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Infection Control > Exam Revision > Flashcards

Exam Revision Flashcards

1
Q

Name the 4 different types of microorganisms

A

Bacteria (most prevalent in healthcare settings)
Virus
Fungi
Parasites

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2
Q

Where do we find bacteria?

A

Everywhere : in the air, plants and animals, soil and water, surfaces and equipment, on and within the body

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3
Q

How can bacteria be classified?

A

According to morphology:

Spherical shaped - cocci
Rod shaped - bacilli
Spiral shaped - spirilli

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4
Q

List some key features pertaining to Pathogenic Bacteria

A
  1. Always cause disease
  2. Can destroy tissue
  3. Produce toxins
  4. Overwhelm host immune system
  5. Spread extremely easily (do not need a host to survive)
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5
Q

What percentage of bacteria are pathogenic?

A

3% ( with the remaining being 87% beneficial and 10% opportunistic)

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6
Q

Why can bacteria form spores?

A

As a way to protect and defend themselves from adverse conditions

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7
Q

In relation to bacteria spores, what do the spores allow bacteria to do?

A

Resit high temperatures, humidity and other environmental conditions, prolong lifespan
(some have been known to survive over 10,000 years)

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8
Q

Describe the characteristics of a virus

A
  1. Noncellular
  2. Core of DNA or RNA
  3. Always pathogenic
  4. x1000 smaller than bacteria

(100 million viral particles of coronavirus can fit on a pinhead)

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9
Q

What types of fungi exist?

A

Yeasts and moulds

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10
Q

What are the characteristics of a fungi?

A
  1. Unicellular
  2. Oval shaped
  3. Asexual (reproduce by budding or binary fission)
  4. Low pathogenic potential
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11
Q

How does a virus reproduce or multiply?

A

By affecting or hijacking healthy cells by reprogramming them into viral cells within a host (viruses require a host to survive and mulitply)

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12
Q

Describe some key information relating to parasites

A
  1. Usually smaller than their hosts (eg insect, worm)
  2. Most have hooks, claws or suckers to attach onto their host
  3. Do not usually kill their host but may cause harm indirectly by spreading pathogens
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13
Q

Where do parasites live or feed?

A

On the host (lice), in the host (tapeworms) or feed on a host (mosquito)

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14
Q

What is colonisation?

A

Colonisation is the presence of bacteria on a body surface (internal or external) without causing disease, infection or illness to the person

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15
Q

What is an infection?

A

Infection occurs when bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms that cause disease enter the body and begin to multiply

(This can be bacteria that does not belong in the body, or bacteria that doesn’t belong in that particular part of the body)

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16
Q

Explain what disease is

A

Disease occurs when the cells in your body are damaged as a result of infection and the signs and symptoms of infection or disease are present

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17
Q

Name the 8 Standard Precautions that are used as basic level of infection prevention and control

A
  1. Hand hygiene
  2. Use of PPE
  3. Safe use and disposal of sharps
  4. Routine environmental cleaning
  5. Clean and reprocess shared patient equipment
  6. Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
  7. Aseptic technique
  8. Waste management / appropriate handling of linen
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18
Q

What are transmission based precautions?

A

Higher level of precautions used in addition to the 8 Standard Precautions.

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19
Q

When do we use transmission based precautions?

A

When a patient is known or suspected to be infected by pathogens that could transmission to ourselves or our surroundings

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20
Q

What are the categories of Transmission-based Precautions?

A

Contact, droplet and airborne precautions

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21
Q

What are the additional transmission based precautions that we take?

A
  1. Appropriate signage
  2. Additional PPE
  3. Patient PPE (except for contact transmission)
  4. Removal of all non essential equipment
  5. Additional environmental cleaning
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22
Q

Standard precautions must be used in the handling of:

A
  1. blood (including dried blood)
  2. all other body fluids/substances (except sweat),
  3. non-intact skin
  4. mucous membranes
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23
Q

What are the additional types of PPE used for contact, droplet and airborne precautions?

