Infectious Diseases & Precautions Flashcards
Review infection control diseases and precautions.
When should you wash your hands?
- before, after and between each client you care for
- in between dirty to clean procedures
- before and after most procedures and tasks
How long should you wash your hands for?
At least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water.
When should you only use soap and water to wash your hands?
When your hands are visibly dirty or the client is on enteric precautions.
Otherwise, it’s OK to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
What type of disinfectant spray is used on dirty or commonly used areas?
Use alcohol or bleach to clean dirty or commonly used areas such as:
- tables
- door knobs
- handles
Bleach is not used on client’s skin.
What type of substances can be used on client’s skin to disinfect it?
Chlorexidine, povidone iodine or alcohol.
What are hospital acquired infections?
(HAI)
HAI are sometimes referred to as nosocomial infections.
Infections acquired while in the hospital.
Prevent HAIs by implementing infection control precautions.
What are 6 common hospital acquired infections?
- CLABSI: central line associated bloodstream infection
- CAUTI: catheter associated urinary tract infection
- SSI: surgical site infection
- VAP: ventilator associated pneumonia
- C. Diff: GI infection
- MRSA: infection in blood, skin or respiratory tract
Describe:
Standard (universal) Precautions
- assumes that blood or body fluids by ANY client can be infectious
- PPE: gloves, goggles, gown, and mask (use your judgment on what to wear)
- use a sharps container
- hand hygiene
- keep 3 feet away and cover mouth when coughing or sneezing
- offer mask to clients with respiratory symptoms
All clients are on standards precautions.
Describe:
Transmission-based Precautions
Are beyond standard precautions because the disease is highly contagious:
- Airborne precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Contact precautions
Describe:
Airborne Precautions
Are taken for highly contagious diseases that are transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei that go over long distances and remain suspended in the air for long periods.
-
PPE: N95 particulate respirator mask
- possible gown, gloves, goggles
- negative pressure isolation room with at least 6 air exchanges per hour
- client wears a surgical mask if leaving room
This includes dried droplets and dust particles containing infectious material.
Which diseases use Airborne Precautions?
Use the mnemonic My ChickenS haZ TB to remember the most common.
- measles (Rubeola)
- chickenpox / varicella-zoster
- shingles/herpes zoster
- cOVID-19 (SARS) (can also be droplet)
- tuberculosis
These diseases are also contact precautions.
Describe:
Droplet Precautions
Are taken for highly contagious diseases that are transmitted by large-particle droplets that travel up to 3 feet or less through the air.
-
PPE: surgical mask if within 3 feet of client
- possible gown, gloves, and goggles
Droplets come from sneezing, coughing and talking.
Which diseases use Droplet Precautions?
- scarlet fever
- streptococcal pharyngitis
- pertussis/whopping cough
- parvovirus/fifth disease
- pneumonia
- influenza
- diphtheria
- epiglottitis
- rubella / German measles
- meningitis
- mumps
- adenovirus
- covid-19 (can also be airborne)
Use the mnemonic SPIDERMAN to remember.
Describe:
Contact Precautions
Are taken for highly contagious diseases that are transmitted by direct or indirect contact.
- always wear gown and gloves
- if splashing is expected, wear goggles and mask
Common sources of indirect contact are the stethoscope and keyboard.
Which most common diseases use Contact Precautions?
-
multidrug-resistant organisms
- VRE, CRE, MRSA (will have the word “resistant” in the name)
-
diarrhea/enteric (in the gut)
- C. diff, E. coli, Shigella, hepatitis A & E, rotavirus, polio
- any type of diarrhea or diaper changes for children and adults
- enteroviral
-
skin and wound infections
- cutaneous diphtheria, herpes simplex virus, impetigo, abscesses, cellulitis, pressure ulcers, pediculosis, smallpox, staphylococcal furunculosis, scabies, zoster, cytomegalovirus
Most students will not memorize this list, but be able to recognize the disease as contact precautions.
Which additional diseases use Contact Precautions?
- eye infections: viral or hemorrhagic conjunctivitis
- viral blood infections: Ebola, Lassa, Marburg
- respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus
If client is coughing, also wear a mask.
