Asepsis & Infection Control (Chap 25) Flashcards
To become a master at the topic
Transmission-based isolation precautions are used for patients in hospitals with suspected infection with pathogens that can be transmitted by airborne, droplet, or contact routes.
A. True
B. False
True
Infection control measures supported by evidence that when implemented together improve patient outcomes are known as:
A. policies
B. standards
C. requirements
D. bundles
Bundles
A health care—associated infection (HAI) refers to an infection that originates or takes place while in a health care facility.
A. True
B. False
True
Carriers that transmit organisms from one living thing to another, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and lice, are known as:
A. host
B. reservoirs
C. portals
D. vectors
Vectors
The natural habitat of microorganisms, where growth and multiplication occur, is known as the:
Reservoir
Viruses are the most significant and most commonly observed infection-causing agents in health care institutions.
A. True
B. False
False
Prescribing antibiotics at an appropriate dose and only when indicated can help reduce the incidence of infections such as C. Difficile and those who have developed resistance to one or more classes of antibiotics.
A. True
B. False
True
Recent data suggest that the average baseline compliance rate for handwashing health care workers is approximately 75%.
A. True
B. False
False
Acquiring disease via a vector or fomite is an example of:
A. direct contact
B. portal contact
C. indirect contact
D. colonization
Indirect contact
When caring for a patient who has an infection such as rubella, mumps, or diphtheria, which of the following precautions would be appropriate?
A. contact precautions
B. droplet precautions
C. airborne precautions
D. exposure precautions
Droplet precautions
Which of the following is the most significant and commonly found infection-causing agent in healthcare institutions?
A. Bacteria
B. Fungi
C. Viruses
D. Mold
A. Bacteria
Which one of the following infectious agents or diseases may be spread by touching a contaminated inanimate article?
A. Rabies
B. Giardia
C. E. coli
D. Influenza
D. Influenza
In which of the following stages of infection is the patient most contagious?
A. Incubation period
B. Prodromal stage
C. Full stage of illness
D. Convalescent period
B. Prodromal stage
Tell whether the following statement is true or false.
Soaps and detergents (nonantimicrobial agents) are considered adequate for routine mechanical cleansing of the hands and removal of most transient microorganisms.
A. True
B. False
A. True
After inserting nasogastric tubes, a nurse found that the gloves remained clean. Because her hands were clean when she put her gloves on and the gloves weren’t dirty, it is not necessary to perform hand
hygiene on non-soiled hands after gloves are removed.
A. True
B. False
B. False
Standard precautions should be used when caring for a noninfectious, postoperative patient who is vomiting blood.
A. True
B. False
A. True
What are the two main types of infections?
Nosocomial & Iatrogenic
What type of asepsis is disinfection associated with?
Medical asepsis
What type of asepsis is sterilization associated with?
Surgical asepsis
What is the typical order of the infection cycle?
A. portal of entry
B. portal of exit
C. reservoir
D. means of transmission
E. reservoir
F. infectious agent
G. susceptible host
F, C, B, D, A, G
Can antibiotics be used to treat viral infections?
No
What factors are associated with affecting the potential of an organism to produce disease? (hint: there are 4!)
- The number of microorganisms
- The virulence of microorganism
- Immunocompetency
- Length and intimacy of contact
What are the main infectious agents?
Bacteria: the most prevalent and common infection-causing agent in
healthcare institutions
● Virus: smallest of all microorganisms
○ Causes infections including the common cold
○ Does not respond to antibiotics
● Fungi: plantlike organisms
○ Can cause infection and are present in the air, soil, and water.
○ Ex: molds and yeasts
Explain colonization vs infection.
Colonization - organism present in the body with no signs of infection (C. diff)
Infection - disease state due to pathogens
Names as many reservoirs as you can (brain dump first)
Humans - Carriers
Animals – Vectors
Soil – Vehicles
Food, water, milk -Vehicles
Inanimate objects – Vehicles or Fomites
What reservoirs are considered ‘vehicles?’
Soil, food, water, milk, and inanimate objects
What type of reservoir are inanimate objects said to be?
Vehicles or fomites
Are animals considered to be carriers?
No. They are known as vectors.
What are some common portals of exit? (brain dump)
P.S. This is how it gets out of the host to be transferred.
- Respiratory
- Gastrointestinal
- Genitourinary tracts
- Breaks in skin
- Blood and tissue
What are the three main means of transmission?
Contact
Airborne
Droplet
Which is larger. Droplet or airborne?
Droplet! - examples include products of coughing and sneezing
Airborne is smaller and has the ability to travel further
Which of the following describes direct contact transmission?
A) Using shared utensils
B) Touching or kissing
C) Being in the same room with an infected person
D) Using a doorknob touched by an infected person
B. Touching or kissing
What is the term for nonhuman organisms that transmit pathogens?
A) Vectors
B) Carriers
C) Fomites
D) Susceptible hosts
A. Vectors
Which of the following is an example of indirect contact transmission?
A) Kissing
B) Sharing a drink
C) Touching a contaminated surface
D) Sexual intercourse
C. Touching a contaminated surface
An example of an infection transmitted via vehicle:
Influenza
Fomites are best described as:
A) Living carriers of pathogens
B) Organisms that transmit diseases
C) Inanimate objects that can carry infections
D) Individuals who show symptoms of illness
C. Inanimate objects that can carry infections
What is a common characteristic of carrier transmission?
