n this section of free PCT Exam Study Guide , we covers Safety and Infection Control which is mention in domain 3 and represent 20% of PCT exam content. Safety and Infection Control includes three essential tasks that every Patient Care Technician must mastered the rules and ethical standards that keep everyone safe and respected.
- Standard Precautions
- Transmission – Based Precautions
- Equipment and Environmental Safety
These are the main topics of Safety and Infection Control with detail explanation are given below:
a. Standard Precautions
Hand Hygiene Techniques
Wash your hands before and after every patient contact with soap and water for 20 seconds or alcohol-based cleanser for 15 seconds. This is summarized as the number one way to stop germs from spreading. Wash with soap when hands are visibly soiled or after using the restroom.
“Such as wash hands before body temperature measurement, after removing gloves, before meals and before and after entering/leaving enclosed space.”
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Pick the appropriate protective equipment depending on the type of exposure you’ll have with the patient. Gloves protect from blood and body fluids, gowns protect clothes and skin, masks protect from respiratory droplets while eye protection are for splashes.
For example, those treating wounds could wear gloves and a gown, and a mask if the patient is coughing; for any procedures that could lead to splashes, wear an eye protection shield.
b. Transmission-Based Precautions
Contact Precautions
Worn for patients with infections that move through direct contact or contaminated surfaces, such as MRSA or C. diff. Don gown and gloves before entering the room, discard before leaving and clean hands. Isolate patient belongings in the room, and avoid sharing equipment between patients.
For that patient, use your dedicated stethoscope and when you finish seeing that patient, wipe down your stethoscope and store it in their room.
Droplet Precautions
For infections transmitted through large respiratory droplets, such as influenza or strep throat. Wear a surgical mask while within 3 feet of the patient and keep the patient’s door closed. … The patient should mask when leaving his/her room for interventions.
For instance, if you are taking a patient with pneumonia to X-ray, both you and the patient should wear a mask.
Airborne Precautions
For illnesses transmitted on small particles through the air, as from tuberculosis or measles. Use a fitted-tested N95 respirator, keep the patient in a negative pressure room with the door closed, and minimize room entries.
For instance, when attending to a patient sick with TB, you should don your fitted N95 mask before entering the room and not take it off until you are out of the area entirely.
c. Equipment and Environmental Safety
Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization
Select the level of germ removal that’s suitable for your equipment:
- A clean object is one with visible dirt and some germs removed (e.g., soap and water washing a stethoscope).
- Disinfection kills the germs that cause disease (example: using hospital-issued disinfectant wipes on bed rails)
- Sterilizations: kills every microorganism (e.g.: autoclaving surgical instruments)
Follow the manufacturer’s recommended product and contact time.
Sharps Safety and Needle Handling
Inject through an automatic or safety needle that has built-in safety features, which is deployed immediately after use. Do not manually recap, bend, or overfill sharps containers. If you must recap, use the one-handed scoop method or a recapping device.
For instance, once the blood is drawn, press the needle safety guard in to position and dispose of the whole needle unit directly into the sharps container without having to touch the needle.
Body Mechanics and Injury Prevention
Mind your back and joints by lifting correctly: Don’t lift objects above your waist, bend your knees, not your back, keep your back straight, keep objects close to your body, and ask for help when lifting anything heavy. Good supportive shoes with good traction are best also.
“In other words, when lifting a patient, bend your knees, grasp firmly, tighten your stomach muscles, and use your leg muscles to do the lifting, holding the patient against your chest.”
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