HEALTHCARE


PURCHASING EWSN SELF-STUDY SERIES


July 2020 The self-study lesson on this central service topic was developed by STERIS. The lessons are admin- istered by Endeavor Healthcare Media.


Earn CEUs After careful study of the lesson, complete the examination at the end of this section. Mail the completed test and scoring fee to Healthcare Purchasing News for grading. We will notify you if you have a passing score of 70 percent or higher, and you will receive a certifi cate of completion within 30 days. Previous lessons are available at www.hpnonline.com.


Certifi cation The CBSPD (Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution) has pre-approved this in-service for one (1) contact hour for a period of fi ve (5) years from the date of original publication. Successful


completion of the lesson and post test must be documented by facility management and those records maintained by the individual until re-certifi cation is required. DO NOT SEND LESSON OR TEST TO CBSPD. For additional informa- tion regarding certification contact CBSPD - 148 Main Street, Suite C-1, Lebanon, NJ 08833 • www.sterileprocessing.org.


IAHCSMM (International Association of Health- care Central Service Materiel Management)


has pre-approved this in-service for 1.0 Continu- ing Education Credits for a period of three years, until May 29, 2023. The approval number for this lesson is STERIS-HPN 202905. For more information, direct any questions to


Healthcare Purchasing News (941) 927-9345, ext. 202.


LEARNING OBJECTIVES


1. Name the three factors required to spread infection


2. Discuss the transmission pathways


3. Explain ways to break the chain of infection in the SPD


Sponsored by:


Breaking the chain of infection


by Arthur Henderson, RN, BA, CNOR, CRCST, GTS H


ealthcare-associated infections strike fear into the hearts of infection preventionists, nurs- ing administrators and patients. These potentially avoidable infections raise costs, delay discharges, prolong healing, and signifi cantly increase each patients risk of morbidity.


Preventing infections requires an all-


hands-on-deck approach to breaking the chain of events that can lead to them. In addition to the infection prevention poli- cies, procedures and practices operating throughout a healthcare facility, the work of the sterile processing depart- ment is a critical infection prevention function. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of infection can inform this work and help optimize its infection control capabilities.


Infection factors


An infection happens when disease- causing agents enter the human body and begin to multiply. The agents invade the persons ody tissues and cause a reaction. Some reactions are benign, like a runny nose, while others are deadly. There are many types of disease-causing agents. They include viruses, bacteria, protozoa, some parasites, and prions. Infections require three contributing factors to spread: 1. Reservoir: the infected person acts as a reservoir that allows the disease- causing agent to multiply and grow.


2. Transmission: Transmission is the path the disease-causing agent will take to reach and infect a new person.


3. Susceptible host: this is a person who can be infected. Once infected, this person becomes a reservoir.


Infection transmission stops when one of these three factors is removed. Healthcare providers focus on preventing transmission and exposure of susceptible hosts to disease-causing agents, and they apply many strategies and tactics to prevent transmission ach specifi c tactic is designed to address a particular route


30 July 2020 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


of transmission. For example, one impor- tant method of preventing transmission via reusable devices and instruments is sterilizing them between patients.


Reservoirs and transmission An infected person (reservoir) sheds disease-causing agents. Shedding allows agents to be transported to a new person (host) to infect. Contact transmission is the most common way to spread infec- tions. The host comes into direct contact with the disease-causing agents on/in the reservoir. How the agents reach the host depends on how they are shed. Disease-causing agents have several ways to leave the reservoir. The most common ways are through ody fl uids and excretions. Urine, feces, and sputum top the list of common exit points for bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The skin can also be a departure point. Bacteria and parasites on the skin transfer to another person when touched. Direct contact with the reservoir or their excretions is the fi rst path of transmission.


In healthcare, direct contact with body tissues and blood is also a concern. Staff members can contact blood and tissue when collecting samples from patients or performing medical procedures on them. Indirect contact is the second most common method of infection transmis- sion ody fl uids and tissues deposited on surfaces may remain infectious for hours or even days depending on the surface material. In some cases, such as with anthrax, the material can remain infectious for years. Contact with the contaminated surface is an indirect path for transmission. Common healthcare surfaces include walls, floors, door handles, linens, used medical devices, bed tables, sinks, toilets, transport carts and any other devices or surfaces that are in proximity to infected patients, patient secretions and body tissues. In the SPD, handling contaminated instruments dur- ing reprocessing can be a primary means of indirect contact transmission.


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