Consider infection transmission risk for the
specific:
1. Interaction/task
2. Environment
3. Person receiving care
4. Health Care Worker

Must be performed when hands are visibly soiled

Before touching any object or furniture in the patient/resident/client’s environment
(e.g., stretchers, wheelchairs, adjusting an IV, silencing a pump)

The most likely sources of GI outbreaks in a LTC facility

They are:
- based on the mode (means) of transmission of the infectious agent: airborne, droplet, and contact.
- are established as soon as patient assessment indicates a possible communicable disease or clinical syndrome.

The nurse evaluates the possibility of exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions/excretions, non-intact
skin, and mucous membranes and select appropriate control measures. (e.g., personal
protective equipment [PPE]) to prevent exposure.

It may be used to remove visible soil and/or organic material, but are not a substitute for alcohol-based hand rub or antimicrobial soap.

Clean your hands immediately after an exposure risk to blood and body fluids, non-intact skin, and/or mucous membranes

Use soap and water must be used to remove spores, which may be impervious to ABHR.

Single room with negative pressure ventilation in relation to surrounding areas.

Used throughout the day to determine the
appropriate actions/personal protective equipment to minimize the risk to staff, the person
receiving care and others in the healthcare environment

Contain emollients to reduce hand irritation, but is not used with water.

To protect yourself and the healthcare environment from harmful microorganisms.

For the disseminated type, implement Airborne and Contact Precautions. Maintain Precautions until all lesions have crusted and dried.

Required when Routine Practices are not sufficient to control transmission, for instance
• If the organism has a low infective dose, e.g., Norovirus
• If the organism may be transmitted from the source patient’s intact
skin, e.g., MRSA
• If there is potential for widespread environmental contamination, e.g., C. difficile

The space that contains the person receiving care, as well as the immediate surroundings and inanimate surfaces in contact with that person (e.g., bed
rails, chair, bedside tables, work surfaces, bed linens, infusion tubing, the privacy
curtain/divider and other medical equipment).

Are harsher on hands than plain soaps and frequent use may result in skin breakdown.

To protect the patient/resident/client from harmful microorganisms, including his/her own microorganisms, entering his or her body.

Lab confirmation of the specific virus in a stool specimen, which must meet the diarrhea case definition. This organism is highly transmissible without appropriate hand hygiene and has a short incubation period, thus a significant outbreak can take place in a short period of time

Visitors shall wear a procedure mask when within one metre of the resident with the following exceptions
• Visiting residents with Rubella or Mumps, a procedure mask is not needed if the visitor is immune
− Non-immune visitors should enter the resident’s room only if necessary and wear a procedure mask

Is contaminated with microorganisms that might be foreign and potentially harmful to individual persons receiving care, either because they are multi-resistant or because their transmission might result in exogenous infection.

They have a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) as the active ingredient, which has
not been shown to be as effective against most microorganisms but are not recommended for
hand hygiene in healthcare settings and should not be used.

When you clean your hands before immediately before preparing, handling, serving, eating food, feeding a resident, or shift breaks.

They can:
- be isolated from chronic wounds
- express virulence factors and surface proteins affecting wound healing.

If a single room is not available and cohorting is not possible:
- Maintain a separation of at least two metres between patients
− Select roommates for their ability, and that of their visitors, to comply
− Roommates should not be at high risk for acquiring an infection