Exam Two: Infection Control

Question 1

Explain the relationship between the chain and transmission of infection

Answer 1

For infection to occur all elements of the chain must be present. Transmission is part of this chain and can be direct, indirect, via droplet, airborne, via vehicles and via a vector

Question 2

Infection occurs in a cycle that depends on the presence of all of the following elements:

Answer 2

• infectious agent/pathogen
• reservoir/source for pathogen growth
• port of exit from the reservoir
• mode of transmission
• port of entry to a host
• susceptible host

Question 3

TRANSMISSION (p. 424-425)

Answer 3

Infection can develop if this chain remains uninterrupted.

• Preventing infections involves breaking the chain of infection.
• The major route of transmission for pathogens identified in the health care setting is the unwashed hands of the health care worker.
• Equipment used within the environment (stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, bedside commode) often becomes a source for the transmission of pathogens.
• Organisms enter the body through the same routes they use for exiting.
• Practicing infection prevention and control techniques (hand hygiene) interrupt the mode of transmission.

Question 4

Modes of Transmission (P.425):

Answer 4

1. Contact (direct and indirect)
2. Droplet
3. Airborne
4. Vehicles
5. Vector

Question 5

Give an example of preventing infection for each element of the infection chain: Infectious Agent

Answer 5

Clean contaminated objects clean, disinfect, sterilize

Question 6

Give an example of preventing infection for each element of the infection chain: Reservior

Answer 6

Keep table surfaces clean and dry, change soiled dressings

Question 7

Give an example of preventing infection for each element of the infection chain: Mode of Transmission

Answer 7

perform hand hygiene, use a personal set of care items for each patient

Question 8

Give an example of preventing infection for each element of the infection chain: Portal of entry

Answer 8

Cover wounds as needed, maintain skin integrity

Question 9

Give an example of preventing infection for each element of the infection chain: Host

Answer 9

Reduce susceptibility to infection, ensure adequate rest

Question 10

Identify the normal defenses of the body against infection

Answer 10

Normal flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are all nonspecific defenses

Question 11

Discuss the events in the inflammatory response

Answer 11

1) Vascular and cellular responses
2) Formation of inflammatory exudates
3) Tissue Repair

Question 12

Identify patients most at risk for infection

Answer 12

patients in health care settings, especially hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Question 13

Describe the signs/symptoms of a localized infection and those of a systemic infection

Answer 13

Localized infection, signs & symptoms:
Pain, tenderness, and redness at wound site
Systemic infection, signs & symptoms:
Affects the whole body

Question 14

Explain the difference between medical and surgical asepsis

Answer 14

medical asepsis: all procedures done to reduce the number of organisms and
surgical asepsis or sterile technique prevents contamination of an open wound, serves to isolate operative room from unsterile objects.

Question 15

Explain the difference between medical and surgical asepsis

Explain the rationale for standard precautions

Answer 15

Precautions set in place to protect the patient and provide protection for the health care worker. Applies to contact with blood, body fluid, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes

Question 16

AIRBORNE:

Answer 16

measles, chickenpox (varicella), disseminated varicella zoster, pulmonary/laryngeal tuberculosis

• Barrier Protection:
• -private room, negative-pressure airflow of at least 6-12 exchanges per hour via high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration
• -air is not returned to inside ventilation system but is filtered through a HEPA filter and exhausted directly to the outside
• -mask or respiratory protection device, N95 respirator (depending on condition)

Question 17

DROPLET:

Answer 17

diphtheria (pharyngeal), rubella, streptococcal pharyngitis, pneumonia or scarlet fever in infants and young children, pertussis, mumps, Mycoplasma pneumonia, meningococcal pneumonia or sepsis, pneumonic plague

• Barrier Protection:
• -Private room or cohort patient
• -mask or respirator required (depending on condition) (refer to agency policy) within 3 feet of the patient, proper hand hygiene, and some dedicated-care equipment.

Question 18

CONTACT

Answer 18

• used for direct and indirect contact with patients and their environment
• colonization/infection with multidrug-resistant organisms [VRE and MRSA, C. difficile, shigella, and other enteric pathogens; major wound infections; herpes simplex; scabies; varicella zoster (disseminated); respiratory syncytial virus in infants, young children or immunocompromised adults]
• Barrier Protection:
• -Private room or cohort patients (see agency policy), gloves, gowns

Question 19

PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT

Answer 19

Focuses on a very limited patient population

• Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants
• Barrier Protection:
• -Private room; positive airflow with 12 or more air exchanges per hour; HEPA filtration for incoming/all air
• -mask to be worn by patient when out of room during times of construction in area
• -patients not allowed to have dried/fresh flowers or potted plants in these rooms