Asepsis

Nursing 1A
Weeks 1-3
Mt. San Antonio College
Associate Degree Nursing Program

Asepsis

Absence of microorganism
Microorganisms are everywhere!
Healthy people have effective resistance
to most organisms
Patients are more susceptible to
infections due to decreased resistance
(elderly, infants and the chronically ill)

Microorganisms
(Bacteria
Viruses,
Fungi)

Spread by:
Direct

contact
Droplet
Contact with infected article
Air currents
Moist or wet surfaces

Contact is the most common route of

transmission

Medical Asepsis

Includes all practice intended to

confine a specific organism to a
specific area
Limits the number, growth and
transmission of microorganism
Objects are clean or dirty

Sterile Asepsis

Sterile technique (no microbes!)

Practice that keeps and area or
objects free of all microorganism
Practice that destroys
microorganisms and spores
Used for all procedures
involving a sterile area of body

Types of Infection

Colonization
Local
Systemic
Bacteremia
Septicemia
Acute vs. Chronic Infection
Nosocomial Infection

Chain of Infection

Breaking the Chain of Infection

Etiologic Agent (microorganism)

Correct

cleansing, disinfecting or
sterilizing of article before use
Educating pt and support person
about appropriate methods to clean
and disinfect

Reservoir (source)
Changing

dressing when wet/soiled

Appropriate skin and oral hygiene
Disposing of damp/soiled linen
Emptying suction and drain bottles at
end of shift

Portal of exit (from reservoir)

Avoid

talking, coughing. Or sneezing

over open wounds or sterile field
(cover your mouth)

Method of transmission
Proper

hand hygiene
Educate pt and support person to
perform hand hygiene prior to
eating, after elimination and after
touching infectious material
Initiating standard precaution on all
pt, wearing protective equipment
when warranted

Portal of entry to susceptible host

Using sterile technique for invasive
procedures, when exposed to open
wounds or when handling dressings
Placing needles and syringes in punctureresistant container

Susceptible host
Maintaining the integrity of the pt skin and
mucous membrane
Ensuring that the pt receives a balance diet
Educating the public about importance of
immunization

Signs of Localized
Infection

Localized swelling
Localized redness
Pain or tenderness with
palpation or movement
Palpable heat in the infected
area
Loss of function of the body part
affected, depending on the site
and extent of involvement

Signs of Systemic
Infection

Fever
Increased pulse and respiratory
rate if the fever high
Malaise and loss of energy
Anorexia and, in some
situations, nausea and vomiting

Defense against infection

Proper hand hygiene (washing/gel)

Environmental control
Sterile technique when warranted
Identifying and managing patients
at risk
Hand

washing is the single most

effective way to prevent the spread of
organisms.

Hand washing recommendation

When starting shift and leaving

for the day
Before and after pt contact
Before and after procedures
Before and after going to the
bathroom

Hand Hygiene Procedure

See Procedure in Kozier-pg.

688-690, Skill 31-1

CDC Guidelines for

Infection Control

Airborne (small droplet): can

disseminate by air widely. TB,
Varicella

Droplets (large droplet): propelled

short distance in air by coughing,
sneezing and talking. H Influenza
Meningitis, pneumonia

Contact (touching): MRSA,

VRE, RSV, C DIFF

Standard (all pts all the time)

Standard precautions
All blood, body fluids, secretions and
excretions are considered potentially
infectious (except sweat)
Gloves: should be worn for contact w/
blood, body substance non-intact skin,
mucous membranes, surfaces soiled w/
blood and body fluid
Protective goggles: should be worn
during procedures that are likely to cause
splashes of blood or body substance

Masks: are to be worn to reduce risk of

transmission organism via droplet and
airborne routes and splatter of body
substance
Gowns: should be worn during
procedures that are likely to result in
splashes of blood or body substance
Hand washing: should be done
immediately
Needles: should never be recapped, must
be place in puncture resistance container
CPR: should always be performed using a
barrier device instead of mouth to mouth

Correct Order for Donning and

Removing Protective Equipment

Donning
Gown
Mask
Protective
Eyewear
Gloves

Removing
Gloves
Protective
Eyewear
Gown
Mask

Biohazard Alert