Question

174 Chapter 21 Chapter Assignment Sheets LEARNING APPLICATION Critical Thinking I. Analyze the importance of infection control and give five examples of how a medical assistant wou infection control in the ambulatory care setting 8. . Your patient has a draining wound. After you change the dressing, explain how to prevent the transmi microorganisms from the wound and dressing to you or to another patient

Answer 1

1.The infection control is important in a health care setting because it’s a place where people with various ailments and infections come. The chances of spreading of the infection from one person to another is very high if appropriate infection control measures are not taken.

Some of the practices followed by medical assistant to prevent the spread of the infection are

• Wearing sterile disposable gloves while handling the patients.
• Using sterile face masks to prevent spread of airborne infections.
• Proper disposal of contaminated and potentially infectious substances like sharps, cannulas, catheters, blood soaked swabs, bandages etc in appropriate disposal bins.
• Hand washing after every procedure.
• Peoper maintenance of self and surrounding hygiene.
• Educating the patient and if possible isolation of patients with potentially contagious diseases.

Even though the patients might appear healthy without any symptoms, they may still be hosting the infection with risk of transmitting it to others. So it’s better to follow these infection control programs and measures to be on the safer side.

2. While dealing with the patient having a draining wound, the care giver should be very careful as there is a high chance of spreading of infection from the patient.

They should use disposable sterile gloves while changing the dressing. The removed old dressing and other disposables should be carefully disposed in appropriate closed bins immediately. The reusable equipment should be sterilised before using it on other patients, immediately after changing the dressing if possible. Make sure the wound is closed properly with new sterile dressing. Wash hands with antiseptic gel before and after the dressing. Be very careful in making sure that the contaminated materials doesn’t come in contact with other people.

This is a brief overview on the given topic. Hope this helps you out. Please feel free to give your feedback and if you want further elaborate discussion on this topic. Thank you and have a great day.