Breaking the Link at the Reservoir

• Cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing the environment depending on the pathogen is essential, as is following healthcare workplace policies.
• Disinfect stethoscopes and other medical equipment and items after each client.
• Disinfect high-touch surface areas in the client’s room such as bed rails, doorknobs, and call bells, and shared facilities such as toilets and sinks.
• Use proper food handling and storage.
• Perform hand hygiene (Figure 5.17) prior to touching food items.
• Wash food as necessary, and clean the table surface prior to eating.
• Assist clients to perform personal hygiene if they have limited mobility, cognitive dysfunction, or a medical status that makes them unable to do so.
• Educate clients about hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and the importance of vaccinations to prevent the spread of infection.
• Conduct frequent environmental cleaning.
• Monitor environmental controls such as heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) and +/– air pressure.
• Ensure optimal water treatment.

Breaking the Link at the Portal of Exit

• Perform frequent and thorough hand hygiene and follow routine practices.
• Encourage and teach clients about respiratory etiquette, such as when you see a client cough or sneeze into their hands and not perform hand hygiene afterwards.
• Encourage clients to dispose of soiled tissues after use.
• Cover wounds to avoid contamination through excretions.
• Dispose of contaminated linens and waste in the appropriate receptacles if a client is incontinent of stool or urine.
• When teaching or assisting a client with their personal hygiene, remember the technique of cleaning from cleanest to dirtiest areas, such as in perineal care and bathing.
• Practise respiratory etiquette by covering coughs and sneezes.

• Perform hand hygiene, following routine practices and taking additional precautions as needed.
• For contaminated inanimate objects such as stethoscopes, client charts, and doorknobs, it is essential to clean, disinfect, or sterilize the environment depending on the pathogen and to follow healthcare workplace policies.
• Ensure that there is the appropriate space separating clients in the same room and when in a cohort room.
• Follow negative-pressure-engineered room protocols to ensure that airborne pathogens do not travel outside the room.
• Know your immunity status when caring for clients diagnosed with measles.
• Educate clients about the importance of immunization to prevent infectious diseases.
• Clean, sterilize, and disinfect.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed (Figure 5.18).
• Be familiar with engineering controls such as HVAC.

Breaking the Link at the Portal of Entry

• Perform hand hygiene—follow routine practices and take additional precautions as needed.
• Apply aseptic techniques as required; for example, when inserting catheters, changing central intravenous lines, and during wound dressing care.
• Follow healthcare workplace policies when cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing contaminated items or environments.
• When teaching or assisting a client with their personal hygiene, remember the technique of cleaning from cleanest to dirtiest areas, such as during perineal care and bathing.
• Ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed.
• Be familiar with best practices for wound care.

Breaking the Link at the Susceptible Host

• Identify high-risk individuals and protect the client’s body defences from infection by covering open wounds, keeping drainage systems closed and intact, maintaining skin integrity, and following asepsis protocols.
• Following a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, physical activity, rest and sleep, effective coping strategies, and staying up to date on vaccinations will help break the chain.
• Treat any health conditions as needed to stay healthy.