Jornal Internacional de Saúde Pública e Segurança

Fluorescence Visualization as a Training Tool for Infection Control

Abstract

Crook B, Makison Booth C and Hall S

Ultraviolet (UV) fluorescent tracers are a powerful training tool when used as a simulant for infectious agents. Their use is well established to teach healthcare staff effective hand hygiene and safe removal of contaminated gloves. This paper reviews the more recent use of similar techniques to create scenarios in healthcare where exposure to infectious body fluids and potential for cross-contamination occur, e.g. clean-up following Norovirustriggered projectile vomiting, or exposure to infective body fluids when examining symptomatic patients with high consequence infectious disease. Examples are described to demonstrate the value of these techniques in ensuring safety from cross-infection in healthcare