Hand Hygiene
What can you use other than washing your hands?
Hand sanitizer
FUN FACT: Sanitizers with 60-90% alcohol content are most effective.
What does PPE stand for?
Personal Protective Equipment
What is the #1 way to prevent the spread of infection?
Handwashing.
You see a room that says the patient is in isolation. What does this mean?
It means the patient has to be separated from the rest.
FUN FACT: The word isolation comes from the latin word insula, which means island.
How many paper towels do you use after handwashing?
three
Who does PPE protect?
The worker and the patient.
What are the three different variations of infection precautions?
Airborne, contact, and droplet.
A doctor just left the room of one patient and has to go take care of another. What should they do?
what do you turn off first, the hot or cold water?
the hot water
When do you wear PPE?
When contact with body fluids is anticipated.
FUN FACT: Latex gloves only became standard practice in the 80's.
An example of a disease whith airborne transmission
Tuberculosis, measles, COVID, whooping cough
A doctor washed their hands with rings on. Why is this a risk?
Because rings hide things. They may not have cleaned the area under them, which means that pathogens are still thriving there and could transmit to the patient.
FUN FACT: Alcohol-based hand cleaners are proven more effective than water-and-soap handwashing. That is, if enough product is used.
What is the most important aspect of handwashing?
Friction
FUN FACT: Friction is the most important aspect of handwashing because it dislodges the germs.
What is the order in which PPE should be applied?
Gown, mask, goggles, gloves.
What kind of mask do you use in a room with airborne precautions?
FUN FACT: A fit-tested NIOSH-approved N95 respirator or higher is required when dealing with airborne precautions.
You are entering a room with airborne precautions. What does that mean?
The illness that the patient has can be transmitted through the air.
FUN FACT: The pathogens can live in the air for hours.
What to avoid when washing hands (3 answers)
Pointing your fingertips up, leaning against the sink, and touching the inside of the sink with your hands.
What is the order in which PPE should be removed?
Gloves, goggles, gown, mask
What kind of room would a person with airborne precautions be held in?
Negative air pressure room or airborne infection isolation room
FUN FACT: Some isolation rooms have ultraviolet germicidal irridation lights in the room and airducts to kill pathogens.
You enter a room with droplet precautions. What do you need?
Gloves and a gown.
FUN FACT: If the indoor air is dry, the droplets can stay in the air for significantly longer.