412121 Protecting Against Healthcare-Acquired Infections

Course overview

Discussion of how to protect against healthcare-acquired infections, including the four components of the cycle of infection, what a nosocomial infection is, how its spread, and how it can be prevented; appropriate handwashing and hand-sanitizing techniques, the three personnel exposure categories in terms of job duty and to whom it pertains, as well as an explanation of Standard Precautions. It also discusses proper housekeeping practices, the biohazard symbol and when its used; the three parts of a written exposure plan and how to educate yourself about potential hazards, and the procedures to follow after an exposure incident. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients contract while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions and can be caused by multiple factors, such as procedures, devices used in medical procedures, catheters, or ventilators. HAIs are important causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States and are associated with a substantial increase in healthcare costs each year. More than one million HAIs occur in healthcare systems in the U.S. annually and can be transmitted between different healthcare facilities, leading to complications across the continuum of care. However, many HAIs are preventable, and studies have indicated that implementing existing prevention practices can lead to up to a 70 percent reduction in certain HAIs. This program discusses protecting against healthcare-acquired infections, including the chain of infection, nosocomial infection sources, infection prevention measures, risk reduction practices, and how to properly handle exposure incidents.