C11- Infection Prevention Flashcards
Infection definition
A disease state that results from the presence of pathogens (disease producing organisms) in or on the body
Chain of infection (cyclic process includes 6 components):
Infectious agent
Reservoir
Portal of exit
Means of transmission
Portals of entry
Susceptible host
What is an infectious agent?
Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Parasite
What is a reservoir?
People
Animals
Soil
Food
Water
What are portal of exit?
Coughing/sneezing
Bodily secretions
Feces
What is “means of transmission”?
Direct contact
Indirect contact
Vectors
What is portal of entry?
Mouth
Nose
Eyes
Cuts in skin
What is a susceptible hot?
ANYONE!
More risk associated with:
-elderly
-infants
-immunocompromised
What are the four stages of infection?
Incubation
Prodromal
Full stage of illness
Convalescent
What is the incubation period?
Time between invasion to appearance of symptoms
(Growing and multiplying) (lengths vary)
What is the prodromal stage?
Most infectious time, vague symptoms
What happens in the full stage of illness?
Specific signs and symptoms
(Type of infection determines length) (local vs systemic)
What is the convalescent period?
Recovery period
(S&S disappear)
Inflammatory response is?
A protective mechanism that eliminates the invading pathogen and allows for tissue repair.
Immune response involves?
Specific body responses to an invading foreign protein, such as bacteria or the body’s own proteins
Foreign material in the body is called
Antigen
Body responds to antigens by producing?
Antibodies
Cellular immunity, what cells increase or decrease due to present antigen
Leukocytes (WBC) ————> Leukocytosis (elevated WBC count)
Early detection and surveillance techniques: Inquire about?
Immunization status
Previous or recurring infections
Early detection and surveillance techniques: observe for signs and symptoms of infection, what two types of infections would you look for?
Local
Systemic
Early detection and surveillance techniques: laboratory data? What should you look for?
WBC in a CBC ——-> CBC with differential
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Urine, sputum
Cultures
Neutrophils do what?
Kill bacteria, fungi, and foreign debris
Monocytes do what?
Clean up damaged cells
Eosinophils do what?
Kill parasites, cancer cells and involved in allergic response
Lymphocytes
Help fight viruses and make antibodies
Basophils do what?
Involved in allergic response
Pyrexia is?
Fever
Normal oral temperate
97.7-99.5*F
Temp greater than or equal to 101*F indicates:
Infection
- usually accompanied by increased HR and BP
Fever between 104F and 106F (hyperpyrexia) may cause
Brain injury
Causes of pyrexia
Dehydration
Bacterial/viral infection
Tissue injury (MI, cancer, trauma, surgery)
Hyperthermia is?
Hypothalamic set point is not changed (mechanisms that control body temp are ineffective)
Neurogenic fever
Hypothalamic damage intercranial damag, bleeding, or ICP
** will not respond to antipyretics ***
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) criteria?
101*F or higher asking 3 weeks or longer w/o a diagnosed cause
Non pharmacological intervention to promote temperature regulations?
Lower room temp
Reduce layers (blankets and clothing)
Cooling blankets and packs
Increase oral fluid intake
What are 6 things a nurse can diagnose relating to infection control? (REMEMBER ITS A NURSING DIAGNOSIS)
RISK for infection
Social isolation
Impaired oral mucous membrane (dental hygiene, trauma, med s/e)
Risk for shock
Risk for ineffective thermoregulation
Anxiety
When in the planning part of the nursing process, what should the nurse demonstrate for the patient?
Effective hand hygiene and good personal hygiene practice
Proper disposal of soiled articles
The necessit of proper immunization
Stress-reduction techniques
Asepsis is?
Includes all activities to prevent infection or break the chain of infection
Medical asepsis is defined as?
Clean technique-
Barriers: washing hands and PPE
Surgical asepsis is defined as
Sterile techniques-
Objects free from microorganisms (IV & Foley insertion)
Performing hand hygiene is?
THE most effective way to help prevent the spread of infectious agents
-soap & water
-antiseptic hand rubs
If hands are not visibly soiled, alcohol-based hand rubs are recommended because they:
Save time
Are more accessible
Easy to use
Reduce bacterial count on hands
Alcohol does not kill C. Diff spores- what is the recommended hand hygiene when working with a patient with C. Diff?
Soap and water
Gloves
What are the 5 moments for hand hygiene?
- Before touching a patient
- Before a clean or aseptic procedure
- After a body fluid exposure risk
- After touching a patient
- After touching patient surroundings
What are HAIs?
Health Care-associated infection
HAIS Most common types
UTI- improper use of cathers
70-80% of all UTIs are due to the use of an in dwelling urinary catheter
MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus Aureus)
Normally found in nasal mucous membranes, on the skin, and in the respiratory and GI tracts.
Approx 1/3 of people in the US are colonized with staph
Patients who have surgery or invasive procedures, have invasive devices or are immunocompromised are at risk for developing?
MRSA infection
What is used to treat MRSA
Vancomycin
VRSA is
Vancomycin- resistant staphylococcus aureus
VRE is
Vancomycin- resistant enterococci
C. Difficile is
An organism that normally resides in GI tract.
-when broad spectrum antibiotics are RX or taken for long periods of time, helpful bacteria are destroyed and C. Diff grows out of control- creating BACTERIAL IMBALANCE
C. Diff symptoms:
Watery diarrhea
Fever
Mild abdominal cramping
Disinfection
Destroys all pathogenic organisms (except spores)
Sterilization:
Destroys all microorganisms (including spores)
PPE includes:
Gowns
Gloves
Masks
Eyewear
Standard precautions:
Used in the care of ALL PATIENTS regardless of diagnosis or infection status
May apply to blood, all bodily fluids, secretions and excretions except sweat, non intact skin and mucous membranes
Transmission-based Precautions
Used in ADDITION to standard
For patients with suspected infection
Pathogens that can be transmitted VIA:
Airborne
Droplet
Contact
Neutropenic precautions:
For immune compromised patients:
-caregiver must be healthy
-restrict ill visitors
Needlestick safety and prevention act (OSHA)
ID and provide safer medical devices that reduce or eliminate injuries from sharps
Provide engineering controls for sharps disposal containers, self sheathing needles and other safety devices
Keep sharps injury log
