Infection control and Ethics
Lecture 9
Outline
• Infection and health care-associated infections.
• Prevention of infections:
– Hand hygiene.
– Containing microorganisms.
– safety of medical devices
WHAT IS INFECTION?
An invasion of body tissue by microorganisms
and their growth there.
Why Infection Control?
• Infection control helps to protect people
and healthcare providers from disease by
reducing sources of infection.
The basic principle of infection
control
Hygiene
What are health care-associated
infections (HAIs)
• Infections which result directly from contact with the health
care system.
• They are also called nosocomial infections.
Risks of HAIS
• Additional costs.
• Increase antibiotic resistance.
• Jeopardize treatment outcomes.
• Prolong patient suffering.
• Decrease treatment capacity.
• Create ‘bad-will’ for healthcare providers.
How are HAIs transmitted?
They are often caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria or by
viruses transmitted, directly or indirectly, from other patients on
the hands of HCPs.
Why is it an ethical issue?
Because it is transmitted in health care initiations; it includes
patients’ rights and the obligations of health care institutions and
HCPs.
How are they transmitted?
• Mainly through HCPs hands.
• Through medical devices.
Preventing HAIS
• Hand hygiene.
• Screening patients for carriage of multi-resistant organisms.
• Isolation and contact precautions.
• Improved environmental cleaning.
• Appropriate use of antibiotics.
• Optimal management of vascular access devices.
Enhancing hand hygiene compliance
• Alcohol-based handrub at patients’ bedsides
• Education.
• Leadership from senior clinicians
• Audit of compliance and feedback.
Risk or freedom
The health authorities have the right to:
– Restrict the movement of a patient with serious
contagious disease to prevent its spread to the general
public.
– Treat a patient against his/her will to balance the risk to
the public.
Containing microorganisms
• Cleaning.
• Growth inhibition.
• Disinfection and sterilization.
• Surveillance.
• Isolation.
• Immunization .
Safety of medical devices
• All medical devices must be produced and used in a safe
environment and all products must be safe for patients,
personnel, technicians and others.
Reference:
Gilbert, Gwendolyn L., Paul Y. Cheung, and Ian B.
Kerridge. "Infection control, ethics and accountability."
Med J Aust 190.12 (2009): 696-698.
Mikael Zimmerman, D. D. S. "Ethical aspects on hygiene,
infection prevention and infection control."
.
Thanks
