Healthcare Infections

Question 1

What are healthcare infections?

Answer 1

Infections arising as a result of providing healthcare
- >48 hours after admission

Includes infections in visitors and health workers

Question 2

What are the main types of healthcare infections?

Answer 2

UTI 
GI (c.diff/norovirus)
Pneumonia 
Surgical wound infections
Blood stream

Question 3

What are examples of viruses causing healthcare infections?

Answer 3

Bloodborne viruses (Hep B, hep c, HIV)
Norovirus
Influenza

Question 4

What are examples of bacteria causing healthcare infections?

Answer 4

Staph aureus + MRSA
C.diff
E.coli 
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Question 5

What are examples of fungi causing healthcare infections?

Answer 5

Candida albicans

Aspergillus

Question 6

What patient factors put them at risk?

Answer 6

Extremes of age
Obesity/malnourished
Diabetes
Cancer
Immunosuppression 
Smoker

Question 7

What are the 4 Ps of infection prevention?

Answer 7

Patient

• general risk factors
• interactions

Pathogen

• virulence factors
• ecological interactions

Practice

• policies
• activities of healthcare workers

Place
- environment

Question 8

What patient interventions can prevent healthcare infections?

Answer 8

Optimise patient condition

• nutrition
• pain relief

Antimicrobial prophylaxis

Hand hygiene

Isolation

Question 9

What healthcare worker interventions can prevent healthcare infections?

Answer 9

Ensure healthy

• disease free
• vaccinated

PPE

Question 10

What environment interventions can prevent healthcare infections?

Answer 10

Layout
Cleaning
Single use equipment