Describe:
Enteric precautions
Are taken to prevent infections that are transmitted by fecal material. Enteric precautions include:
- Contact Precautions
- washing hands with soap and water (no alcohol)
- PPE: gloves and gown (goggles and mask if splashing is expected)
Which diseases use Enteric Precautions?
Infectious diarrhea
- Clostridium difficile
- gastroenteritis
- rotavirus
- norovirus
- hepatitis A & E
What type of room does a client on transmission-based precautions get?
Preferably put all clients with an infectious disease in their own private room to prevent cross-infection.
Clients with the same exact infectious disease can be roomed together. It is sometimes referred to as “room like with like”.
Where do needles go after being used?
In a sharps container/puncture-resistant container designated for needles.
What can the nurse use to prevent needle sticks?
Needleless devices.
What type of bag does hazardous waste and blood go into?
A biohazardous waste bag.
What are the most common nosocomial infections?
- C diff. - clostridium difficile
- VRE - vancomycin-resistant enterococci
- MRSA - methicillin-resistant staph aureus
- CRE - carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae
When is the N95 / particulate respirator removed?
Outside of the client’s room after their door has been closed.
What does the client wear when leaving the room when they are on airborne precautions?
A surgical mask.
What is a sterile field?
An area that is kept sterile in order to prepare for a procedure on the client.
What distance of the border of a sterile field is NOT considered sterile?
The outer 1 inch (2 cm).
What are the steps to apply sterile gloves?
- Wash hands
- Open package
- Lift glove by cuff
- Apply glove
- Lift other glove
- Apply 2nd glove
- Do not touch the inside of the gloves
What are the steps to take off dirty gloves?
- Pinch glove at top
- Peel glove off inside out
- Put fingers under the glove
- Peel glove off inside out into other glove
- Throw in trash
- Wash hands
What are neutropenic precautions?
Also called “protective isolation”:
The client is at risk of getting an infection and needs to be in a private room:
- no fresh fruits or flowers in room
- freshwater for drinking at least every 1 hour
- avoid ill people
- meticulous hand hygiene and wear gloves
- no live vaccines
- wash teeth gently and floss gently
- wear a mask in crowded areas or when leaving room
- avoid invasive procedures
- fruits and vegetables need to be washed and cooked before eating
- no salad bars
- assess for signs and symptoms of infection: WBC count and temperature
What types of clients are on neutropenic precautions?
Immunosuppressed
- AIDS
- burns
- organ transplants / stem cell transplants
- on immunosuppression meds
- cancer / on chemotherapy
In what order is personal protective equipment put on?
- gown
- mask
- goggles
- gloves
The easiest way to remember is to put your hands over your head and start from the bottom up.
In what order is personal protective equipment taken off?
- gloves
- goggles
- gown
- mask
OR
- take off gown and gloves at same time
- goggles
- mask
When is personal protective equipment removed?
At the doorway before leaving the room.
If the client is on airborne precautions, take the PPE off in the anteroom.
The anteroom is a small room between the client’s main room and the hallway.
What is medical asepsis?
A procedure that is considered clean and clean gloves and clean technique is used.
What are some common procedures that use medical asepsis?
- NG tube insertion
- enema
- removing old dressing
- opening sterile supplies
What is surgical asepsis?
A procedure that is considered sterile and sterile gloves and sterile technique is used.
What are some common procedures that use surgical asepsis?
- foley insertion
- trach suctioning
- wound care
- IV insertion (clean gloves are used, but the area stays sterile)
- CVAD/PICC dressing change
What is the teaching to prevent an infectious disease from spreading at home?
- wash all bedding, pillowcases, and towels in hot water
- dry on the hot setting in the dryer
- frequent handwashing
What is the easiest way to quickly master safety and infection control for the NCLEX-RN, including emergencies and precautions?
Brainscape’s NCLEX-RN (3) Safety & Infection Control Flashcards
These flashcards offer a targeted selection of over 3,000 NCLEX flashcards based on the latest NCLEX-RN Test Plan!
