2. Outbreak Flashcards
What is a healthcare associated infection (HAI)
An infection you might catch when getting healthcare in hospitals, care homes, doctors surgeries, health centres or receiving care at home
What are the most common HAI’s?
Urin infections
Infections after surgery
Skin infections
Sickness and diarrhoea
How are HAI’s caused?
UTI- catheters
Respiratory- intubation
Bloodstream- central venous catheter related
What is an outbreak?
A case of 2 or more infections linked to a time and place
What is the chain of infection?
Infectious agent Reservoir Portal of exit Mode of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host
What are the infectious agents
Bacteria
Fungus
Virus
Prion
What are the reservoirs of infection?
Humans Equipment Environment Food Animals
What is the portal of exit?
Blood and body fluids
Skin
Scales/wounds
Coughing and sneezing
What is the mode of transmission
Direct or indirect
Inhalation
Ingestion of contaminated food
What is the portal of entry
Skin/surgical wounds Eyes or mouth Respiratory tract Intestinal tract Tubes
What makes an individual a susceptible host?
Underdeveloped immune system
Decreasing immune system
Drugs or diseases
Tubes
How do we break the mode of transmission?
hand hygiene PPE Food safety Cleaning disinfection,sterilisation Isolation
How do you eliminate the reservoir of infection?
Clean, disinfect and sterilise
Infection and prevention policies
Pest control
How do you break the portal of entry?
Hand hygiene PPE Personal hygiene First aid Remove catheters and tubes
How do you break the susceptible host?
Immunise
Treat underlying disease
Patient education
How do you stop the exit of infections?
Open wounds/skin
Splatter of body fluids
Aerosois
What are the five moments for hand hygiene?
- Before touching patient
- After touching patient
- After touching patients surroundings
- Before aseptic procedure
- After body fluid exposure risk
What personal protective equipment is needed for the yellow sign transmission based precautions (contact)
Contact
Gloves
Apron
What personal protective equipment is needed for the blue sign (droplet)
Gloves
Apron
Masks
Eye protection
What personal protective equipment is needed for the green sign, airborne precautions
Gloves
Apron
masks (respirator)
Eye protection
What is the difference between a droplet and an aerosol?
Droplet >5um, doesn’t spread as far due to weight
Aerosol<5um, more widespread, remains suspended in the air
What is meant by:
Cleaning
Disinfection
Sterilisation
Cleaning- Physical removal of organic material and decrease in microbial load
Disinfect- Large reduction in microbe numbers
Sterilise- Removal/destruction of all microbes
When and how do we clean, disinfect and sterilise
Cleaning- low risk e.g. stethoscope, detergent and water
Disinfection-medium risk e.g.speculum,heat or chemicals
Sterilisation- High risk e.g. surgery, radiation,autoclave, ethylene dioxide
