Infection Controls: A Case Study

Words: 1187
Pages: 5
Open Document
Infection Control, Prevention methods based on protocol and guidelines

The Oxford English Dictionary defines infection as the process of infecting or the state of being infected. Infection control is the process of minimizing or eliminating the infection process. The purpose of infection control in the dental profession is to provide an environment that minimises the risk of the transmission of disease producing agents and tries to eliminate the possibility of becoming infected by bacteria, viruses and fungi. To achieve these purposes certain guidelines have been laid out by the Australian Dental Association. These are known as the infection controls guidelines (Australian Dental Association 2015). The procedures discussed in this essay …show more content…
A duty of care applies to all staff members, contractors and practitioners to do what is reasonably possible to ensure safety and care to ensure health of all staff and patients. They must ensure the risk of infections spreading is minimised to the best of their ability (Oosthuysen, J, Potgieter, E, & Fossey, A 2014). It is important for all dental staff to know how to handle patients whether they are infectious patients or not. Part A, Section 4 of the Infection Controls Guidelines state that patients with hepatitis B, C or HIV are treated using standard precautions and that the same cleaning and sterilisation techniques as for other patients are applied, as the standard infection control precautions should be adequate and as safe as possible regardless whether the patient is infectious or not. Patients do not legally have to disclose this information. 21,000 people in Australia are currently infected with HIV and another 1,000 become newly infected each year. This is the main reason for practicing infection control in the dental profession - to minimise exposing people to infections. To try and eliminate the spread of microorganisms the following information is provided as a baseline procedure in …show more content…
Personal care includes immunization. According to the Australian Dental Association, all staff should be immunised against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Pertussis (whooping cough), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella, if not already immune), Varicella (chicken-pox, if not already immune) and Tuberculosis. Records of immunization should be kept and maintained by staff. The Australian and New Zealand office-based health care guidelines states that health care workers are to be in good health and practice a high level of personal hygiene (Standards Australia & Standards New Zealand 2006). All cuts on skin should be covered with waterproof bandages and staff should maintain cross infection precautions. Staffs with skin diseases such as dermatitis, skin infection or infectious lesions are to be examined by a medical practitioner before commencing medical workplace duties to minimise or eliminate the possibility of cross infection (Robinson, R,
Show More

Related Documents: Infection Controls: A Case Study

Vibrio Cholelera Research Papers

symptoms. However, there are extreme cases that can lead to severe symptoms and even death. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, vomiting, loss of skin elasticity, dry mucous membranes, low blood pressure, renal failure, severe electrolyte imbalances and coma. Severe and untreated cases can lead to shock and death within a couple of hours (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The incubation period for Cholera is between a couple of hours to five days. Infection is passed by drinking water, eating…

Words 1058 - Pages 5

Hepatitis A Case Study

cost-effectiveness study  According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC)  Hepatitis A is caused by infection with the Hepatitis A virus (HAV)  Hepatitis A has an incubation period of approximately 28 days (range: 15–50 days).  HAV replicates in the liver and is shed in high concentrations in feces from 2 weeks before to 1 week after the onset of clinical illness.  HAV infection produces a selflimited disease that does not result in chronic infection or chronic liver disease. Purpose of Study  The…

Words 542 - Pages 3

Bioscience Case study Essay

urinary tract infection (UTI); however one of the common ways that the patient might have gotten this infection would be due to the fact that microorganisms like bacteria or fungi would have entered the urinary tract through the urethra. UTIs can also occur in association with use of urinary catheters, which are medical devices that drain the bladder (Hooton. 2010; Medline. 2011b). Initially the patient was given Ticarcillin Clavulanate to isolate organisms and identify the causing infection; it also…

Words 1118 - Pages 5

Preventing AIDS Essay

reduce the number of infections around the world. People opposed to this believe that prevention programs should aim more towards males. The disease is obviously an important social issue which impacts people worldwide. Certain…

Words 1544 - Pages 7

Critically evaluate the influences on infection control and prevention practices relating to the care of invasive devices Essay

influences on infection control and prevention practices relating to the care of invasive devices (choose either Intra-venous or Urinary Catheters). You need to consider: The pathogenesis of the most likely micro-organism involved and how infections may occur. All infection prevention and control measures that are involved in managing and preventing these infections. The organisational issues underpinning infection prevention and control. Introduction Healthcare-associated infections from invasive…

Words 2908 - Pages 12

Wound Infection: A Case Study

Does Staff Nurses an Education Intervention About Infection Control for Wound Infections in Adult Patients After Open Heart Surgery? Mohsin Rasho & Jalal Dawood Valparaiso University “We have neither given nor received, nor have we tolerated others' use of unauthorized aid.” Mohsin Rasho & Jalal Dawood Introduction Wound infections occur with adult patients who have open heart surgery…

Words 1123 - Pages 5

Essay on Fffhghg Hfyy Ifff

HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) HIV/AIDS In the U.S., 15% of all new HIV infections in 2006 were among people ages 13-24.1Youth of color bear a disproportionate burden of new cases; 85% of new HIV orAIDS diagnoses in 2007 among youth ages 13-19 were to Latino and African American teens, who constitute only 32% of the youth population.2 In Massachusetts, the proportion of people diagnosed with HIV who are adolescents (ages 13–24) is lower than observed on the national level…

Words 455 - Pages 2

Zika Virus Infection: A Case Study

Zika virus infection is a global health and international concern. ZIKA name came from a Forest in Uganda, and the virus identification occurs for the first time in the rhesus macaque however it was until late 1940 when studies confirmed that the virus could infect humans, ZIKV belongs to the genus Flavivirus. The mosquito Aedes transmit the infection however other ways to carry the diseases are from mother to fetus and sexual transmission. Zika Virus infection symptoms include fever, joint pain…

Words 314 - Pages 2

English 300 Essay

that is resistant to certain antibiotics, including the most common antibiotics penicillin, and ampicillin. 1-2% of people carry MRSA on their skin. Infections caused by MRSA, for the most part, are not different from any other staph infection, although some strains of MRSA may be more aggressive than regular staph. The diagnosis of a MRSA infection requires laboratory testing. Laboratory testing can also be important since MRSA's antibiotic resistance may make it more difficult to manage; and can…

Words 1139 - Pages 5

Hiv and Genito-urinary Medicine Clinic Essay

ASSESSMENT 1: THE CASE STUDY ANALYSIS 1. Background Information: The case study I chose to critically analyse was 'Living with HIV'. This case study presents a 28 year old woman called Alice that became infected with HIV due to an ‘unpleasant experience’ in Africa when she was 19. Alice was first diagnosed with HIV on her return home from Africa and she was given contact to the local health advisor for further information and support. She describes this as being a “stressful and traumatic…

Words 2439 - Pages 10