Healthcare Infection Control Practice - Essay Example

"Healthcare Infection Control Practice" is a well-written example of a paper on infections.
Infections occur when microorganisms find their way into the human body and work to cause harm. The organisms that cause infections are generally referred to as pathogens and include bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Pathogens can enter the body through the ingestion of contaminated food and water, contact with contaminated surfaces by the skin, insect bites, and exchange of body fluids from an infected person to another. Infection can be prevented from entering the human body by practicing proper hand washing hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting contaminated floor surfaces, and wearing personal protective equipment when handling infected persons (Kuhar, Pollock, Yokoe, Howell, & Chopra, 2018). Various vaccines have also been developed over the years for certain infections and can be effectively used to prevent infection. Infection can be controlled if these preventive measures are keenly adhered to.

However, situations may arise that may cause infection to spread rapidly and infect people on a large scale. Once an infection has spread, preventive measures can be upscaled to control the spread of the infection and its subsequent eradication. Infection control measures include observing proper handwashing hygiene, cleaning surfaces, immunization, and ensuring high standards of food safety.

Hand washing

Practicing proper handwashing hygiene is essential in controlling the spread of various infections. Infection-causing pathogens can easily be transmitted from one person to another by handshakes. Human beings are social beings and often hug and shake hands to show affection. When an individual visits the toilet, he or she can touch a contaminated surface, and in turn, the pathogens stick in their hands. The same individual can go without washing their hands with soap and water and end up shaking the hands of another, which will, in turn, create an endless chain of infecting other people. However, these pathogens can be prevented from spreading by washing hands with soap and water.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces

People go around touching surfaces that may be contaminated by infection-causing pathogens. Surfaces at home, hospitals, or the workplace should regularly be cleaned and disinfected to prevent the further spread of infection-causing pathogens (Donskey, 2013). Since humans are always in touch with surfaces, one cannot tell who is infected or not. Thus, every surface, whether it appears clean or not, should be cleaned and disinfected for effective infection control.

Immunization

The human body is programmed to remember the structure of infection, causing pathogens that once attacked it. Vaccines are meant to help the body develop antibodies that will fight infections. Getting immunized against a particular infection will equip the body with better immune response when a specific infection enters the body.

High Standards of Food Safety

Infection can be transmitted by ingesting food or water that has been contaminated. Food and water are some of the basic needs of every human being and consumed daily. If food and water are not correctly handled, they can get contaminated, and infections can be transmitted. Therefore, high standards of food safety need to be exercised to ensure that the food is free from infection-causing pathogens.

Conclusion

Various infections causing pathogens exist in our world, which calls every human being to take responsibility for preventing their spread. Infections can be controlled by observing proper handwashing hygiene, cleaning surfaces, immunization, and ensuring high standards of food safety. When these safety measures are adhered to, most diseases will cease to exist.