ASEPSIS AND INFECTION CONTROL

Microorganisms are always present in the environment. Some live on the skin, others are
common inhabitants oI the intestinal tract and others are Iound among other places, in the air, in the soil,
in articles and equipment in the hospital and on our clothes. ThereIore, knowledge oI asepsis and an
awareness oI how microorganisms are transmitted are essential Ior saIe nursing care environment.
InIections pose severe problems to people at home, in the community and in the healthcare
Iacility. They have great impact on the health status oI people in varying ages. Furthermore, inIections
cause great economic burden because treatments and medications are becoming uncontrollably expensive.
ThereIore, ASEPSIS and INFECTION CONTROL in any healthcare setting should be a onerous
eIIort among healthcare workers, especially among us, nurses.


















TERMINOLOGIES
INFECTION- an invasion oI the body tissue by microorganisms and their proliIeration there
ASEPSIS the absence oI disease producing microorganisms; being Iree Irom inIection
MEDICAL ASEPSIS- practices designed to reduce the number and transIer oI pathogens; Clean
Technique
SURGICAL ASEPSIS practices that render and keep objects and areas Iree Irom microorganisms;
Sterile Technique
SEPSIS the presence oI inIection
SEPTICEMIA transport oI an inIection or the products oI inIection throughout the body or by blood
CARRIER a person or an animal, who is without symptoms