A

Contact - gloves and apron
Droplet - Surgical mask
Airborne - N95 or higher level respirator

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24
Q

Outline the Chain of Infection links

A
  1. Infectious agent
  2. Reservoir
  3. Portal of exit
  4. Mode of transport
  5. Portal of entry
  6. Susceptible host
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25
Q

In relation to the Chain of Infection, name 4 examples of an infectious agent

A
  1. Bacteria
  2. Virus
  3. Fungi
  4. Parasites
26
Q

What are 4 examples of a reservoir in the Chain of Infection? ie where the pathogens live

A
  1. Humans eg hands, within the body
  2. Insect
  3. Anaesthetic equipment
  4. Environment eg soil, water
27
Q

How can pathogens leave the reservoir (ie what can their portal of exit be?)

A
  1. Respiratory tract eg sneezing, talking, coughing
  2. Gastrointestinal eg vomit or faeces
  3. Urogenital eg urine, semen, vaginal secretions
  4. Skin eg wounds, drainage, skin incision
28
Q

What are modes of transmission for pathogens?

A

Contact, droplet, airborne, vector (eg mosquito or fly) or vehicle (water source)

29
Q

How can pathogens enter a new host? ie. what are their portal of entries?

A
  1. Respiratory inhalation
  2. Ingestion
  3. Needle stick injury
  4. Open wounds and ulcers
  5. Sexual contact
  6. Insertion of medical devices
30
Q

What makes for a susceptible host for pathogens to effect?

A

Immunocompromised
Extremes of age (ie a young baby or elderly person)
Immunisation status
Malnutrition
Wounds or burns

31
Q

Where do healthcare associated infections generally come from?

A

Human sources (patients, HCW’s, visitors)
Contaminated objects and environmental sources

32
Q

Define what a carrier is in relation to healthcare associated infection

A

An individual who carries and is capable of passing on a pathogen and may or may not display disease symptoms

33
Q

What is an incubation phase?

A

The number of days between when someone is first infected with a pathogen and when signs and symptoms start to show

34
Q

What are key factors that put someone at greater risk of contracting a healthcare associated infection?

A
  1. Length of hospital stay
  2. Invasive procedures
  3. Length of surgery
  4. Inadequate HH or use of PPE
  5. Overuse of antibiotics
  6. High risk areas eg ICU
35
Q

Describe what aseptic technique is

A

It is the measure of precautions HCW’s take to protect patients during invasive procedures to minimise the presence of pathogenic organisms, as practicably possible

(eg not touching sterile equipment without using sterile PPE, using alcohol to sterilise anything that does require touching)

36
Q

What are the 5 moments of hand hygiene?

A
  1. Before touching a patient
  2. Before a procedure
  3. After a procedure or body fluid exposure risk
  4. After touching a patient
  5. After touching a patients surroundings
37
Q

When would you need to use soap and water to perform HH instead of alcoholic rub?

A

When the hands are visibility contaminated or soiled

38
Q

What are the 2 types of dermatitis that HCW’s commonly experience?

A
  1. Irritant contact (most common form)
  2. Allergic contact
39
Q

How can the risk of developing irritant contact dermatitis be reduced?

A
  1. Avoid hot water when washing hands
  2. Use non-powered gloves
  3. Use a thick hand cream
  4. Ensure hands are dry
  5. Dry hands by patting rather than wiping or rubbing
40
Q

What must HCW’s ensure in relation to their fingernails?

A
  1. Kept short and clean (No longer than 4mm)
  2. No nail polish, art or extensions
  3. No artificial nails
41
Q

What personal hygiene practices should HCW’s exercise?

A
  1. Personal care and cleanliness
  2. Use of clean clothing and uniforms
  3. Not attending work when ill
  4. Cough and respiratory etiquette
42
Q

What is the donning sequence for PPE?

