE
All items in the patient room/care environment are considered contaminated and hand hygiene must be performed prior to leaving the room, whether the patient was touched or not.
Also- others will misunderstand :)
Hand hygiene with soap and water is always needed to prevent the spread of this pathogen.
What is: C. difficile?
True or False? Equipment that has been used in a patient room only has to be cleaned if the patient was on isolation?
False! All patient care equipment must be cleaned prior to leaving the room, being used on another patient, or being placed in storage
What you do if a patient comes in coughing and sneezing
What is: provide them a mask and educate them on hand hygiene
Educate on hand hygiene often! Inpatients, outpatients, families.
True or False: It is not important to explain to a patient or their visitors about isolation precautions, because it would be a HIPPA violation.
False. We should always educate patients about why they have been placed on isolation precautions.
Patients, families, visitors should all be educated on the importance and proper use of PPE. You do not need to share personal information to educate on proper use.
- Discuss CRE-
This program, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) is the platform for the hand hygiene program at Valley Health.
What is: The "5 Moments" for hand hygiene?
The type of cleaning cloth used for c. difficile rooms
What is: Orange-top wipes
True or False? If I take a piece of equipment into a patient room, but it does not touch the patient, it doesn't have to be cleaned.
False: Anything that touches the patient OR the patient care environment must be cleaned.
Also, if it was touched by the potentially contaminated hands of a healthcare provider, it must be cleaned.