Hand Hygiene

Question 1

Nosocomial infections

Answer 1

Occurring in a hospital or hospital-like setting

Question 2

Rational for hand washing

Answer 2

1. Potential risks of transmission of micro-organisms to patients
2. Potential risks of health-care worker infection caused by organisms acquired from patient
3. Morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with health-care related infections

Question 3

Transient germs

Answer 3

Found in superficial skin layers. Mostly associated with healthcare worker infections

Question 4

Resident germs

Answer 4

Attached to deeper layers of skin. No involved with transmission, does tend to be consistent

Question 5

Microorganisms in everyday environments

Answer 5

Viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and parasites

Question 6

Barriers to handwashing

Answer 6

1. Skin irritation
2. Inaccessible supplies
3. Priority of care
4. Wearing of gloves, forgetfulness, lack of knowledge of the guidelines
5. Insufficient time, high workload and understaffing

Question 7

Types of nosocomial infections (8)

Answer 7

1. Urinary tract infections
2. Surgical site infections
3. Respiratory tract infections
4. Bloodstream infections
5. Skin infections
6. GI tract infections
7. Fungal infections
8. Pneumonia

Question 8

Nosocomial infection factor of occurance

Answer 8

1. High prevalence of pathogens
2. High prevalence of compromised hosts
3. Efficient mechanisms of transmission from patient to patient

Question 9

Nosocomial infection traits

Answer 9

1. A source
2. Transmission
3. Viable host

Question 10

Nosocomial infection sources

Answer 10

Equipment - clothing - surfaces - airborne pathogens

Question 11

75% of nocosomoal infections

Answer 11

1. UTI
2. Pneumonia
3. Surgical site
4. Bloostream (least common, highest mortality rate)

Question 12

Standard CDC guidelines

Answer 12

For all patients. Primary strategy for successful nosocomial infection control

Question 13

Transmission based CDC guidelines

Answer 13

Airborne, droplet, contact

Question 14

MRSA

Answer 14

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

- caused by strain of staph bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotics

Question 15

VRE

Answer 15

Vancomycin resistant enterococci

• commonly found in GI tract or genital tract of females, causes UTIs.
• most common in patients treated with antibiotics
• not transferable via air

Question 16

E. Coli

Answer 16

Escherchia coli

• most common cause of UTI (90%)
• food or oral fecal
• contact isolation only

Question 17

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Answer 17

• infect almost any compromised host
• urinary system, digestive system, respiratory system, and wound area.
• low nutritional and oxygen requirements
• in wounds its blue and smells sweet like rotting fruit

Question 18

C-Diff

Answer 18

• diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the intestine

- may lead to stomach ulcers

Question 19

When should you wash your hands?

Answer 19

1. Before/after contact with patients
2. After contact with body fluids
3. Before/after contact with wounds, dressings, specimens, bed linen, and protective clothing
4. Before/after using restroom
5. After sneezing, coughing, or nose blowing
6. After removing gloves
7. Before/after eating

Question 20

Alcohol gel

Answer 20

Use soap after 10 uses and is not sufficient after c-diff

Question 21

Gloves OSHA

Answer 21

OSHA mandates that gloves be worn during all patient-care activities that may involve blood or bodily fluids that may be contaminiated with blood.

Question 22

Gloves CDC

Answer 22

1. Reduce risk of personnel acquiring infections from patients
2. Prevent healthcare worker flora from being transmitted to patients
3. Reduce transient contamination of the hand of personnel by flora that can be transmitted from one patient to another

Question 23

Decreasing barriers

Answer 23

Use of moisturizures (emollients or humectants)

Advocate for use of alcohol gel that contains moisturizers