A) It only occurs through sexual contact
B) It involves direct physical interaction
C) It occurs in close proximity to a susceptible host
D) It is exclusively linked to the use of fomites
C. It occurs in close proximity to a susceptible host
What is the primary difference between direct contact and indirect contact transmission?
A) Direct contact involves nonhuman organisms, while indirect contact does not.
B) Direct contact requires physical interaction between individuals, while indirect contact involves the use of objects or surfaces.
C) Direct contact is only related to airborne pathogens, while indirect contact is not.
D) Direct contact can only occur through sexual activity, whereas indirect contact can occur through any object.
B. Direct contact requires physical interaction between individuals, while indirect contact involves the use of objects or surfaces.
What is the bod’s defense against infection?
- Normal flora (colonization resistance)
- Inflammatory response
- Immune response
What are some factors affecting host susceptibility? (brain dump)
Intact skin and mucous membranes
Normal pH levels (blood - 7.4, saliva - 6.5-6.7)
Body’s white blood cells
Age, sex, race, hereditary factors
Immunization, natural or acquired
Fatigue, climate, nutritional and general health status
Stress
Use of invasive or indwelling medical devises
Which of the following factors is primarily a physical barrier that helps reduce susceptibility to infection?
A) White blood cells
B) Immunization
C) Intact skin and mucous membranes
D) Nutritional status
C. Intact skin and mucus membranes
How do age and sex influence host susceptibility to infections?
A) They determine the effectiveness of white blood cells.
B) They can affect hormonal levels and immune response.
C) They have no impact on susceptibility.
D) They only influence skin health.
B. They can affect hormonal levels and immune response.
The use of invasive or indwelling medical devices can increase susceptibility to infection primarily because:
A) They enhance immune response.
B) They create direct pathways for pathogens to enter the body.
C) They improve nutritional status.
D) They maintain normal pH levels.
B. They create direct pathways for pathogens to enter the body.
What are the factors associated with each stage of infections? (brain dump)
Incubation period—organisms growing and
multiplying
Prodromal stage—person is most infectious, vague
and nonspecific signs of disease
Full stage of illness—presence of specific signs and
symptoms of disease
Convalescent period—recovery from the infection
Incubation period
Incubation period—organisms growing and
multiplying
Prodromal stage
Prodromal stage—person is most infectious, vague and nonspecific signs of disease
Malaise - general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness
Possible low fever, fatigue
Full stage of illness
Full stage of illness—presence of specific signs and symptoms of disease
Convalescent period
Convalescent period—recovery from the infection
What kind of lab data indicates an infection?
- Elevated WBC (4, 500 - 10, 000/mcL)
- Increased specific WBC
- Elevated ESR (blood cells cluster more)
0 - 20 W 0- 15M - Pathogen present in urine, blood, sputum, cultures
Define the health care associated infections
Nosocomial - from the hospital
Iatrogenic - from a treatment or diagnostic procedure
All nosocomial infections are iatrogenic
A. True
b. False
B. False
What are the main causes of nosocomial infections?
- The use of invasive devices
- Urinary catheter / Venous access catheter
Brain dump some antibiotic resistant organisms that are developed in hospitals.
● Clostridium difficile (C.Diff)/Colitis
● Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
● Vancomycin intermediate staphylococcus aureus (VISA)
● Vancomycin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (VRSA)
● Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)
What are the two types of bacteria flora?
● Transient: attached loosely on skin, removed with relative ease - removed by medical asepsis
● Resident: found in creases in skin, requires friction with brush to remove - removed by surgical asepsis
What is the most effective way to stop the spread of infection?
Hand hygiene
- handwashing w soap and water
- antiseptic hand rubs
- surgical hand antisepsis
What are the synonyms for medical asepsis?
clean technique, disinfection
What are the synonyms for surgical asepsis?
aseptic technique, sterilization
What is involved in the clean technique?
- routine handwashing
- non-sterile gloves for intact skin, mucus membranes/ dirty items
When is the clean technique appropriate?
○ Taking blood pressures
○ Examining patients
○ Feeding patients
What is involved in the aseptic technique?
- sterile gloves
- for invasive procedures
- antiseptic is on patient’s skin (e.g. alcohol)
- used in a clean area
When is the aseptic technique appropriate?
○ Placing an intravenous catheter
○ Placing a urinary catheter
What is included in the Tier 1 standard precautions?
This is used for all patients
○ Hand hygiene
○ Wear clean non sterile gloves when touch blood, body fluids, secretions,
and non-intact skin
○ PPE
○ Respiratory Hygiene/cough etiquette
○ Use safe injection practices
■ Ex: single dose vials
○ Avoid recapping used needles
PPE - what’s that?
●Gloves
● Gowns
● Masks
○ Regular and N95 respirator
■ N95 respirators filter 95% of air
● Protective eye gear
What PPE should be removed first?
Gloves
What is the last action after removing PPE?
Hand hygiene
What is included in the Tier 2 Transmission- Based precautions?
- Contact precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions
When are transmission-based precautions used?
It is used in addition to standard precautions when patients are suspected of having an infection.
Contact precautions include:
- Private room
- PPE
e.g. multidrug resistant organisms
Droplet precautions include:
- Private room
- PPE
e.g. mumps, rubella, diphtheria, adenovirus
Airborne precautions include:
- Private room
- PPE
- Negative air pressure
- N95
e.g. tuberculosis, measles, varicella (chickenpox)
