The need for infection control in nursing has never been more pressing since the dawn of COVID-19. In hospitals and other healthcare settings, nurses are critical in limiting the spread of infectious diseases as frontline healthcare providers. In this blog, we’ll go over the fundamentals of infection control in nursing, the history of infection control, standard infection control precautions, infection control guidelines, and how nurses can put them into practice daily.

This article will give you useful advice on what is the nurse’s role in infection control and suggestions for halting the spread of infectious diseases at work, whether you are a new nursing student learning about infection control or a seasoned nurse trying to brush up on your knowledge and abilities.

Standard infection control precautions

A group of procedures known as Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) is used in healthcare facilities to stop and slow the spread of infection. These safety measures are created to be implemented for all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or suspected infection status. They are meant to guard against the spread of infectious agents to patients and healthcare professionals.

The SICPs encompass a variety of steps used to stop infection control in nursing, such as:

Hand hygiene

Good hand hygiene is the most crucial precaution to stop the spread of illnesses, which is why SICPs focus on it so much. Before and after interacting with patients, before and after performing operations, and after handling objects or surfaces in the hospital environment, healthcare staff should wash their hands.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE that separates healthcare personnel from infectious agents, such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection, can help stop the transmission of infection. When there is a possibility of coming into contact with infectious pathogens, PPE should be worn. It should also be taken off and disposed of appropriately after usage.

Respiratory hygiene

When coughing or sneezing, covering the nose and mouth with a tissue or your elbow can stop the spread of respiratory illnesses. This should be done with good hand cleanliness to reduce transmission danger further.

Safe injection practices

The Spread of bloodborne diseases can be stopped using sterile supplies and procedures. This entails administering each injection with a fresh, sterile needle and syringe and ensuring that equipment such as drug containers is not shared between patients.

Sterilization and disinfection

Equipment and surface sterilization and disinfection can help eliminate germs that could lead to diseases. This is crucial in hospital settings because there may be a higher risk of infection for the patients.

Environmental cleaning

Keeping surfaces and equipment clean and disinfected can reduce the risk of infection. This covers routine cleaning of the hospital’s equipment, rooms for patients, and other spaces.

Infection control guidelines

A set of guidelines and best practices known as infection control guidelines are created to stop and limit the spread of infections. These rules are applied in various areas, including hospitals, schools, businesses, and other public places.

The infection control in nursing guidelines often involves maintaining good hand hygiene, sanitizing the area, using safe injection techniques, and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. These might also contain guidelines for treating patients with infectious diseases and recommendations for preventing infections in high-risk groups like the elderly, kids, and people with weakened immune systems.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or local public health authorities may develop infection control guidelines for use in healthcare settings. These infection control guidelines are updated when new information becomes available and may be based on the most recent scientific research and data.

The main goal of infection control practices

The primary objective of infection control in nursing and infection control in dentistry is preventing and limiting the spread of infections. This includes guarding against the spread of infectious pathogens from one person to another and from outside sources such as contaminated surfaces or tools.

To prevent the transmission of illnesses among patients and healthcare personnel, infection control procedures are especially crucial in hospital settings. It can lower the risk of healthcare-associated infections and enhance patient outcomes by implementing activities including hand cleanliness, environmental cleaning, safe injection techniques, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Infection control in nursing strategies may concentrate on steps like respiratory hygiene, surface cleaning, and physical distance to stop the spread of disease in non-healthcare environments like schools, businesses, and public areas.

Consequences of poor infection control practices

Infection control in nursing procedures can have detrimental effects on both people and communities. These outcomes can be minor, like a brief illness, or serious, like death. Poor infection control procedures could have some negative effects, such as:

Healthcare-associated infections

Poor infection control procedures in healthcare settings can spread infectious agents from patient to patient or healthcare workers to patients. Healthcare-associated infections may result from this, leading to more illnesses, longer hospital stays, and higher healthcare expenses.

Community outbreaks

In non-healthcare settings, ineffective infection control procedures can cause infectious disease outbreaks in the community. For instance, if a person with a highly contagious sickness, such the measles or the flu, goes to work or school while contagious, they may infect others and cause an outbreak in the neighborhood.

Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can evolve due to improper infection control procedures and overuse of antibiotics. This may increase the difficulty of treating infections and increase morbidity and death.

Economic burden

Poor infection control procedures can have economic and health effects. Community outbreaks and diseases linked to healthcare can result in higher medical expenses, missed output, and decreased economic activity.

What are the three methods of infection control?

The three main methods of infection control in nursing are:

Administrative controls

Administrative controls are measures implemented through rules, procedures, and training to lower the risk of infection. Establishing documented infection control policies and procedures, training employees in infection control processes, and continually monitoring and evaluating infection control procedures are all instances of this.

Environmental controls

Environmental controls are actions taken to lower the risk of infection by managing the surrounding physical environment. This includes sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces, ensuring adequate ventilation, and preserving clean water and air.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects individuals from exposure to infectious agents. This covers items like eye protection, masks, gloves, and gowns. PPE is a barrier between the person and the infectious agent, working with other infection control strategies.

What are the ten principles of infection prevention?

Here are the ten principles of infection prevention:

Hand hygiene

Good hand hygiene is the most crucial step in stopping the transmission of illnesses. This can be accomplished by utilizing alcohol-based hand massages or washing your hands with soap and water. Before and after interacting with patients, before and after performing operations, and after handling objects or surfaces in the healthcare environment, hand hygiene should be practiced.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

By putting a barrier between you and the pathogens, PPE, including gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection, can help stop the spread of infection. When there is a possibility of coming into contact with infectious pathogens, PPE should be worn. It should also be taken off and disposed of appropriately after usage.

Respiratory hygiene

The transmission of respiratory illnesses can be stopped by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when you cough or sneeze. This should be done with good hand cleanliness to further reduce transmission danger.

Safe injection practices

Bloodborne infections can be stopped from spreading by using sterile supplies and procedures while administering injections. This entails administering each injection with a fresh, sterile needle and syringe and ensuring that equipment such as drug containers is not shared between patients.

Sterilization and disinfection

Equipment and surface sterilization and disinfection can help eliminate germs that could lead to diseases. This is crucial in hospital settings because there may be a higher risk of infection for the patients.

Environmental cleaning

The risk of infection can be decreased by regularly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and equipment. This covers routine cleaning of the hospital’s equipment, rooms for patients, and other spaces.

Isolation precautions

Some infections can be contained by isolating the patients who have them. The care provider may need extra precautions like wearing PPE or putting patients in private rooms.

Education and training

The prevention of infection transmission can be aided by patient and healthcare staff education and training. This involves instruction on safe injection techniques, appropriate hand cleanliness, and other infection control strategies.

Surveillance and monitoring

Finding patterns and outbreaks can be assisted by tracking the prevalence of infections. Use this information to create focused preventative strategies and enhance infection control procedures.

Antibiotic stewardship

Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms can emerge when antibiotics are not used properly. This includes using the most potent antibiotic for a given ailment and only providing antibiotics when necessary. Also, it entails monitoring how antibiotics are being used and putting appropriate use prevention measures in place.

Infection control in nursing: Final word

Infection control in nursing is an essential aspect of public health and healthcare. It is possible to stop the transmission of infectious illnesses, lower infections linked to healthcare, and enhance patient outcomes by implementing efficient infection control procedures. Infection control practices can help stop infectious disease epidemics in communities outside of healthcare settings.

On the other hand, ineffective infection control procedures may increase morbidity, mortality, and financial strain for individuals and communities. To advance public health and stop the spread of infectious illnesses, it is crucial to prioritize and implement efficient infection control measures.