CA - Infection control (RM) Wk 6

Question 1

What are the 2 tiers of infection prevention & control?

Answer 1

Standard -> Transmission based precautions (contact, droplet, airborne)

Question 2

What are the different linen bags used for linen handling?

Answer 2

Green & Canvas
= ‘Normal’ soiled linen

ORANGE
- Grossly blood-contaminated linen

RED & ORANGE
- Red (water-soluble bag)
- Linen from SARS, COVID19, cholera, typhoid, HVD
Red water-soluble bag MUST be double bagged in orange bag

Question 3

What are Transmission Based Precautions?

Answer 3

• second tier of basic infection control
• used in addition to Standard Precautions
• For patients who may be infected with certain infectious agents where additional precautions are needed to prevent transmission.

Question 4

What is the type of Transmission Based Precaution for Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)?

Answer 4

• caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium TB
• mode of transmission: airborne

1. Airborne precaution
   - Aerosolised particles - Remains in the air for a few hrs & can travel long distances
2. Hand hygiene, wear N95 mask
3. Keep door closed at all times

Question 5

What is the type of Transmission Based Precaution for Influenza/flu?

Answer 5

• Viral infection of the respiratory system (nose, throat, and lungs)
• mode of transmission: droplet

1. Droplet precaution
2. Hand hygiene, surgical mask within 1m of pt
3. Wear protective eyewear if anticipating splashes to eyes/face

Question 6

What is the type of Transmission Based Precautions for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?

Answer 6

• Staph aureus: bacteria commonly found on skin
• developed resistance to β-lactam abx (penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems)
• Can live on surfaces for weeks
• Mode of transmission: contact

1. Contact precaution
2. Check with staff before entering room. Limited to 2 visitors
3. Hand hygiene, gloves, Long sleeved gown for long contact with pt
4. Use dedicated equipment or disinfect before using on another pt

Question 7

What is the type of Transmission Based Precautions for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci VRE?

Answer 7

• Enterococci are common gut bacteria
• acquired resistance to vancomycin
• Can live in environment for weeks-months
• Mode of transmission: contact

1. Contact precaution
2. Check with staff before entering room. Limited to 2 visitors
3. Hand hygiene, gloves, Long sleeved gown for long contact with pt
4. Use dedicated equipment or disinfect before using on another pt

Question 8

What is the type of Transmission Based Precautions for carbapenemase-producing Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CP-CRE?

Answer 8

• Enterobacteriacea: family of Gram-negative bacilli that normally live in the gut
• New emergence of resistance to our “last line of defence” in abx – carbapenems
• Mode of transmission: contact

1. Contact precaution
2. Check with staff before entering room. Limited to 2 visitors
3. Hand hygiene, gloves, Long sleeved gown for long contact with pt
4. Use dedicated equipment or disinfect before using on another pt

Question 9

What is the type of Transmission Based Precautions for C-Diff?

Answer 9

• Spore forming bacteria
• Very resistant to killing by
  disinfectants
• Survives for > 5 mths on surfaces
• Mode of transmission: contact

1. Contact precaution
2. Check with staff before entering room. Limited to 2 visitors
3. Hand hygiene, gloves, Long sleeved gown for long contact with pt
4. Use dedicated equipment or disinfect before using on another pt

Question 10

What’s protective isolation?

Answer 10

1. Check with staff before entering room. Limited to 2 visitors
2. Hand hygiene
3. People with communicable diseases should NOT enter
4. Single bed, positive pressure room
   - Air flows OUT of the room but cannot flow in
   - room has higher air pressure than outside
5. Protects immunocompromised pts from outside infections - eg: neutropenia

Question 11

What’s full precautions?

Answer 11

1. CANNOT enter without checking with staff
2. Hand hygiene, n95 mask, long-sleeved gown, gloves, eyewear
3. Use dedicated equipment or disinfect before using on another pt
4. Single bed, negative pressure room
   - Prevents airborne infections from escaping the room & infecting others
   - Air flows INTO the room but cannot flow out
   - Room has lower air pressure than the surrounding areas.
5. For High consequence infectious diseases HCID (eg: Ebola virus EVD)