Infection Control
Infection Control Infection control is a very important topic, as there are many diseases and viruses that can spread very quickly if the correct action is not taken to stop them. Infection control concentrates on issues related to the spread of infections within the health-care setting, they can be spread patient-to-patient, from patients to staff, and from staff to patients. A few of the main aspects of infection control are prevention, monitoring/investigation of spread of infection, and management. One of the viruses that benefits greatly from swift and effective infection control is the Influenza virus. Due to its extensive symptoms and the fact that it is not treatable with an antibiotic, it remains a priority with healthcare professionals. Prevention can be used as a very important way to control the flu virus. One of the easiest ways is by exercising proper hand hygiene and hand-washing techniques. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards require that employers must provide readily accessible hand washing facilities, and must ensure that employees wash hands and any other skin with soap and water or flush mucous membranes with water as soon as possible after contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu virus can travel six feet on droplets from coughs, sneezes or talk. Those infected can spread the virus before symptoms develop and for a week or more after getting sick. Less often, flu is spread by touching a contaminated surface, then touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth. It is so important for people to always wash their hands prior to eating, drinking, and/or putting their hands near their face. In health-care settings proper cleaning, disinfection, and/or sterilization techniques are of the utmost importance and are vital are control the spread of infection. The flu is a virus that hospitalizes 200,000 people annually. In the 1970’s there