This document discusses infection control in a hospital setting. It defines infection and outlines the chain of infection involving a causative agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. It also discusses hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections, their sources and transmission modes. Methods for prevention of infection discussed include medical and surgical asepsis, standard precautions like hand washing and personal protective equipment, isolation precautions, proper handling and disposal of contaminated materials, and environmental control.

1. Infection Control
Mr. THANGESWARAN.P
M.Sc. Nursing.

2. INFECTION
Definition
It is the entry, development and multiplication of pathogenic micro-
organisms in the body.
Spreading of infection
Agent
Host Environment
Infection will occurs When there is a imbalance between this three(host,
agent, environment) that is called epidemiology tried.

3. Agent
it’s a sustenance living or non living things.
Host
Human begins and animals.
Environment
environment is all that is external to the individual
human host. This includes air, food, water, housing, soil,
etc…

4. TYPES OF AGENT
• Biological agent
Virus, fungi, bacteria, protozoans, etc….
• Physical agent
Humidity, cold, heat, pressure, radiation etc…
• Chemical agent
Urea, sodium, bilirubin, metal, dust, etc..
• Nutritional agent
Carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, etc…
• Social agent
Smoking, alcohol, unhealthy life style, etc..
• Mechanical agent
Crushing, sprains, dislocation, etc…

5. CHAIN OF INFECTION
It is the process of six elements in the cycle form that is
called chain of infection.

6. • Causative Agent
The micro-organism (bacteria, virus, fungi) no
infection is possible without infective agent, hence
for any infection an agent is must. Disease can be
avoided by removing agent from the chain of
infection.

7. Reservoir:
A host which allows the micro-organisms to live, and
possibly grow and multiply. Humans, animals and the
environment can all be reservoirs for micro-organisms.

8. Portal of Exit
A path for the micro-organisms to escape from the host.
The blood, respiratory tract, skin and mucus membranes,
genitourinary tract, gastrointestinal tract and
transplacental route from mothers to her
unborn fetus are some examples.

9. Mode of transmission
Since micro-organisms cannot travel on their own,
they require a vehicle to carry them to other people
and places.
Air –born transmission
Contact transmission-(direct & indirect)
Vehicle transmission( water, milk, food etc..)
Vector- transmission
Tran placental transmission

10. Portal of Entry
A path for the micro-organisms to get into a new host,
similar to the portal of exit.
Susceptible Host
A person susceptible to the micro-organisms.

11. HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTION
(NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION)
Definition
nosocomial infection can be defined as infection acquired by the person in the
hospital, the spread of infection will occur from patient to patient, patient to
health care providers and health care providers to patient during
hospitalization is called nosocomial infection.
Source of hospital infection
Equipment
Environment
Respiratory tract

12. Factors responsible for the hospital infection
Presence of various type of micro-organisms are in
large number
Frequently contact with infected patient
Presence of large amount of contaminated waste and
equipment in particular area
Immunocompromised patient

13. Mode of entry of organisms into human body
Inhalation-air born disease
Ingestion- warm infection
Inoculation-blood born disease
Mode of transmission
Air –born transmission
Contact transmission-(direct & indirect)
Vehicle transmission( water, milk, food etc..)
Vector- transmission
Droplet transmission

14. Air born transmission
infection will transmit by inhalation
Contact transmission
The most important and frequently mode of transmission
Direct contact-it involves a direct body surface to the
body surface contact and physical transfer of micro-
organisms.
Indirect contact- via contaminated articles.
Common vehicle transmission
infection will sprat from water, air, person, soil, food, etc..

15. Vector born transmission
infection will spart from such as mosquitoes, rats, and pet
animals.
Droplet transmission
it occurs when the droplet are produced from the source of
person mainly during the performance of certain procedure
such as bronchoscopy.

16. PREVENTION
• Medical and surgical asepsis
• Standard precautions
• Isolation precaution
• Sharp precautions
• Handling of contaminated material
• Environmental control

17. MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASEPSIS
• Hand washing
• Donning and removing sterile gloves
• Preparing a sterile field by opening a tray wrapped in a
sterile drape
• Preparing a sterile field
• Performing a surgical hand scrub
• Donning a sterile gown and closed gloving

18. STANDARD PRECAUTION
• Standard precautions are set of infection control practices
used to prevent transmission of diseases that can be
acquired by contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin
and mucus membrane.
Standard precaution;
Hand washing
Personal protective equipment
Sterilization, decontamination, cleaning
waste disposal

19. HAND WASHING
• Hand washing , also known as hand hygiene, is the act of
cleaning hands for the purpose of removing soil, dirt, and micro-
organisms

20. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
• Specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection
against infectious materials.
Gloves
Gown
Mask
Protective eye wear
Face shield
Apron
Cap
Shoe covers

24. STERILIZATION
Sterilization is a process intended to kill all micro-
organisms .
Autoclave – by using high-pressure stem
Dry heat –in an oven
Chemical sterilant such as glutaraldehyde’s or
formaldehyde solutions
Radiation- with the help of physical agent

25. DECONTAMINATION
• It is the reduction in the number of micro-organisms on an object or
surface but not the complete destruction of all micro-organisms or
spores.
Disinfection
Disinfection is less effective than sterilization because it dose not kill
bacterial endospores. Disinfection uses liquid chemical on surface
and at room temperature to kill disease causing micro-organisms.

26. CLEANING
• The hospital’s housekeeping department is responsible for the regular and
routine cleaning of all surface and maintaining a high level of hygiene in the facility
in collaboration with the infection control committee
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal, managing
and monitoring of waste material.
Purposes of waste disposal;
To reduce hazardous nature of waste
To reduce volume of waste
To prevent misuse or abuse of waste
To ensure occupational safety and health.