Asepsis Flashcards
Identify anatomic and physiologic barriers that defend the body against microorganisms.
First line- Skin, mucous membranes, and bodies natural flora.
Inflamitory and immune response
Identify six links in the chain of infection
Infectious agent
Reservoir- enviorment that supports multiplication of microrganisms such as other people, soil, animals, foods, water, milk, and inanimate objects
Portal of exit- The escape point of the resovoir it could be
Means of transmission- can be direct contact(toughing, kissing, sex) or indirect through a vector/Fomite. A vector is a living being likely an insect that carries a disese or a Formit somethong nonliveing like a dirty countertop.
Portal of entry- Skin, urinary, respiratory, and gastrointestinal.
Susceptible host
Identify populations at risk for acquiring an infection.
Broken skin integrity
low pH levels, low WBC
Age, sex, race
Identify causal factors of nosocomial infections.
(Nosocomial) Hospital aquired infection
Catheter associated UTI’s, surgical site infections, vent associated pneumonia, central line associated blood stream infections
Most caused by bacteria
Antibiotic Resistant organisms: C-diff MRSA VISA/VRSA VRE CRE
What are some signs of localized infections?
systemic Infectious?
Localized infection
Redness, swelling, warmth, pain, drainage
Systemic infection
Fever (chills)
Increase in HR and RR
Lethargy
Anorexia
Enlargement of lymph nodes that drain into the area where infection is present
Hypotension, signs of poor perfusion to organs (Septic shock
What Laboratory Data might Indicate Infection?
Elevated white blood cell count-
Increase in specific types of white blood cells (Box 24-6)
Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Presence of pathogen in urine, blood, sputum, or draining cultures
Discuss the Occupation Safety Health Administration’s (OSHA) influence on health care workers in preventing needle sticks.
OSHA- created the “Needlestick saftey and prevention act which requires 1. health care providers to Identify and provide safer medical devices to reduce injuryies from sharps. 2.Involve health care workers in the selection of these devices. 3.provide sharp disposal containers and sheathing needles. 4.educate employees and 5. keep a sharps injury log
Transmission-based precautions-
Transmission-based precautions- used in addition to standard precautions for patients with suspected infection
What are some examples of standard precautions
Follow hand hygiene techniques.
Wear clean non-sterile gloves when touching blood, etc..
Wear PPE during activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of body fluids or when contact with potentially infectious material is likely.
Follow respiratory hygeine/ cough etiquette.
Avoid recapping used needles.
Use safe injection practices.
Wear face mask if placing a catheter or injecting material into the spinal or epidural space
Handle used patient care equipment that is soiled with blood or identified body fluids, secretions, and excretions carefully.
Use adequate environmental controls.
Review room assignments carefully.
What are some contact precautions?
Place in private room, if possible.
Wear PPE whenever you enter the room for all interactions that may involve contact with patient and potentially contaminated area in patient environment. Remove PPE before leaving the patient environment.
Limit movement of the patient out of the room.
Avoid sharing patient-care equipment
What are the three types of Transmission-based precautions-
Transmission-based precautions- used in addition to standard precautions for patients with suspected infection
Examples
- Airborne
- Droplet
- contact
What are Standard precautions-
Standard precautions- used in care of all hospitalized patients regardless of diagnosis or possible infection status
Apply to: Blood, All body fluids, Secretions and Excretions, except sweat, (whether or not blood is present or visible) Nonintact skin Mucous membranes Additions: Respiratory Hygiene/ Cough Etiquette
Safe injection practices
Directions for mask in high-risk procedures
Transmission-based precautions-
Transmission-based precautions- used in addition to standard precautions for patients with suspected infection
What are some airborne precautions?
Place in private room with negative air pressure.
Use respiratory protection (Type N95). (Transport out of room only when necessary..patient wears surgical mask).
Discuss what is meant by Standard Precautions and transmission-based precautions and why these precautions are used.
Standard precautions- used in care of all hospitalized patients regardless of diagnosis or possible infection status
Transmission-based precautions- used in addition to standard precautions for patients with suspected infection
Describe guidelines for maintaining medical asepsis.
Medical asepsis(clean technique) are considered contaminated if they bear or suspect they bear pathogens.
Surgical asepsis(sterile technique) areas are considered contaminated if they touch any item that is not also sterile.
Describe guidelines for maintaining Surgical asepsis.
Medical asepsis(clean technique) are considered contaminated if they bear or suspect they bear pathogens.
Surgical asepsis(sterile technique) areas are considered contaminated if they touch any item that is not also sterile.
neutropenic precautions
What are they?
When do we use them?
neutropenic precautions- low neutrophils are a type of white blood cell.
Nurses use on patients whos immune system is comprimised like after organ transplantation, chemo theropy.
neutropenic precautions
What are some examples?
No potted plants or fresh flowers
N95 mask when patient leaves
Ensure health care provider, and visiting freinds/family are healthy
Avoid collections of water in room like humidifiers
Follow hospital proticals
Protective enviorment CDC currently recommends it use for_____ ____ _____ ______ patients
Protective enviorment CDC currently recommends it use for Allogenic Hematopoetic stem cell transplant patients
Latex allergy __% of Healthcare workers and _% General population are sensitized:
Latex allergy 10% of Healthcare workers and 2% General population are sensitized:
What are some Basic Principles of Surgical Asepsis?
Only sterile object can touch another sterile object
Open sterile packages away from body; outside of the sterile package is considered contaminated
A wet field is considered contaminated if the surface immediately below it is not sterile
Hold sterile objects above waist level
Avoid talking, coughing, sneezing or reaching over a sterile field or object
Never walk away or turn your back on a sterile field
All items brought into contact with broken skin, used to penetrate the skin, or used to enter a normally sterile field should be sterile
Use dry sterile forceps when necessary
Consider outer edge of sterile field to be contaminated
Consider an object contaminated if you have any doubt about it’s sterility
