Question

Sam, a 42-year-old man, was booked for an endoscopy at a local clinic. Prior to the procedure he was injected with sedatives, but after several minutes the nurse noticed Sam seemed uncomfortable and required additional sedation. She used the same syringe, dipped it in the open sedative vial and re-injected him. The procedure continued as normal. Several months later, Sam, suffering from swelling of the liver, stomach pain, fatigue and jaundice, was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. The Centers for Disease Control was contacted, as 84 other cases of liver disease were linked to the clinic. It was believed that the sedative vial may have been contaminated from the backflow into the syringe and that the virus may have been passed on from the contaminated vial. Several health-care workers commented that reusing the syringe on the same patient (and thus dipping a used syringe into a common vial) was common practice.

Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Syringe reuse linked to hepatitis C outbreak. Sonner, S., Associated Press

1. What do you think about this case (cases) that the CDC investigated? Should health care workers have anticipated that using a common vial between patients might lead to infection? How common do you think these types of incidents are?
2. You may or may not know about general infection control procedures and different types of isolation. Investigate one of the SPECIFIC types of isolation (contact, droplet, or airborne) and describe:
   1. What diseases it is used for
   2. What personal protection equipment and hospital requirements are involved
   3. Why do you think health care workers may not adhere to this specific isolation (ie. why they might not wear gloves or gown or mask, or keep the door closed, etc.)
   4. What should be the penalty for healthcare workers that do not follow infection control procedures?

Answer 1

INFECTION CONTROL

DEFINITION

These are the measures practiced by health care personal to prevet spread,transmission and acquisition of infection between clints,from health care providers to clients and from clients to HCP.

PROCEDURES OF INFECTION CONTROL

1. STANDARD PRECAUTIONS
2. HAND HYGIENE
3. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTS
4. PREVENTION OF NEEDLE STICK AND SHARPS INJURY
5. CLEANING AND DISINFECTION
6. RESPIRATORY HYGIENE
7. PROPER WASTE DISPOSAL
8. ​​​​​​​SAFE INJECTION PRACTICES

Accoding to CDCGuidelines there are 3 main types of isolation precautions

1. CONTACT PRECAUTION
2. DROPLET PRECAUTION
3. AIRBORN PRECAUTIONS

CONTACT PRECAUTION

These are the precautions revolve around the most common method of transmission for pathogens through the Direct or Indirect method oa transmission of infection.It includes,

• Wearing Mask,gown and gloves
• Use a face shield and eye shield
• Perform hand washing
• Report any Possible Exposure Immediately   

The diseases can be prevented by these meassures are

• Hepatitis A
• Antibiotis Resistant Bacteria
• Scabies
• Impetigo
• Lice

DROPLET PRECAUTION

Droplet Isolation Precautions are used when pathogens are small enough to be dispersed into the air when Coughing or Sneezing. The prevention meassures includes

• Covering mouth and nose while Sneezing and Coughing
• Wear a surgical mask
• Used mask must be discarded in trash after leaving the room.
• perform the proper handwasing       Diseases can be prevent through these meassures are          

• Common Cold
• Measles
• Diphtheria
• Rubella
• Influenza
• Mumps
• Pertussis

AIRBORN PRECAUTIONS

Airborn infections occurs through the dissemination of air droplet nuclei or the dust particles that contain an infectious agent.

Prevention meassures of airborn infections as followes

1. The patient should be in a Negative Pressure Room A negative Pressure room is a roommaintains a lower pressure via the ventilation system that prevents airborn pathogens from existing the room through an opened door
2.   Wear an appropriate Respirator.​​​​​​​

The respirator should have an NOISH rating of N95 or higher and the respirator should be appiled prior to entering the patient room.

3. Dispose the PPE in the adjunct room, Nt in the other patient's room.

The diseases can be prevented through these meassures are

• Tuberculosis
• Measels
• Chickenpox
• Herpes Zoster
• Small pox