Handwashing factsheet sources of infection 1

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esides contaminants that may be in the drug, there are three (3) major sources that are responsible for infections associated with injecting drug use. These sources are the air, the skin and the blood.

GThe SKINH The skin is the organ that protects your insides from infection from outside sources. It is also a source of bacteria responsible for intravenous associated infection. Bacteria found on the skin are either resident or transient. Resident bacteria are those that are normally present on the skin. These are normally the same bacteria for everyone. These organisms adhere tightly to the skin and since not all bacteria are removed by washing, injecting drug users must take particular care when using any injecting equipment, sterile or otherwise.

Transient bacteria may be loosely attached to the skin – this is normally bacteria that have been picked up by you from your surroundings, and it changes from day to day. Not many transient bacteria live on clean unbroken skin but there can be plenty of them on greasy, dirty exposed areas of the body. It is here that washing your hands and cleaning injection sites becomes essential to avoid transferring germs to your equipment or another person.

GThe AIRH If you have an infection on your body, any sort of activity, such as throwing off your shirt, bed making etc, sends bacteria from pus, lint and dried skin flying into the air. These contaminants may then find their way onto and into injecting equipment like spoons, filters and normal things like a drinking glass which you might use to hold your injecting water. Try to cover your water container with a clean lid, especially if you have no other way to get more clean water.


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Handwashing factsheet sources of infection 1 by AIVL - Issuu