Prevent the Method of Spread

Prevent the Method of Spread

Preventing the Method of Spread

Understand the Chain of Infection

  • The chain of infection includes six links: the infectious agent (bacteria, virus, etc.), the reservoir (where the agent lives and multiplies), the portal of exit from the reservoir, the mode of transmission, the portal of entry into a host, and the susceptible host.
  • Understanding each link in the chain is crucial to plan effective infection control strategies.

Implement Standard Precautions

  • Standard precautions are the basic level of infection control and are to be used as a minimum in the care of all service users.
  • These precautions include hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe handling of sharps, and proper cleaning and disinfection of instruments and environments.

Break the Chain of Infection

  • Infection control aims to break the chain of infection at any of its links to prevent infection from spreading.
  • For example, hand hygiene helps to break the chain at the ‘portal of exit’ and ‘mode of transmission’ stages.

Effective Hand Hygiene

  • Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures in preventing the spread of infections.
  • It includes hand washing with soap and water and the use of alcohol-based hand rubs when hand washing is not possible.

Personal Protective Equipment

  • PPE includes gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. These should be used to protect the skin and mucous membranes from exposure to infectious agents.
  • It’s crucial to correctly put on and remove PPE to avoid self-contamination.

Safe handling of sharps

  • Sharps (needles, blades, etc.) must be handled safely to prevent injury and the potential transmission of infection.
  • They should be immediately disposed of in the appropriate sharps container after use.

Environmental Cleaning

  • The environment should be cleaned to remove potential sources of infectious agents.
  • This includes decontamination of surfaces, equipment and waste, and adhering to laundry guidelines.

Remember that the key to preventing the spread of infections is to consistently implement these strategies.