Chapter 10: Preventing disease transmission Flashcards
What are emerging diseases?
New diseases appearing in the population
Existing diseases that are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range
resurgent or recurrent old disease caused by an old or mutated pathogen
Who is responsible for keeping hospitals up to date about emerging diseases?
the infection control department is in charge of keeping hospitals up to date with WHO and CDC recommendations
What are some of the factors that contribute to emerging diseases?
increased exposure to vectors in nature
population growth and migration to crowded cities
rapid international travel and transportation of goods
Contact with new strains of dangerous pathogens
Pathogen mutation caused by overuse of antimicrobial agents
Breakdown in public health measures
Climate change
Bioterrorism
What are healthcare associated infections?
Those that occur more than 48 hours after being admitted to the hospital
What is Clostridium difficile colitis?
gastrointestinal infection that causes diarrhea caused by a gram positive bacillus
What are the most concerning healthcare associated infections and why?
MRSA and VRE because they are multi drug resistant
Why is clostridium difficile colitis difficult to control?
Difficult to control because it cannot be eliminated by routine asepsis methods
Patients on antibiotics most susceptible
What are bloodborne pathogens?
HIV
AIDS
Hepatitis
What are the most common cause of transmission for bloodborne pathogens for healthcare workers?
Needle-stick injuries are most common cause of transmission from patients to healthcare workers.
What is tuberculosis?
A contagious, airborne lung disease caused by M. tuberculosis
What were quarantines used for?
to contain infectious diseases.. People were not allowed to leave the house and no one could enter until all members were well
Isolation is no longer commonly used, but still a legal practice of the U.S. Public Health Service for diseases such as:
Cholera
Diphtheria
Smallpox
TB
Plague
Yellow fever
SARS
What are some preventative measures of the past?
Universal precautions focused on barriers against bloodborne pathogens
Body Substance Precautions expanded protection to all moist body secretions
What are standard/universal precautions ?
Designed to reduce risk of transmission of infections from unrecognized sources of bloodborne diseases and from other pathogens in healthcare institutions
What are three different things that standard/universal precautions are used for?
Airborne transmission
Droplet transmission
Contact transmission
When was the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standards published?
1991
What requires employers to do the following:
develop an exposure control plan for the work site that describes employee protection measures
include engineering and work-practice controls to ensure the use of personal protective clothing and equipment
provide signs and labels to identify biohazard materials
provide annual bloodborne pathogen training, hepatitis b vaccinations, and medical care in the event of occupational exposure
OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard
What is medical asepsis
Involves reducing the probability of infectious organisms being transmitted to a susceptible individual
What is microbial dilution?
the process of reducing the number of organisms
hand hygiene
disinfection
sterilization (surgical asepsis)
What is proper hand hygiene?
washing for 30-60 seconds with soap and water or alcohol based rubs
What are CDC guidelines for the use of alcohol based hand rubs in the clinical setting?
Use before and after patient contact as long as the hands are not visibly soiled or contaminated
before donning gloves
after removal of gloves
after contact with inanimate objects (including medical equipment) in the immediate vicinity of the patient
What do cleaning techniques help with?
they help reduce the incidence of airborne infections and the transfer of pathogens by fomites.
What is the proper way to clean an area?
clean from the least contaminated area toward the more contaminated area and from the top down and avoid raising dust
It is important to avoid what when cleaning an area?
do not contaminate yourself or the clean areas
What should you do to equipment after it comes in contact with patients?
Use a clothe moistened with disinfectant
What are some steps to take when handling and disposing contaminated items and waste
Replace linens after each patient
put needles in sharps container
blood contaminated items should be put in biohazard containers
How do you dispose of contaminated linens?
fold edges to the middle without shaking or flapping
place loosely balled linens in designated hamper
What are somethings to practice when taking radiographs of an isolation patient?
requires two technologists
one has all patient contact other has no patient contact and only handles the equipment
Why is using two technologists for an isolation patient important?
it reduces the contamination of equipment, which is difficult to disinfect completely.
When an isolation patient is in the department what should you do?
use sheets to cover the table or wheelchair etc
wear appropriate apparel
who is considered compromised patients?
neonates, organ transplants, burn victims, and those receiving chemotherapy
also known as protective isolation or reverse isolation
What are some requirements that might need to be met for compromised patients?
may require a modified surgical aseptic technique
two radiographers are recommended for imaging procedures
