chapter 6 infection control/ inflammation

Question 1

what is the inflammatory process/ happens during it

Answer 1

series of cellular changes that signal the body’s response to injury or infection
- localized protective response brought on by injury or destruction of tissue
- blood vessels dilate, bringing more blood to area, causing redness, warmth, edema

Question 2

what is the inflammatory process caused by?

Answer 2

• physical damage
• chemical damage
• infection
• ischemia
• immune response (autoimmune disease)

Question 3

what is the purpose of the inflammatory process?

Answer 3

• neutralize and destroy harmful agents
• limit their spread to other tissues in the body
• prepare the damaged tissues for repair

Question 4

s/s of local inflammation

Answer 4

• heat
• edema
• redness
• pain

Question 5

a/a of systemic inflammation

Answer 5

-fever, chills
- headache, muscle aches
- sweating
- leukocytosis

Question 6

internal/external treatments of inflammation

Answer 6

internal: anti-inflammatories
external or close to the skin: RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate)

Question 7

what is an infection? what can it result in

Answer 7

entry into the body of an infectious agent (a microorganism)
- pathogen: microorganisms capable of causing disease
- some microorganisms produce toxins and others release endotoxins
can result in illness or disease

Question 8

what is the first line of defense against infection

Answer 8

intact skin is first line of defense against infection
- secretions (lysozymes) from mucous membranes lining respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts
- cilia in the respiratory tract
- gastric secretions

Question 9

what is the second line of defense

Answer 9

fever: slows the growth of many pathogens until other defenses can mobilized
leukocytosis: leukocytes engulf the invader
phagocytosis: phagocytes remove cellular debris, destroy bacteria and viruses, remove metabolic waste products
- inflammation
interferon: stimulates anit-viral proteins

Question 10

s/s of localized infections

Answer 10

• redness
• pain
• warmth
• swelling
• pus

Question 11

s/s of generalized infections

Answer 11

• may not show all signs apparent in localized infections
• pain may be mild to severe depending on its location
• warmth is generally expressed as fever
• malaise
• anorexia

Question 12

what are health care-associated infections

Answer 12

occur within a health care facility; may affect px as well as health care worker
strains of bacteria in hospitals usually more virulent and often resistant to antibiotics
- some pathogenic bacteria that are no longer susceptible to previously effective antibiotics are found in hospital pxs

Question 13

what are community-acquired infections

Answer 13

acquired during day to day contact with the public
- childhood illnesses, tb, hiv/aids, food borne illnesses, sexually transmitted diseases

Question 14

prevention and control of infection interventions

Answer 14

immunization, mandatory education for food handlers, screening, early treatment, quarantine, and personal measures (hand washing, proper hygiene)

Question 15

what is medical asepsis? what is the most effective method to prevent cross-contamination

Answer 15

limit spread of microorganisms
- hand washing
- soiled hands main transmission of infections

Question 16

what is surgical asepsis, or sterile technique

Answer 16

eliminates all pathogens from any object that comes into contact with the patient
- includes care techniques that prevent unsterile surfaces from coming into contact with the patient, such as dressing changes

Question 17

nursing care of patients with infections

Answer 17

• urge the px to consume adequate fluids
• encourage to consume high- protein, high vitamin diet
• isolation, if required
• lab tests, cbc with differential
  -erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• iron level, hyperbaric o2 therapy
• cultures of urine, blood, wound, sputum, and throat
• admin abx drug therapy

Question 17

what is standard precaution

Answer 17

infection control guidelines for hospitals and other health care agencies
- this is for all px in hospitals regardless of their isolation status
- use this when you will have contact with px blood, bodily fluids, secretions (except sweat), excretions, broken skin, mucous membranes
- use when you have contact with materials that are soiled or contaminated with bodily fluids or blood

Question 18

immunocompromised patients considerations

Answer 18

decreased immunity to infection; are at risk for bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections
- nurses and healthcare workers use PPE to protect the px, rather than themselves from infection

Question 19

what is airborne precautions

Answer 19

precautions used with diseases that are spread through air

Question 20

what is droplet precautions

Answer 20

used with infections that are spread by droplets or dust particles containing infectious agent

Question 21

what is contact precautions

Answer 21

used when caring for patients who are infected by microorganisms that are transmitted by direct (skin-to-skin) or indirect contact with contaminated equipment
- gown and gloves for contact with patient or environment of care