Question

Provide a brief review about measures that should be taken and complied by individual doctors during their medical practice or procedures to identify, prevent and control healthcare-associated infections and to protect themselves from occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens and other infectious pathogens.

Answer 1

Infection control measures that can be taken and complied by individual doctors during their medical practice or procedures to identify , prevent and control health care associated infections and protect themselves from occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens and other infectious pathogens can be done by two method of precautions -

1) Standard precautions - measure to prevent spread of infection from contact of blood , fluids , non intact skin and mucus membrane

It includes - Handwashing , PPE ( personal protective equipment ) , Decontamination and waste disposal

Handwashing is single most effective method to prevent infections and control spread of infection thus need to be done following all steps of handwashing.

PPE - Personal protective equipment includes gloves , gown , masks , protective eye wear , apron and hair cap.

Decontamination - it can be done by killing microorganisms by doing disinfection or sterilization . Decontamination of linens , instruments should be done by proper method

Waste disposal - wastes which need to be disposed off should be disposed by Biomedical waste management method to ensure proper disposal of infectious substances and eliminating risk of infection among transporter , handler also avoiding cross infection.

Another method of precaution should be done is 2. Transmission based precautions - spread of infection can occur via three ways - contact , droplets and airborne infection

Thus can be prevented or controlled by

a) Contact precaution - prevention of disease which can occur by direct or indirect contact of body fluids , blood etc. It can be done by wearing gloves and gown , providing private room or cohort clients

b) Droplet precautions - prevention of infection by droplets of infected of individuals .Preventing from large particle droplets ( >5 microns) which transfer within 3 feets in air . Can be prevented by wearing mask when within 3 feets in room , private room or cohort clients provided. Anyone entering room should wear mask specially surgical mask .

c) Airborne precautions - it can be prevented by wearing N95 mask when entering the room as in airborne infection spread of microbes in small droplet nuclei (<5micron) through air occur.

Thus the individual doctors should wash hands before visiting patient , before doing any clean or aseptic techniques, after body fluids exposure risk , after touching patient and after touching patients surrounding. Doctors should wash hands thoroughly as it reduces risk of nosocomial infections , infection within staffs and washing hands for upto 20 minutes before performing surgery called surgical handwash and medical handwash should be done frequently , or to use sterilium if not visibly soiled hands. Doctors should dispose wounds , needles , cottons and gauze properly by using biomedical waste management method so that risk of infection can be reduced . While visiting patients with airborne disease , doctors must wear N95 masks to prevent themselves and while visiting patient who have droplets borne infection and have chances of spreading then before entering room must have surgical mask to protect himself and also preventing cross infection and nosocomial infection with in hospital. Before coming in contact with patients whose infection can spread via contact should wear gloves and gown to protect himself from getting infection. During performing medical procedures such as surgery must wear PPE properly and techniques to maintain aseptic condition by avoiding coming in contact with any object after scrubbing . Also while performing dressing and procedures , must sterilize instrument before using and after its use to reduce the risk of infection in between patients and also to protect themselves as bacterial growth on instrument can come in contact with doctors and spread to them also. Washing of their white coat daily is to be done to avoid taking indection to their home , should be kept isolated untill washed . Regular bathing and thorough handwashing by following when to handwash is to be done to avoid infection . Risk of infections are higher in any person with low immunity thus if doctors have any cold , sneeze should wear mask all the time and always should be full stomach to avoid bacterial growth inside their body as catch infection in empty stomach. Thus measures can be compiled and implemented by doctors to prevent risk of infection , controlling it by taking proper steps.

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