3 Infection control + prevention

Question 1

define colonisation

Answer 1

presence and multiplication of microorganisms without tissue invasion or damage

Question 2

define infection

Answer 2

entry and multiplication of microorganisms into tissue and causing damage

Question 3

define reservoir

Answer 3

place where microorganism normally lives and reproduces

Question 4

describe the chain of infection, starting at source/reservoir

Answer 4

source/reservoir-transmission-susceptible host- carriage (+/- infection)

Question 5

state 3 modes of transmission

Answer 5

airborne, contact and inoculated

Question 6

describe airborne transmission

Answer 6

through aerosols, droplets or dist. Usually in viral infections, through breathing air or touching a surface where aerosol or droplet has landed. Can get lots of fungal spores in dust

Question 7

describe contact transmission

Answer 7

direct transmission through hands, food or equipment

Question 8

describe inoculated transmission

Answer 8

through sharps, trauma or I.V catheters. In trauma a penetrating wound can lead to infection from bacteria from environment

Question 9

exogenous airborne example

Answer 9

TB, respiratory viruses, Legionnaire’s disease

Question 10

exogenous contact example

Answer 10

Staphylococcus aureus from hands, salmonella from food

Question 11

exogenous inoculated example

Answer 11

HIV or viral hepatitis from a needle-stick injury, malaria from a mosquito bite, tetanus from a contaminated traumatic wound

Question 12

give an example of an endogenous infection

Answer 12

surgical wound infection, pneumonia, UTI

Question 13

give examples of natural barriers to infection

Answer 13

skin, stomach acid, mucus/cilia, urinary flow

Question 14

give example of immunocompromised patients

Answer 14

chemotherapy, haematological malignancy, comorbidities e.g. diabetes

Question 15

what are some exposures to increased chance of infection

Answer 15

multiple hospital admissions, antibiotic courses (clear out own commensal bacteria to make way for infection), intensive care

Question 16

give an example of an infection more common in the community than in hospital

Answer 16

TB, chicken pox, influenza A, food poisoning

Question 17

give an example of an infection more common in hospital than in the community

Answer 17

catheter related UTI, ventilator associated pneumonia, C.diff, I.V. catheter related bloodstream infection

Question 18

why can you be more susceptible to infection in a hospital

Answer 18

patient vulnerability, overcrowding (closer patient contact, not adequate isolation, busy staff may lead to hand washing not being done thoroughly), various and broader spectrum antibiotic use

Question 19

define healthcare associated infection (HCAI)

Answer 19

an infection that occurs more than 48 hours after admission to hospital
an infection that occurs within 10 days of discharge from hospital (30 days for surgical wound)
an infection that occurs with 72 hours of an outpatient procedure

Question 20

how to prevent infection in hospitals (5)

Answer 20

decontamination (removing most bacteria), sterilisation (removing all bacteria), cleaning, laundry, water management (lukewarm and still= bacteria will grow e.g. legionnaires, can filter taps and but chemicals in pipes to prevent bacteria growing)

Question 21

how to prevent transmission (5)

Answer 21

isolation (side room), personal protective equipment (gloves, apron, mask), clean hands, aseptic technique, sharps disposal

Question 22

describe different pressures of side rooms

Answer 22

negative pressure= sucking air into side room to prevent bacteria leaving
positive pressure= filter air pushing out to protect immunosuppressed

Question 23

what 3 ways can you reduce patients susceptibility to infections

Answer 23

immunity (vaccinate, prophylaxis, isolate), devices (remove if not needed or infected, avoid unnecessary insertion), antibiotics (reduce exposure, target therapy)