10 Flashcards
nosocomial infection
infection acquired by a patient during hospitalization and having its origin in the hospital environment or in a medical procedure.
how common is nosocomial infection
25%
are due to causes which escape all reasonable means of prevention e.g., infections in the immunodeficient, surgery in patients with a perforated organ
is called a
preventable or non-preventable infection
non-preventable infection
due to faulty medical or nursing techniques (e.g., breaches in aseptic
procedures in surgery/catheterization, improper hand washing etc.)
is called a
preventable or non-preventable infection
preventable infection
In the transmission of an infection by a microorganism three factors play an essential role:
SOURCE –> ROUTE (WAY) OF TRANSMISSION –> HOST
medical activities that can cause problems
surgeries, intravenous access, urinary catheter
source
location where microorganisms replicate and disseminate
route of infection
way by which microorganism leave source to get to host
contact - direct (e.g., person to person)
- indirect through contaminated objects (fomites) e.g., a wound dressing, blood soiled needles, etc.
- water or food
- air
- vectors (e.g., insects
host
how susceptible are you? age? immune status?
how hospital try to prevent and avoid nosocomial infection
- render source non-infectious
- prevent microorganisms from leaving source
- interfere with dissemination routes
- prevent microorganisms from entering host
what measure can be taken in terms of sources?
detection/identification of sources
isolation/precaution of infected individuals
treatment of infections
elimination of inanimate source of pests
what measure can be taken in terms of The route of transmission
- sterilization
- disinfection
- proper medical/nursing techniques
- ventilation
- adequate housekeeping procedures
what measure can be taken in terms of The host
- asepsis (e.g., in surgery)
- vaccination (when possible)
- protective isolation (e.g., isolation of transplant patients)
universal precaution
- infection control techniques developed after aids outbreak (1980’s)
- treat all patients as if they are infected
- good hygiene habits (hand washing, gloves, barriers, aseptic technique
- wearing masks
____ measures need to be taken for different diseases
little
some
extra
extra
universal protection = isolating patient
True or False
False
just take measure to break chain of infection
Decontamination
destroying or removing harmful microorganisms, chemicals or
radioactivity on an object or surface.
sanitzation
Reduction of microbial load on objects and environmental surfaces through washing or wiping with detergents or cleaning agents
Disinfection
freeing an object of harmful microorganisms, not necessarily spores
Antisepsis
Use of a germicide on the surface of living skin or mucous membrane
Sterilization
destroy all types of microorganisms in or on an object.
what is the effect of dirt on a service
it hides pathogens
physical means of sterilization
(1) Heat, (2) Radiation and (3) Filtration
types of heat sterilizatio
Dry heat, moist heat (pasteurization, boiling) , incineration, autoclaving
types of heat radiation
gamma (DNA damage) and ultraviolet light (nucleic damage, prolonged and direct)
factors affecting disinfectant action
- Concentration of germicide
- Microbes present
- Contact time
- Organic and inorganic load
- Other factors: Surface topography, pH, age, storage condition
The decreasing order of resistance of classes of microorganisms to disinfectant
Bacterial spores and protozoan cysts
Mycobacteria
Fungi
Vegetative bacteria
Enveloped viruses
Antiseptics are regularly used as:
pre-surgical hand scrubs
pre-operative skin preparations on patients
treatment or prevention of infections on skin or mucous membranes
