Infection Prevention: Clinical Bag and Transmission-Based Precautions
Presented by Lisa A. Gorski
12-Month Subscription
Unlimited access to:
- Thousands of CE Courses
- Patient Education
- Home Exercise Program
- And more
This course covers infection prevention in home care, focusing on the clinical bag and transmission-based precautions.
This course provides home care and hospice clinicians with essential knowledge required to understand issues relative to infection and infection prevention. Home care clinicians typically carry a clinical bag containing a variety of supplies and equipment required for a home visit. To reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms between homes, the infection prevention practice of “bag technique” is considered best practice for clinicians and is demonstrated in this course. While standard precautions are applied to the care of all patients in all settings, transmission-based precautions are implemented based on known or suspected patient infection, such as with airborne diseases, like tuberculosis or measles, or with infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms. This course addresses application of transmission-based precautions in the home setting. Lastly, home care workers must recognize their risk for bloodborne and other infectious diseases as they care for patients and families and adhere to practices to reduce that risk.
Meet your instructor
Lisa A. Gorski
Lisa A. Gorski has worked for 40 years as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and educator for Wheaton Franciscan Home Health & Hospice, now part of Ascension at Home, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a CNS, she has played a key role in the home infusion therapy program, contributing to clinician education, policy and procedure…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. The Clinical Bag
A variety of supplies and equipment, such as blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, hand hygiene supplies, and dressings, are typically carried by all home care and hospice clinicians in a clinical bag that is brought into the home for each home visit. These bags are a known source for microorganisms that potentially could be transferred from patient to patient. Best clinical practice is to adhere to the concept of “bag technique,” which consists of attention to hand hygiene and guidance for storage, removal, and cleaning of the bag and its contents. A demonstration of bag technique is included in this chapter.
2. Transmission-Based Precautions
While standard precautions are applied to the care of all patients in all settings, transmission-based precautions are implemented based on known or suspected patient infection, such as with airborne diseases like tuberculosis or measles, and infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms. Transmission-based precautions are adapted for the home care setting, as it is not possible to fully isolate patients at home as one would in a hospital setting. Application of the three types of transmission-based precautions—airborne, droplet, and contact precautions—is described in this chapter. Patient and family education is also addressed.
3. Occupational Hazards for Home Care Workers
Home care workers are at risk for bloodborne pathogens from sharps-related injuries and from exposure to infectious diseases, such as respiratory and skin infections. In fact, research has shown a serious risk for sharps injury among home care nurses and aides. Risk factors and risky practices associated with sharps injuries are explored in this chapter. The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, the federal standard aimed at protecting workers against occupational exposures to bloodborne diseases, is reviewed and explained. The handling of medical waste is also addressed.
