DDT 15 - Healthcare Associated Infection

Question 1

what is an healthcare associated infection

Answer 1

When a person contracts an infection while receiving medical treatment in a hospital, an outpatient clinic, nursing home or other healthcare setting.

Question 2

why are HAIs more common nowadays

Answer 2

Improved detection methods
Greater awareness
Increased population of high risk patients
Increased resistance to antibiotics

Question 3

risk factors for HAI

Answer 3

hospitalisation for more than2 days
residence in nursing home
home infusion therapy
home wound care

Question 4

Risk factors for infection with drug-resistant bacteria

Answer 4

antimicrobial therapy
hospitalisation for more than 5days
immunosuppression

Question 5

MRSA

Answer 5

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

Question 6

where does MRSA live in the body

Answer 6

on skin and nasal cavity

Question 7

where IN THE BODY can MRSA cause a serious infection

Answer 7

Can cause serious infection to the heart, bones and bloodstream

Question 8

when does MRSA cause an infection in the body?

Answer 8

Can cause infection if break in the skin e.g. cut or wound, leads to boils, pimples.

Question 9

General Staph. aureus respond to what kind of antibiotics

Answer 9

General Staph. aureus strains respond to penicillin based antibiotics

Question 10

how is MRSA contracted?

Answer 10

Spread by person to person contact particularly from unwashed hands .
Can also be acquired from contaminated surfaces.

Question 11

what kind of antibiotic is MRSA resistant to?

Answer 11

MRSA is resistant to penicillin based antibiotics such as flucoxacillin and other antibiotics, limits treatment options

Question 12

what patients are at risk of being infected with MRSA

Answer 12

Patients are at increased risk of MRSA if they are on drips, drains, have open wounds, or have weakened immune systems – allows entry of bacteria from the skin to the interior of the body

Question 13

What chronic health condition increase risk of MRSA infection?

Answer 13

People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, vascular disease, and lung disease are also at increased risk.

Question 14

what are the symptoms of MRSA infection through skin wound and pneumonia

Answer 14

If MRSA is causing an infection in a wound, that area of your skin may be red or tender, boils, abscesses. If you have pneumonia, you may develop a cough.

Question 15

VRE

Answer 15

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)

Question 16

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)

Answer 16

a type of bacteria called enterococci that have developed resistance to many antibiotics, especially vancomycin

Question 17

what type of bacteria is VRE

Answer 17

Enterococcus

Question 18

where is VRE found in the body

Answer 18

in the intestine and skin

Question 19

common sites of infections of VRE

Answer 19

intestines, the
urinary tract, and
wounds

Question 20

common symptoms of VRE infection

Answer 20

Wound - red or tender
Urinary tract infection - back pain, a burning sensation when you urinate,
or a need to urinate more often than usual.
Some patients may have diarrhea, feel weak and sick, or have fever and
chills.

Question 21

physical determinants that are high risk for HAIs

Answer 21

Use and maintenance of medical devices, such as catheters and ventilators
Complications following surgical procedures
Transmission between patients and health care workers

Question 22

Other issues that increase risk of HAIs

Answer 22

Contaminated air conditioning systems
Disproportionate nurse-to-patient ratio
Physical layout of the health care facility (for example, open beds close together)

Question 23

combating HAIs

Answer 23

Proper education and training of health care workers increases
compliance with and adoption of best practices to prevent HAIs.
Minimise risk factos
increase hygiene control procedures in outpatient clinics
excellent sterilization and disinfection practices