Question

Safety and Infection Discussion Board

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

Operation theatre or OT is a place where major surgeries as well as minor surgeries are conducted. It is very essential to maintain a clean and infection free environment to prevent the spread of infection and to get infection.

1. An OT practitioner has to maintain strict aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of infection from person to person as well as from any instruments used during the surgery.

• It is the OT practitioner who comes in contact with his or her clients more as he is the one who performs the surgery.
• An OT practitioner must perform surgical hand wash before any surgeries.
• He must worn all the sterile attire needed to prevent infection to others as well as to protect himself.
• During some occasions there is a chance of getting patients with high risk infection cases for example, hepatitis B. In such cases the practitioner must be well prepared and also should inform his colleagues to maintain strict aseptic techniques.
• It will be the protocol of a hospital to maintain a zero percentage infection in the units. So it is the duty of an OT practitioner to follow the protocol of the hospital.
• This is the reason why an OT practitioner has to be proactive in preventing the spread of infection.

2. There is a 10 percent chance of getting infection from the hospitals to a patient while in care. If a patient gets infection after 48 hours of admission to the hospital then it is known as nosocomial infection or Hospital Aquired Infection (HAI).

• If a client gets infection while in care then the client has to be isolated in a special room, not necessary that a negative pressure room is needed.
• There should be a separate nursing staff for attending that client.
• Each health care personnel who enters the isolation room must wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes goggles, mask, gown, gloves, shoe cover etc.
• There should be restricted entry of any visitors other than only one person who stays with the patient 24 hours.
• Regular hand washing and self care has to be taught to the client and his relatives.
• The room of the client has to be cleaned 3 times a day.
• The client will be put on antibiotics and progress of infection has to be noted.

3. There is a greater chance of getting infection to the OT practitioner due to the poor infection control practices within the unit. Possible ramifications are,

• OT practitioner must write an incident report to the higher authority.
• He has to undergo investigations to test any postive case of infection.
• If he gets infection then he has to vet admitted and isolation room should be provided.
• He has to undergo all the above mentioned points in case of a patient gets infection.
• All the staffs who come in contact with him have to undergo investigations for any occurrence of infection.
• A notice or warning letter has to be issued by the higher authority should be given to the practitioner to prevent the same issue in the future.

4. The OT code of ethics which is violating due to poor infection is the negligence, that is the negligence in maintenance of a strict aseptic techniques in doing the procedures.

• It is an offence and the patients can complaint it under the court of law.
• The hospital authority as well as the person who doesn't follow the code of ethics can be suspended and their registration can be cancelled.

Note : Thus it is the duty of an OT practitioner to maintain a strict aseptic techniques in the OT to prevent any spread of infection to the patients and ti get infection from others.