Infection Control In Anesthetic Practice:

Ihab Mareey Ibrahim Manasir

Every year, many lives are lost because of the spread of infection in hospitals. Health care workers can take steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These steps are part of infection control (CDC,2006).Infection control (IC) is a quality standard and is essential for the well being and safety of patients, staff and visitor. It affects most departments of the hospital and involves issues of quality, risk management, clinical governance and health and safety (Canda communicable Disease,1998)Anesthesia related infections can be transmitted from patient to patient via anesthetist or anesthetic machine or from patient to anesthetist (CDC,2006)The service should be managed by a suitably qualified individual. All staff should be trained and undergo continuous professional development. Written protocols for all procedures should be maintained and there should be an audited program of quality assurance.History of infection control in anesthesia:In 1873, skinner made the first published reference to cross-infection in anesthesia while no mention was made of cleaning masks for valve apparatus. Then, the use of hot water for sterilization started. So a glass mask, a supplemental bag made from a new kind of rubber and a modified inhaler, all appeared between 1900 — 1905 with a great advantage of being sterilized by boiling in a hot water (Bowring,1996).