Healthcare Acquired Infection Flashcards
What is the impact of HAI’s on the NHS?
More strain on resources
Increased cost
Bad perception
What is the impact of HAI on staff?
Stress
Increased workload
Changes in decision making: focussed on trying to discharge patients quickly overlook small problems
Feelings of demotivation
What is the impact of HAIs on the patient?
Frustration
Worried
Longer stay
Further complications leading to more worrying illness
Confusion
May be reluctant to return to hospital
Stress from commitments they are missing e.g. work and caring for a loved one
What is the impact of HAIs on other visitors?
Need for infection control
Increased fear of infection
May not be able to visit loved ones
What are the mechanisms of spread of infection in hospital?
Direct patient contact e.g. poor hand hygiene
Airborne
Spread between medical staff treating multiple patients
Invasive devices e.g. catheters, IV lines
What are the 5 moments of hand hygiene?
Before touching a patient Before clean/aseptic procedure After body fluid exposure risk After touching patient After touching patient surroundings
What does sensitivities mean?
Which antibiotic will the bacteria be sensitive too
What is CRP?
C-reactive protein test
Measure of inflammation
What is RR?
Respiratory rate
Indication of septic shock
What is stats?
Oxygen saturation
What does pyrexial mean?
Fever
Why would a doctor choose IV delivery of antibiotics?
Faster delivery
Infection already having systemic effects
What is MCS?
Microscopy, culture screening
What is CSU?
Catheter specific urine
Give some common mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics
Altered target sites Increasing amount of substrate produced Altered metabolism Decreased accumulation Increase efflux of antibiotics Natural selection Excess use of antibiotics Not finishing a course
How has co-amoxiclav overcome one method of penicillin resistance ?
Produces clavionic acid which inhibits beta-lactamase
Name some bacterial defence strategies?
Restrict access Get rid of antibiotic Change/destroy antibiotic Bypass the effects of the antibiotic Change antibiotic targets
How can healthcare professional help prevent resistance?
Follow clinical prescribing guidelines
Shorten duration of therapy to minimum effective duration
Educate patients and families
Perform hand hygiene and follow infection prevention measures
What are the components of the chain of infection?
Organism Reservoir Portal of exit Transmission Portal of entry Vulnerable hosts
What is HAP?
Hospital acquired pneumonia
Acquired after at least 48 hours of admission
Give an example of how someone can acquire c diff diarrhoea?
Developed post-op urinary retention Catheterised, likely transmission of gut commensals Developed E. coli urinary sepsis Treated with Co-amoxiclav (broad spec) Disruption of gut microbiome Activation of toxinogenic C.difficile Positive for C. difficile diarrhoea
