COURSE OVERVIEW:

We are all at risk of acquiring infections. Every hour of every day we come into contact with potentially harmful micro-organisms—on the hands we shake in friendship, from the coffee cups at work, or even in the potting mixes we use in the garden. Serious illness is usually avoided because our defence mechanisms work efficiently. Our skin is strong and intact, our circulation is efficient, and we produce mature white blood cells in adequate numbers. However, the residents in our care at work might not be so well protected.

People of all ages admitted to hospitals and residential-care facilities are more likely to succumb to the harmful effects of micro-organisms in the immediate environment. Infection prevention and control is an essential part of care and the responsibility of all staff providing care to older people.

Older people are at great risk of infection due to the resistance-lowering effects of ageing caused by:

• fragile skin and mucous membranes;
• a less-efficient circulatory system;
• reduced mobility;
• loss of self-caring ability;
• onset of chronic disease; and
• malignancies and their treatment.

Experience has shown that the residents most vulnerable to infection are those who require the greatest amount of care from staff. As well as elderly residents, this includes the growing group of younger, disabled residents living in aged-care facilities.

This course focuses on infection control in residential aged care.

The first part defines infection control and then explores the strategies that might form the basic components of an overall infection control approach. Then explains the aims and objectives of infection control. The sources of infection and the elements and route of the transmission of infection are also explored. 

The second part discusses the principles of infection prevention. Then explains the infection control procedures and practices used in aged care facilities for staff, equipment and residents.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• What is meant by infection control?
• The strategies of an overall infection control approach
• Infection control education
• Infection control aims and objectives
• What should facility management do to maintain effective infection control?
• The principles of infection control
• The source, transmission, and spread of infection
• The elements in the transmission of infection
• Examples of reservoirs of infection in a facility
• The exit of the disease-producing micro-organisms from the reservoir
• The means of transmitting disease-producing microorganisms
• The micro-organism’s entry into susceptible people
• The route of transmission
• The exogenous infection
• How cross infection from a resident or member of staff to others can occur?
• How to stop infection being transferred by the airborne route?
• The endogenous infection
• The common organisms of self-infection, and their usual body sites
• The principles of infection prevention
• How infection is usually acquired in residential facilities?
• When standard precautions should be used?
• Multiple-resistant (or methicillin-resistant) Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)
• How enterococcal bacteria are most commonly spread from person-to-person?
• The infection control procedures and practices in aged care centres
• The staff-centred procedures
• The procedures for routine and clinical hand-washing
• The protective clothing of staff
• The equipment-oriented procedures
• The procedures that should be observed when disposing sharps
• The procedures that should be followed when collecting specimens
• How to manage spills of biological material?
• The resident-centred procedures
• The procedures for enteral feeding
• Care of the gastrostomy tube
• Indwelling urinary catheters
• The condom drainage procedures

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.