Infection Control Practice Overview

Regulatory Agencies and Responsibilities

• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): Registers all types of disinfectants sold and used in the United States.
• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): Responsible for national public health and safety standards.
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration): Regulates and enforces safety standards to protect employees at work.

Key Terms and Definitions

• Harmful Microorganisms: Bacteria that can cause disease or infection when they invade the human body.
• Single-Celled Microorganisms: Have both plant and animal characteristics. Example: Bacteria.
• Blood-Borne Viruses: Can survive on surfaces outside the body for extended periods.
• Sterilization: Process that destroys all microbial life, including spores, typically using an autoclave.
• Inflammation: Characterized by redness, swelling, and pain; possible during the spread of blood-borne pathogens.
• Systemic Infections: Bacterial infections that, without proper treatment, can become systemic and lead to severe consequences, including death.
• Allergy: A reaction caused by extreme sensitivity to a normally harmless substance.
• Immunity: Refers to the body's ability to resist disease, either inherited or developed through healthy living.
• Communicable Diseases: Diseases that can be transmitted from one person to another, often through direct or indirect contact.

Disease Transmission

• Direct Transmission: Pathogens spread through direct contact, e.g., handshaking, kissing, coughing.
• Indirect Transmission: Spread through contact with an intermediate object, e.g., razors, nippers.

Steps in Infection Control

1. Cleaning: Remove visible dirt and debris using soap and water.
2. Disinfecting: Chemical process using products to destroy harmful organisms on non-porous surfaces.
3. Sterilizing: Destroys all microbial life, typically using an autoclave.

Disinfectants

• Household Bleach (5.25% Sodium Hypochlorite): Effective disinfectant, must be EPA registered.
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats): Effective on non-porous surfaces, with multiple quats significantly increasing effectiveness.

Terminology and Concepts

• Biofilms: Colonies of microorganisms adhering to surfaces.
• Mycobacterium: Large family of bacteria found in soil and water.
• Ringworm: Fungal infection with circular lesions.
• Staphylococci: Bacteria that grow in clusters, causing abscesses and boils.

Safety and Health Management

• Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Provide information on product hazards and safety precautions.
• Rules vs. Laws: Laws are legally binding regulations, whereas rules are guidelines for compliance.

Additional Terms

• Porous: Material that can absorb moisture, affecting the choice of cleaning and disinfecting agents.
• Asymptomatic: A person showing no signs or symptoms of infection.
• Effective: The ability to produce a desired effect.

This concludes the notes on infection control based on the practice test. Best of luck on your test!