HCAI Flashcards
what are the two advantages of having sick individuals in one location?
- available facilities
- concentration of expertisew
what is the disadvantage of having sick individuals in one location?
enhanced possibility of transmission of infection between in individuals
in the community the rate of infection is (fill in blank) than in healthcare environments
much lower
4 factors that contribute to healthcare associated infections?
- patients with underlying illness eg. same risk factors same infection susceptibility
- patients with similar predisposing risk factors eg. neonatal unit
- healthcare workers mov between patients
- high usage of immunosuppressive drugs and antimicrobials which drives selective pressures
- new susceptible patients introduced to new environment
3 conditions to meet to be a HCAI
- got it while in hospital or because of a healthcare-associated intervention
- developed at least 48h after admission or within 48h of discharge
- got by healthcare staff as a consequence of their work. eg. direct contact with patients or indirect through contact with contaminated blood
what disease is a needle stick injury associated with
Hepatitis B
what are the 5 predominant HCAIs? (with %)
- Bacteraemia 30-40%
- LRTI 15-20%
- UTI 16-18%
- Surgical wounds 8%
- Other 17-19%
what the top 4 UTI pathogens?
- E.coli
- Enterococci
- Staphylococci
- Candida
what are the top 2 LRTI pathogens?
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- S.aureus
What are the top 4 Surgical wound infection pathogens?
- Staphylococci
- Enterococci
- E.coli
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What are the top 4 bacteraemia pathogens?
- Staphylococci
- Enterococci
- Candida
- E. coli
6 examples of viruses causing HCAIs
- Influenza
- Varicella-zoster
- Measles
- Rotavirus
- Norovirus
- Hepatitis A, B and C
Define an endogenous source of HCAIs
When the organism originates from a site within the patient; self or auto-infection
Define an exogenous source of HCAIs
When the organism is derived from another patient or member of staff through cross-infection or from the hospital environment
What is commensalism?
When one organism benefits whilst the other neither benefits nor suffers as a result of the relationship
What is a parasitic relationship?
When only the parasite benefits and the host is usually harmed
What is a mutualistic relationship?
When both organisms benefit
Two alternative names for commensal flora
- normal flora
- microbiota
procedures involving mucosal surfaces that lead from commensal to parasitic relationship
- insertion of urinary catheter leading to transfer of patient’s own flora
- bowel surgery
- intubation
procedures leading to circumvention of host defence mechanisms which lead from commensal to parasitic relationship
- intubation and respiratory commensals accessing the lungs
- surgical wounds and wound infection by skin flora
