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Infection Control
Infection control is always a hot topic in health care circles. As frontline health care providers it is important that medical radiation technologists have current information on communicable diseases and take proper measures to minimize risk, as we are exposed to them in one form or another on a daily basis.
Much of the material highlighted in this section will be well documented within your workplace and is intended as a review of some of the key points.
Prevention Means & Methods
Universal precautions are the North American guidelines that remain the gold standard for diseases that are spread by blood and certain body fluids. These precautions must be followed diligently, as all provinces and territories have laws in place regarding universal precautions.
Hand washing, disinfection and sterilization are key components to dealing with the spread of infection.
Health Canada has published comprehensive clinical guidelines entitled Infection Control Guidelines, Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of Infection in Health Care, that describe in great detailthe preventative measures that can be taken within the health care community.
Current Hot Topics for Healthcare Workers
H1N1
Public Health Agency: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/swine_200904-eng.php
Fight Flu: http://www.fightflu.ca/index-eng.html
Canadian Public Health Association: http://www.pandemic.cpha.ca/
Canadian Medical Association: http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/89060/la_id/1.htm
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/en/
Pandemic Influenza
http://www.fightflu.ca
Fluwatch
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/index-eng.php
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/biol_hazards/methicillin.html
Drug-Resistant Organisms (DRO)
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/biol_hazards/drugresist.html
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/sars.html
Respiratory Protection Against Infections for Health Care Workers
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/respiratory_protection.html
AIDS Precautions
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/aids/health_care2.html
AIDS Precautions - Health Care
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/aids/health_care1.html
Clostridium Difficile
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/biol_hazards/clostridium_difficile.html
Common Cold
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/common_cold.html
Hepatitis A, B & C
Hep A - http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/hepatitis_a.html
Hep B - http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/hepatitis_b.html
Hep C - http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/hepatitis_c.html
Influenza
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/biol_hazards/influenza.html
Tuberculosis
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/tubercul.html
Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB)
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/mdr_tb.html
Toxoplasmosis
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/toxoplasmosis.html
Needlestick Injuries
Needlestick Injuries: A Sharper Response
http://www.whsc.on.ca/pubs/res_lines2.cfm?resID=70
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