🦠 Lecture 3
Infection Control & Precautions
Contact, Droplet, Airborne (Air MTV), PPE order, chest tubes.
Transmission Types
| Type | Diseases | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Contact | C.diff, Hep A, E.coli, Staph, RSV, Herpes | Gown + Gloves, dedicated equipment |
| Droplet | Meningitis, H. influenza, epiglottitis, flu | Surgical mask + goggles |
| Airborne | MMR, TB, Varicella (chickenpox) | N95 mask, negative airflow room, door CLOSED |
✈️ Air MTV = Airborne Precautions
M – Measles | T – TB | V – Varicella (chickenpox)
⚠️
RSV = Contact precautions (droplets land on objects → pt touches object → puts in mouth)
PPE Order
🥋 PUT ON — Reverse alphabetical (Gs reversed, Mask 2nd)
1. Gown → 2. Mask → 3. Goggle → 4. Gloves
🥋 TAKE OFF — Alphabetical order
1. Gloves → 2. Goggle → 3. Gown → 4. Mask
Remove dirtiest first (gloves). Save mask for last (protects your face).
Chest Tubes
| Location | Removes | Expected Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Apical (top) | AIR (pneumothorax) | BUBBLING = expected. NOT bubbling = bad! |
| Basilar (base) | BLOOD/fluid (hemothorax) | DRAINAGE = expected. Bubbling = bad! |
🚨
Water seal breaks: First → CLAMP | Best → SUBMERGE end under sterile water. Must be done in <15 seconds!
🚨
Tube pulled out: First → Gloved hand covers opening | Best → Sterile Vaseline gauze taped 3 sides
📖 Notes for Dummies
🧠 Think of it this way…
Infection control is about preventing germs from spreading. Different germs travel differently — some through touch, some through big droplets, some through tiny airborne particles. The precaution type matches how the germ travels.
👐
CONTACT precautions = spread by TOUCH:
You touch the patient or their stuff and then touch something else. Fix: gown + gloves, dedicated equipment. Think: diarrhea bugs (C.diff), skin bugs (Staph, Herpes).
You touch the patient or their stuff and then touch something else. Fix: gown + gloves, dedicated equipment. Think: diarrhea bugs (C.diff), skin bugs (Staph, Herpes).
💧
DROPLET precautions = spread by LARGE droplets (coughing/sneezing within 3 feet):
Big droplets fall quickly, can't travel far. Fix: surgical mask + goggles within 3 feet. Think: meningitis, influenza, epiglottitis.
Big droplets fall quickly, can't travel far. Fix: surgical mask + goggles within 3 feet. Think: meningitis, influenza, epiglottitis.
🌬️
AIRBORNE precautions = spread by TINY particles (hang in air for hours):
These tiny particles can travel across the room and stay in the air. Fix: N95 mask (not regular mask!), negative airflow room, door CLOSED. Remember: Air MTV (Measles, TB, Varicella).
These tiny particles can travel across the room and stay in the air. Fix: N95 mask (not regular mask!), negative airflow room, door CLOSED. Remember: Air MTV (Measles, TB, Varicella).
🧤
PPE order — why this order matters:
Put ON: Gown first (protects clothes) → Mask (protects face) → Goggles → Gloves last (gloves are the last defense)
Take OFF: Gloves first (dirtiest) → Goggles → Gown → Mask last (protects face while removing everything else)
Put ON: Gown first (protects clothes) → Mask (protects face) → Goggles → Gloves last (gloves are the last defense)
Take OFF: Gloves first (dirtiest) → Goggles → Gown → Mask last (protects face while removing everything else)
📝 Chest tube simple version:
Top tube (apical) = removes AIR = should bubble (if it stops → bad!)
Bottom tube (basilar) = removes BLOOD = should drain (if it bubbles → bad!)
Water seal chamber: intermittent bubbling = GOOD, continuous = LEAK (find and tape it!)
Emergency: water seal breaks → clamp FIRST, then submerge in sterile water within 15 seconds
Top tube (apical) = removes AIR = should bubble (if it stops → bad!)
Bottom tube (basilar) = removes BLOOD = should drain (if it bubbles → bad!)
Water seal chamber: intermittent bubbling = GOOD, continuous = LEAK (find and tape it!)
Emergency: water seal breaks → clamp FIRST, then submerge in sterile water within 15 seconds