How can the health care professional decrease source of microorganisms?

The health care professional can decrease the source of microorganisms by:

- Hand hygiene: Proper hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to reduce the spread of microorganisms. Health care professionals should wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after touching a patient, before performing a procedure, and after touching any potentially contaminated surfaces.

- Mask and gown use: Masks and gowns should be worn when there is a risk of contact with blood, body fluids, or potentially infectious materials.

- Environmental cleaning and disinfection: Health care professionals should clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, countertops, and equipment, with a disinfectant that is effective against the target microorganisms.

- Safe handling of sharp objects: Sharp objects, such as needles and scalpels, should be handled with care to avoid cuts and punctures. Used sharps should be disposed of in a sharps container.

- Isolation precautions: Isolation precautions should be implemented for patients who are known or suspected to be infected with a contagious disease. This may involve placing the patient in a private room, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and restricting visitors.

- Education: Health care professionals should be educated about the importance of infection prevention and control and how to implement it in their daily practice.