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Infection Control In Practice

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Words 864
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Infection and Waste Control in Practice
Include:
• The importance of infection control
Infection control is important to reduce the spread of disease between both humans and animals. In a veterinary practice there is a large number of sick animals with weakened immune systems which means that there is a high risk of cross infection; the purpose of infection control is to reduce this risk to a minimum. • Why you should use personal protective equipment
Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) is used to protect against exposure to infectious disease avoiding spreading the infection.
Gloves should be used when handling any body fluids or waste, cleaning, dentistry, dirty laundry and lab samples. Gloves should be changed between animals and jobs …show more content…
How to effectively wash your hands:
Wet hands with water
Place antiseptic soap product in your palms
Make the soap lather by rubbing the hands together Wash hands thoroughly for twenty seconds, not forgetting the inside and the backs of your fingers, the back of your hands and your thumbs
Rinse off all the soap under running water
Dry your hands using a disposable paper towel
Turn off the tap with your arms if possible, or use a disposable towel as a barrier
The veterinary waste types
Waste disposal by a veterinary practice is strictly controlled in England and Wales by Environment
Agency regulations. The practice will normally employ a waste disposal service that will provide the correct containers to dispose of the waste in, and then will collect the full containers, normally on a weekly basis. Responsibility of ensuring that the waste is stored and disposed of responsibly, and handled by those authorised to do so falls upon the waste producer. Appropriate records should be kept of all waste that is transferred or received
Non-hazardous waste
Domestic waste
Domestic rubbish, which might include un-soiled newspapers and magazines, sandwich …show more content…
Cadavers
Animal bodies that are not suspected of dying from a notifiable disease are usually kept in a chest freezer until collected.
The disposal container depends on whether the body is going to the pet crematorium or being buried at home.
Hazardous waste
Cytotoxic and cytostatic pharmaceuticals
Generally, these are chemotherapy drugs including bottles and vials, syringes, needles and animal bedding and are disposed of in purple and yellow containers.
Extreme care should be taken when handling and disposing of these items.
Contaminated sharps
Needles and scalpels that have a risk of infection to any animal or person who may come contact with them are disposed of in a yellow sharps container.
Infectious clinical waste
Waste containing microorganisms that are known to cause disease in humans or animals including anything that presents a risk of infection, for example swabs, gloves, blood and body parts, infectious animal bedding and infectious cadavers are disposed of in yellow containers.
Photographic chemicals
X-ray chemical solutions are disposed of in leak-proof

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