The document discusses principles of medical and surgical asepsis. It outlines various methods to control infectious agents and prevent their spread, including proper cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, isolation practices, and protecting the susceptible host. It emphasizes maintaining the integrity of skin and mucous membranes, as well as protecting normal defense mechanisms and healing processes. Different categories of isolation are described to prevent transmission of contagious infections via various routes. Surgical asepsis involves hand washing, gowning, gloving, wearing a mask, and taking precautions when handling sterile supplies.
2. MEDICAL ASEPSIS
The nurse follows certain principles and procedures to control and prevent the spread of infection
Basic medical techniques are focused on breaking the chain of reaction.
This can be achieve by various methods,
3. Control or elimination
of infectious agents
Measures for Control
or elimination of
reservoirs of infection
control of portals of
exit
Control of
transmission of
infection
Control of portal of
entry
Protection of
susceptible host
Isolation practices
4.
5. Proper cleaning by water and mechanical action with or without detergents.
Disinfection
Sterilization of contaminated objects, sterilization and disinfection are physical processes,
involving the use of heat , radiation, chemical processes, etc, which use various solutions or
gases
6.
7. Bathing with soap and water to remove secretion, drainage, perspiration, etc
Frequent change of dressings
Proper disposal of wastes and contaminated articles
Disposal of contaminated needles and syringes in moisture- resistant , puncture-proof container
Keep the patients bedside unit clean, dry and biologically safe
Bottled solutions should be placed with tight caps as per instructions
Keep drainage tubes and collection bags of the patient s to prevent accumulation of serous fluid under the
skin surface of surgical wounds
Empty and dispose of drainage suction bottles according to agency policy
8.
9. Practise aseptic precautions
Avoid talking directly into the client’s face to prevent droplet infections
Wearing of masks is important once the nurse herself has infection or deals with clients suffering from
infections
Careful handling of waste like urine, faeces, emesis and blood is important
Disposable gloves should be worn to prevent direct contact with wastes or infected materials
10.
11. Discourage sharing of bedpans, urinals, basins, eating utensils, etc.
Use separate thermometer for infectious patients
Damp dusting should be done to prevent scattering of dust, etc in the air
Protect own clothing from direct contact with infected materials
practise hand-washing techniques. This is recommended in the following situations,
Before contact with clients who are susceptible to infection
After caring for an infected client
After touching infected materials
Before performing invasive procedure like administration of injections, suction, catheterization, etc
Before and after handling dressings or touching open wounds
After handling contaminated equipment
Between contact with different clients in high- risk units
12.
13. Maintain itergrity of skin and mucous membrane
Proper postioning of tubings, etc,.may prevent injuries and skin breakdown
Regular skin care is essential with application of lubricants
Turning and positioning of debilitated clients will help in preventing a skin breakdown
Ensure personal hygiene of clients regularly
Dispose of contaminated syringes and needles properly to prevent accidental injuries to hospital
personnel as well as clients
17. Maintaining healing processes
Promoting intake of well balanced diet
Institution of measures to improve appetite of the patients
Promotion of comfort and sleep
Helping to identify methods to relieve stress
20. CATEGORY OF ISOLATION PURPOSES
Strict isolation
Prevents transmission of highly contagious or virulent infections spread by
air and contact
Contact isolation
Prevents transmission of highly transmissible infections spread by close or
direct contacts that do not warrant strict precautions
Respiratory isolation
Prevents transmission of highly transmissible infections spread by close or
direct contacts that do not warrant strict precautions
Enteric isolation Prevents infection transmitted by direct or indirect contact with faeces
Drainage and secretion precautions
( wound and skin isolation)
Prevents infection transmitted by direct or indirect contact with purulent
material or drainage from an infected body site
Universal blood and body fluid precautions
(blood isolation)
Prevents contact with pathogens transmitted by direct or indirect contact
with infected blood or body fluids containing blood
Care of severely immuno-compromised
clients
Protects the clients with lowered immunity and resistance from acquiring
infectious organisms
21. SURGICAL ASEPSIS
It involves,
Hand washing
Gowning
Gloving
Wearing mask
Precautions while handling sterile supplies
Notas del editor
Control or elimination of infectious agents
Measures for Control or elimination of reservoirs of infection
control of portals of exit
Control of transmission of infection
Control of portal of entry
Protection of susceptible host
Isolation practices