The Healthy You Is the Better You

Posted on: 7 June 2022

Infection control is a crucial department in a hospital setting. Effective infection control reduces the risk of transmission of any hazardous materials or illnesses between patients, employees, and anyone else who is in the facility. There is typically a tiered approach when it comes to reducing the spread of infection. The facility should take standard safety precautions while also taking special transmission-based precautions to avoid transmitting disease. Here are some things you need to know:

What Are Standard Precautions?

Standard precautions are the basic infection prevention strategies that everyone within the facility must abide by. This includes hand washing, wearing protective equipment, proper facility cleaning, and disposing of sharps or needles appropriately. This is the first line in preventing infection but is also a good practice in general. These precautions help to reduce the risk of infections and keep the area as clean and sanitary as possible.

What Are Transmission-Based Precautions?

Transmission-based precautions are specific methods that stop transmissions from happening. They are used specifically for those who may be infected with something that can spread. These precautions are performed in addition to standard precautions to help reduce the risk of an outbreak of a specific illness.

These precautions include making sure the patient or infected personnel is isolated and away from others. If there is a single occupancy room available, that is where the patient should be placed. If the infected is a member of personnel, they should be quarantined at home or isolated within the facility if they become a patient.

This also includes wearing personal protective equipment, such as gloves, gowns, masks, and anything else that will reduce the spread of pathogens.

Transmission-based precautions also include limiting the transport of the patient as much as possible. When possible, all testing and procedures should occur in one area to prevent spread. If the movement of the patient is necessary, they may need to wear personal protective equipment as well.

If possible, use only disposable equipment on a patient who is isolated. If the supplies are not disposable, they must be thoroughly disinfected. The room must also be completely disinfected to ensure the spread does not happen to the next occupant of the room. Disinfectant wipes, alcohol wipes, pads, and detergent wipes are among the best ways to disinfect a room as these products are disposable and contain high cleaning and disinfecting properties.

Infection control is so important, so always ensure the proper cleaning and disinfecting products are available to the staff. For more information, contact an infection control product supplier in your area.