Healthcare Associated Infection Flashcards
what host factors (broad term) can lead to HAI?
> medical devices > antibiotics > foreign bodies > age extremes > overcrowding > immunosuppression > skin break
what microbial factors can affect infections?
> increased survival ability > increased virulence > increased resistance > increased transmissibility > increased ability to evade the host defences
define an outbreak of a HAI
an infection with 2 or more cases linked in time and place
how may typing to determine the strain be carried out?
> serotyping > molecular typing > pyocin typing > phage typing > antiobiogram (antibiotic sensitivity pattern)
what control methods can be implemented in an outbreak?
> single room isolation > cohorting cases > clinical area or ward closure > reinforcement of IPC measures > staff exclusion > staff decolonisation
how may a patient with clostridium difficile present?
> increased WCC > abdominal pain > pyrexia > DIARRHOEA > characteristic odour in faeces > pseudomembranous colitis
how is a clostridium difficile infection treated?
> stop antibiotics if possible
> if symptomatic vancomycin, metronidazole, fidaxomicin
how can the chain of infection be broken?
> PPE > vaccination > post exposure prophylaxis > hand hygiene > risk awarness
define cleaning
physical removal of organic material and a decrease in microbacterial load
is cleaning needed prior to disinfection and sterilisation?
yes
define disinfection
a large reduction in microbe number
when is disinfection needed?
medium risk: mucous membrane contact
what methods are there for disinfection?
> heat
> chemicals (alcohol, hypochlorides, chlorohexidine)
what is sterilisation?
removal of all microbes and spores
what are the methods for sterilisation?
> hot air oven
gas
ionising radiation
autoclave (steam under pressure)
