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FREE STUDY · 3.3 MIN LESSON

Stopping Infection — Handwashing and PPE

Study the lesson here, then use the free narrated cards to check what you remember. This is exam preparation; follow your training and facility policies in practice.

Your lesson

  • Read or listen to each explanation.
  • Pause to recall the answer, then practise with the cards.

Handwashing

Wash and rinse

  1. Wet hands with clean running water and apply soap.
  2. Lather and scrub all surfaces for at least 20 seconds, then rinse and dry thoroughly.

Follow clinical policy

  • Follow the clinical hand-hygiene policy for when soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub is required.

Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions

  • What are Standard Precautions, and when do you use them?
  • Use Standard Precautions in all resident care. Their infectious-material principle covers blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions except sweat, as well as nonintact skin and mucous membranes. Select PPE according to anticipated exposure; this sweat exception does not remove the need for hand hygiene or other indicated precautions. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene.

Putting on PPE

  • One CDC example for putting on PPE is

Sequence

  1. gown,
  2. mask or respirator,
  3. goggles or face shield,
  4. then gloves.

Safety and context

  • Perform hand hygiene and use the PPE and respirator checks required for the task and isolation instructions.

Removing PPE

  • One CDC removal sequence is

Sequence

  1. gloves,
  2. goggles or face shield,
  3. gown,
  4. then mask or respirator;

Safety and context

  • avoid touching contaminated surfaces and perform hand hygiene. Remove PPE before leaving the room, except a respirator used for airborne precautions: remove it after leaving and closing the door. Follow the designated procedure; CDC also describes removing gown and gloves together.

Isolation precautions

Isolation precautions

  • What are the three types of Transmission-Based Precautions and when is each used?
  • Transmission-Based Precautions include Contact, Droplet and Airborne Precautions, used with Standard Precautions according to the infection and instructions. Examples include Contact for C. difficile, Droplet for influenza, and Airborne for infectious pulmonary tuberculosis. Nursing-home MRSA may require Enhanced Barrier Precautions for high-contact care rather than Contact Precautions; follow the specified precautions.

Pause and recall

What are the five steps of handwashing, and how long must you scrub?

What are Standard Precautions, and when do you use them?

Check your answers

Answer 1

  • Wet hands with clean running water and apply soap. Lather and scrub all surfaces for at least 20 seconds, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Follow the clinical hand-hygiene policy for when soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub is required.

Answer 2

  • Use Standard Precautions in all resident care. Their infectious-material principle covers blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions except sweat, as well as nonintact skin and mucous membranes. Select PPE according to anticipated exposure; this sweat exception does not remove the need for hand hygiene or other indicated precautions. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene.
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