Infection Control: A Refresher for Faculty-PDF - Infection Control: A Refresher for Faculty

PDF - Infection Control: A Refresher for Faculty

Pdf Summary

This Infection Control course for anesthesia professionals emphasizes evidence-based practices vital to patient and provider safety. It covers core infection prevention principles including the chain of infection, transmission precautions, and safe injection techniques specific to anesthesia care.<br /><br />Key topics include the chain of infection’s six links—infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host—and how breaking any link can prevent disease spread. Four transmission precautions—contact, droplet, airborne, and bloodborne—are detailed with protocols and examples of pathogens. Enhanced precautions for aerosolizing procedures like intubation highlight use of PPE including N95 respirators, gowning, double-gloving, and appropriate room ventilation.<br /><br />Safe injection practices stress use of single-use sterile needles and syringes, proper handling of multidose and single-dose vials, and aseptic technique to avoid cross-contamination. Guidelines for gels, lubricants, and ointments underscore dedicated patient use to prevent infection.<br /><br />Surgical site infection (SSI) prevention involves surveillance, proper hair removal, blood glucose monitoring, normothermia, and timely perioperative antibiotics — optimally within 30 to 60 minutes pre-incision. Airway infection control recommends balancing infection measures with urgent airway management needs, including double-gloving and post-stabilization hand hygiene.<br /><br />Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention includes hand hygiene, noninvasive ventilation when possible, semirecumbent positioning, cuff pressure maintenance, and equipment sterilization.<br /><br />Skin prep agents like chlorhexidine gluconate and povidone-iodine are reviewed for efficacy and safety. Aseptic technique components include sterile gloves, masks, drapes, and environmental controls to reduce infection risks.<br /><br />The course addresses special considerations for immunocompromised surgical patients, highlighting their heightened SSI risk and the immunomodulatory effects of anesthetic agents. CRNAs’ roles in pandemic preparedness are detailed, including airway/ventilator management, policy development, surge planning, PPE use, and interdisciplinary collaboration.<br /><br />Infection control during emergencies stresses adherence to hand hygiene, PPE, communication, equipment readiness, and workspace decontamination despite time pressures. The overarching message promotes CRNAs as key leaders in infection prevention, safeguarding patient health through continuous education, adherence to guidelines, and effective crisis response.

Keywords

Infection Control

Anesthesia Professionals

Chain of Infection

Transmission Precautions

Safe Injection Practices

Surgical Site Infection Prevention

Airway Infection Control

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Aseptic Technique

Pandemic Preparedness