A

HH
Gown
Mask
Protective eyewear or face shield
HH
Gloves

43
Q

What is the doffing sequence for PPE?

A

Gloves & gown together
HH
Eye /face protection
Mask
HH

44
Q

What are examples of Clinical Waste?

A

Sharps
human tissue or waste
blood and body fluids
laboratory waste

45
Q

What precautions can be made when handling clinical waste?

A
  1. Wear PPE (gloves, apron, eyewear if possibility of exposure)
  2. Do not fill waste containers more than 2/3’s
  3. Excess air to be excluded without compaction
46
Q

What should not be done when handling sharps?

A
  1. Hand to another person
  2. Recap or resheath
  3. Detach the needle from the syringe
  4. Bend or break the needle
47
Q

What should not be done with sharps containers?

A
  1. Overfill beyond the line
  2. Reach into the container
  3. Retrieve anything from inside the container
  4. Shake the container
48
Q

What are good practices to remember when handling sharps?

A
  1. Dispose at point of generation
  2. Dispose in the appropriate container
  3. Handle with care at all times
49
Q

What steps should HCW’s take after a Needle Stick Injury?

A
  1. Wash wound with water and soap
  2. Apply a sterile dressing if needed
  3. No not squeeze or rub the injury site
  4. Notify supervisor
  5. Perform risk assessment
  6. Obtain NSI kit
  7. Get blood tests from yourself and source
  8. Incident report

Counselling & PEP

50
Q

What are different types of surface cleaning?

A

Damp dusting / wiping - before 1st patient of the day
Turnover - between each patient
Terminal - at the end of the day
Deep - monthly

51
Q

Outline the key features of Turnover Cleaning

A

Cleaning and disinfecting between and after last patient
Remove all used linen and waste
Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces, or visible blood or body fluids
Clean shared clinical equipment (eg stethoscope, blood pressure cuff)

52
Q

List the different classifications of blood spills

A

Spot - few drops
Minor - less than 10cm in diameter
Major - greater than 10cm

53
Q

What is the management of a major blood spill?

A
  1. Get appropriate PPE
  2. Cover spill with absorbent clumping agent
  3. Use scraper and pan to scoop up material
  4. Discard into appropriate container
  5. Mop area with detergent solution and allow to dry
  6. HH
54
Q

What steps would a HCW take when exposed to splashed body fluid?

A
  1. Irrigate area with clean water or saline (30 sec min)
  2. Report immediately to supervisor
  3. Perform risk assessment
  4. Collect bloods if needed
  5. Incident report
55
Q

When reporting, who would an AT raise matters to?

A

Supervisor
GP
Health Care Professional
Responsible person or authority

56
Q

Name the 3 different types of Spaulding Classification

A

Critical - high risk of infection
Semi Critical - moderate risk of infection
Non Critical - low risk of infection

57
Q

When referring to the Spaulding Classification / reprocessing of reusable equipment, what makes a piece of equipment critical?

A

Item comes in contact with or enters sterile tissue, sterile body cavity or vascular system
(eg surgical instruments, urinary catheters, implants, needles)

Critical equipment requires sterilisation

58
Q

Describe what makes a piece of equipment semi critical in terms of reprocessing measures

A

Item comes in contact with mucous membrane or non-intact skin
(eg anaesthesia equipment, laryngoscope blade)

Semi Critical equipment require a minimum of high level disinfection (sterilisation may be needed in some cases)

59
Q

What would a non critical piece of reprocessed reusable equipment be?

A

An item that comes in contact with skin only
(eg bedpan, blood pressure cuff, patient furniture, crutches)

Non Critical equipment just need cleaning or disinfection

60
Q

Name some baseline responsibilities within the workplace for an AT

A

Follow workplace policies
Follow standard precautions
Follow transmission based precautions
Attend workplace training and education
Report and document incidents

Infection Control (1 decks)

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