As doctors and scientists have learned more about the
causes of infection, they have developed principles and
practices of asepsis. You will be responsible for using these
techniques to keep patients, yourself, and your workplace
free from contamination. The two levels of asepsis used today
are medical asepsis and surgical asepsis. You must also
follow federal regulations related to infection control and
asepsis, including the OSHA Blood-borne Pathogens Standard,
Universal Precautions, and Standard Precautions (if
you work in a hospital). To protect patients and yourself, you need to know
how pathogens cause disease, how disease is transmitted,
and how to prevent the spread of infection. You will also
use this knowledge to help your employer educate patients
about ways they can remain healthy and reduce their risk
of contracting diseases. |