Exam 2 Flashcards
asepsis
techniques used to prevent infection
infectious agent
bacteria, viruses, fungi
reservior
natural habitat of the organism
portal of exit
point of escape for the organism
Means of transmission
direct contact, indirect contact, airborne route
portal of entry
point at which organisms enter a new host
susceptible host
must overcome resistance mounted by host’s defenses
bacteria
most significant and most prevalent in hospital settings
virus
smallest of all microorganisms
fungi
plant-like organisms present in air, soil, and water
Factors Affecting an Organism’s Potential to Produce Disease
Number of organisms, Virulence, Competence of person’s immune system, Length and intimacy of contact between person and microorganism
Possible Reservoirs for Microorganisms
Other people, Animals, Soil, Food, water, milk, Inanimate objects
Common Portals of Exit
Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary tracts, Breaks in skin, Blood and tissue
Stages of Infection
incubation period, prodromal stage, full stage illness, convalescent period
incubation period
organisms growing and multiplying
prodromal stage
person is most infectious, vague and nonspecific signs of disease
full stage of illness
presence of specific signs and symptoms of disease
Convalescent period
recovery from the infection
factors affecting host susceptibility
Intact skin and mucous membranes, Normal pH levels, Body’s white blood cells, Age, sex, race, hereditary factors, Immunization, natural or acquired, Fatigue, climate, nutritional and general health status, Stress, Use of invasive or indwelling medical devices
outcome identification and planning/infection control
Demonstrate effective hand hygiene and good personal hygiene practices, Identify the signs of an infection, Maintain adequate nutritional intake, Demonstrate proper disposal of soiled articles, Use appropriate cleansing and disinfecting techniques, Demonstrate an awareness of the necessity of proper immunizations, Demonstrate stress-reduction techniques.
cardinal signs of acute infection
Redness, Heat, Swelling, Pain, Loss of function
laboratory data indicating infection
Elevated white blood cell count—normal is 5,000 to 10,000/mm3, Increase in specific types of white blood cells, Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Presence of pathogen in urine, blood, sputum, or draining cultures
5 moments for hand hygiene
Moment 1 – Before touching a patient, Moment 2 – Before a clean or aseptic procedure, Moment 3 – After a body fluid exposure risk, Moment 4 – After touching a patient, Moment 5 – After touching patient surroundings
transient bacterial flora
attached loosely on skin, removed with relative ease
resident bacteria flora
found in creases in skin, requires friction with brush to remove
Four Categories Responsible for Majority of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs)
Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), Surgical site infection (SSI), Central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) , Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
Risk Factors for Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
Compromised immune systems, Recent surgery, Invasive devices, Prolonged antibiotic use (especially vancomycin), Prolonged hospitalization
CDC Recommendations to Prevent C. difficile infection (CDI)
Avoiding the use of electronic equipment that is difficult to clean (electronic thermometers), Disinfecting dedicated patient care items and equipment (stethoscopes) between patients, Using full-barrier contact precautions (gown and gloves), Placing patients in private rooms; cohort patients with the same strain of CDI, Performing meticulous hand hygiene, Performing environmental contamination of rooms, Educating health care providers (and patients/families as appropriate) on clinical presentation, transmission, and epidemiology of CDI, Using antimicrobials at an appropriate dose and only when indicated
body’s defense against infection
Body’s normal flora, Inflammatory response, Immune response
Factors Determining Use of Sterilization and Disinfection Methods
Nature of organisms present, Number of organisms present, Type of equipment, Intended use of equipment, Available means for sterilization and disinfection, Time
standard precautions
Used in the care of all hospitalized patients regardless of their diagnosis or possible infection status, Apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions, and excretions except sweat (whether or not blood is present or visible), nonintact skin, and mucous membranes, New additions are respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, safe injection practices, and directions to use a mask when performing high-risk prolonged procedures involving spinal canal punctures
transmission-based precautions
Used in addition to standard precautions for patients in hospitals with suspected infection with pathogens that can be transmitted by airborne, droplet, or contact routes, The 2007 guidelines include a directive to don personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering the room of a patient on contact or droplet precautions, Previously, PPE was only required when the nurse was delivering care within 3 feet of the patient, These categories recognize that a disease may have multiple routes of transmission: airborne, droplet, contact)
aseptic technique
Includes all activities to prevent or break the chain of infection, Two categories: Medical asepsis: clean technique, Surgical asepsis: sterile technique
use of surgical asepsis
Operating room, labor and delivery areas, Certain diagnostic testing areas, Patient bedside, For example, for procedures that involve insertion of urinary catheter, sterile dressing changes, or preparing and injecting medicine
patient teaching for medical asepsis at home
Wash hands before preparing or eating food, Prepare foods at high enough temperatures, Use care with cutting boards and utensils, Keep food refrigerated, Wash raw fruits and vegetables, Use pasteurized milk and fruit juices, Wash hands after using bathroom, Use individual care items
definition of safety
“avoiding injuries to patients from the care that is intended to help them.”, “minimizing risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.”
definition of scope
Broad concept with key elements for understanding levels of errors, types of errors, placement of errors and ways of building a culture of safety
levels of errors
adverse event, near miss, sentinel event
adverse event
An event that results in unintended harm to the patient by an act of commission or omission rather than by the underlying disease or condition of the patient
near miss
An error of commission (did not provide care correctly) or omission (did not provide care) that could have harmed the patient, but serious harm did not occur as a result of chance, prevention, or mitigation
sentinel event
A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof. Serious injury specifically includes loss of limb or function. The phrase “or the risk thereof” includes any process variation for which a recurrence would carry a significant chance of a serious adverse outcome
