Biological Agents and Infection Control Flashcards
What are healthcare associated infections?
infections that develop DURING HOSPITALIZATION but aren’t present or incubating
When do HAIs develop?
48-72 hours after admission and within 10 days after discharge
What are reservoirs?
where an infectious agent lives, grows, and multiplies
What are the three types of reservoirs?
human, animal, and environmental
What are some examples of reservoirs?
body fluids, respiratory secretion, touch surfaces (door handles)
What is the Portal of Exit?
where the organism leaves the reservoir, such as the respiratory tract (nose or mouth), intestinal tract, blood
What is the Portal of Entry?
place where an infectious agent enters the body, must provide access to tissues in which the pathogen can multiply (examples are mucous membranes, blood, skin)
usually portal of entry = portal of exit (EXCEPT PATHOGENS THAT CAUSE GASTROENTERITIS because they follow a fecal-oral route - exit through feces, enter through mouth)
What do microorganisms include?
bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa
An individual with an ACTIVE MEASLES INFECTION is a….
reservoir
What are the common routes of transmission?
direct contact, indirect contact, airborne spread, respiratory droplets
What are the categories of Spaulding’s Classification?
critical items, semi-critical items, noncritical items
What are critical items?
objects that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system and are sterile before use (SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS)
What are semi-critical items?
contact mucous membranes or non-intact skin and require at a minimum high-level disinfection (endoscopes, etc)
What are noncritical items?
those that may come into contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes (low to intermediate disinfection), blood pressure cuffs
What is decontamination?
physical/chemical means to remove/inactivate pathogens to a point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infection
What is disinfection?
eliminates most pathogenic microorganisms EXCEPT bacterial spores on INAMINATE OBJECTS
What is sterilization?
removal or destruction of all microorganisms and their spores
What is antiseptic hand wash?
washing hands with soap and water containing an antiseptic (alcohol for example)
What is surgical hand hygiene/antisepsis?
antiseptic handwash performed preoperatively by surgical personnel to eliminate organisms on the hand
What is the correct technique for washing your hands with soap and water?
- wet your hands with water
- apply soap
- rub hands for at least 15 seconds
- rinse hands and dry with disposable towel
- use towel to turn off faucet
What is the correct technique for washing your h
What is the correct technique for washing your hands with a hand rub?
- Apply rub to one palm
- Rub both hands together for at least 15 seconds
Which method is more effective: using an alcohol rub or washing hands with soap and water?
Alcohol rub
If there are a lot of respiratory infections going around, symptomatic people should at least be ______________________ away from others while WAITING.
3 feet
What is sharps exposure?
performing procedures when you can’t really see!!!
blind suturing, non-dominant hand near a sharp, procedure with metal fragments/bone fragments
What is skin exposure?
handling or disposal of contaminated needles and sharp objects (GETS ON SKIN)
What is mucous membrane exposure?
direct blood or body fluid in open lesions, sprays of blood, into eyes/nose/mouth
What vaccine-preventable diseases as a health care worker are most likely to contract or transmit?
hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, varicella
What tool requires more disinfection than the others?
surgical instruments
What are the infection stages?
portal of entry - individual’s respiratory tract
reservoir - place where agent lives/grows
portal of exit - individual’s respiratory tract or somewhere else
susceptible host - individual at risk for developing infection
Where does the Respiratory Hygiene strategy focus its efforts?
reception/triage
Do hand lotions cause breakdown of latex gloves?
Some
Do some hand lotions may hand hygiene less effective?
Yes
What is the BEST method of prevention for the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases?
staying up-to-date vaccines
Which three elements are required to transmit infection in a healthcare setting?
source of infecting microorganisms, a susceptible host, means of transmission
What are costs to the patient with HAI?
lost wages, pain, anxiety, diminished productivity
What individuals who are more vulnerable at developing an infection?
elderly patients, newborns, patients taking immunosuppressive medications
