Question

1. Why is it essential that the OT practitioner be proactive in not spreading infection?

2. What are the possible ramifications to a patient if the patient contracts a serious infection while in care?

3. What are the possible ramifications to the OT practitioner if the practitioner contracts an infection due to poor infection control?

4. What part of the OT code of ethics might a practitioner be violating if the OT practitioner is lax in infection control procedures?

Answer 1

1.First of all it's just not about an OT practitioner but about every healthcare worker that he must be proactive in spreading infections as it is a duty every healthcare worker to ensure that no harm is done to patients as well as to them also.It is very necessary to prevent the vulnerable patients from acquiring pathogenic (disease-causing) micro-organism and to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistant infections.

2.Following are the Ramifications of Hospital-Acquired Infections-:

Regardless of the cause or sort of infection, hospital acquired infections will have many consequences together with the following:

Longer hospital stays: People in which there is development of hospital acquired infections typically need longer hospital stays. Longer stays place patients at a good higher rate for developing a lot of complications.

Increased prices: Longer hospital stays conjointly means that a lot of treatment and a lot of costs.

Lost wages: Hospital associated infections will lengthen recovery time and stop you from returning to jobs and occupation, leading to lost wages.

Death: In some cases, hospital-acquired infections can be very fatal leading to the death of the patient.

Antimicrobial drug resistance: In addition to all this hospital acquired infection lead to the development of resistance to antimicrobial drugs

3.If an OT practitioner contacts and infection due to poor infection control it may have following ramifications-:

A.As the OT practitioner deals with the patient he becomes a frequent vehicle for the spreading of noscomial infection.this may spread the infection to the community leading to an outbreak.

B.The healthcare worker may himself develop a very serious infection due to accumulation of more and more infections.it may lead to the loss of health of the OT practitioner.

C.It may lead to a lack of practitioner attending the patients leading to the loss of health of the patients too.

D.As the practitioner can be a potential vehicle for spreading of infection it may lead to the development of resistance to antimicrobial drugs

4.If the OT practitioner is lax in infection control procedures he may be violating principle BENEFICIENCE of the OT code of ethics as it states that "OT personell shall demonstrate a concern for the well being and safety of the recipients of their services