8. Hospital Acquired Infections

Question 1

What are healthcare infections?

Answer 1

Infections arising as a consequence of providing healthcare
In hospital patients: neither present nor incubating at time of admission, onset at least 48hours after admissions
Also includes infections in hospital visitors and healthcare workers

Question 2

Why are healthcare infections important?

Answer 2

Frequent - prevalence = 8% of in-patients
Impact on health
Impact on healthcare organisations (extra costs)
Preventable

Question 3

Where can infection prevention intervention take place?

Answer 3

Before pathogen meets patient
Before pathogen becomes an infection in patient
Before infection is passed on

Question 4

Give examples of healthcare infections viruses

Answer 4

Blood borne viruses (hep B, C, HIV)
Norovirus
Influenza
Chickenpox

Question 5

Give examples of healthcare infections from bacteria

Answer 5

Staph aureus (MRSA)
Clostridium difficile
E. coli, Klbensiella pneumoniae
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Question 6

Gives examples of healthcare infections from fungi

Answer 6

Candida albicans

Apergillus species

Question 7

Give an example of healthcare infection form parasites

Answer 7

Malaria

Question 8

What factors from the patient may increase risk of healthcare infection?

Answer 8

Extremes of age
Obesity/malnourished
Diabetes
Cancer
Immunosuppression
Smoker
Surgical patient
Emergency admission

Question 9

What are the 4 Ps of infection prevention and control?

Answer 9

Patient
Pathogen
Practice
Place

Question 10

What are general patient interventions to prevent infection?

Answer 10

Optimise patient’s condition - smoking, nutrition, diabetes
Antimicrobial prophylaxis
Skin preparation
Hand hygiene

Question 11

What are specific patient interventions that can prevent infection?

Answer 11

MRSA screens
Mupirocin nasal ointment
Disinfectant body wash

Question 12

What are the healthcare worker interventions to prevent infection?

Answer 12

Healthy - disease free, vaccinated
Good practice - goof clinical techniques (sterile non-touch)
Hand hygiene
PPE
Antimicrobial prescribing

Question 13

What are the environmental interventions to prevent infection?

Answer 13

Built environment - space/layout, toilets, wash hand basins
Furniture and furnishings - no carpet, must be able to withstand chemicals
Cleaning - disinfectants, steam cleaning, hydrogen peroxide vapour
Medical devices - single use equipment, sterilisation, decontamination

Question 14

What are the ‘have you I-fived your patients today?’ guides?

Answer 14

Identify - abroad, blood borne infections, colonised, diarrhoea/vomiting, expectorating, funny looking rash
Isolate
Investigate
Inform
Initiate