Hospital acquired infections Flashcards
What are healthcare infections?
Infections arising as a consequence of providing care
not present or incubating at time of admission
Why are healthcare infections important?
Prevalent
Impact largely on health
Impact on organisations (cost)
Preventable
Types of healthcare infections?
UTI
Pneumonia
Gastrointestinal
Surgical wound infections
Viruses pathogens in healthcare
Blood bourne viruses (Hep C, B and HIV)
Norovirus (Gastoenteritis)
Influenza
Chicken Pox
Bacteria in healthcare
Staph Aureus (MRSA)
Clostridium difficile
E-coli (gram negative)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Fungi in healthcare
Candida albicans
Aspergillus species
(usually in immunosuppressed)
Risk factors associated with hospital acquired infections
Extremes of age obesity diabetes immunosuppressed smoker surgical patient emergency admission
What are the 4 P’s of infection control?
Patient
Pathogen
Practice
Place
Pathogen aspect of infection control
Virulence factors Ecological interactions (with other bacteria and antibiotics/disinfectants)
Patient aspect of infection control
Risk factors?
Interactions with other patients, healthcare workers and visitors
Practice aspect of infection control
General and specific activities of workers
Polices and if they are implemented
Organisation structure/engagement
Political initiatives (regional and national)
Leadership (ward to government)
Place aspect of infection control
Fixed features and variable features
General patient interventions
Optimise patient health (smoking, diabetes, nutrition)
Antimicrobial Prophylaxis
Skin Prep
Hand hygiene
Specific patient interventions
MRSA screening
Disinfectant body wash
Mupirocin nasal ointment
How can we halt patient to patient transmission?
Physical barriers (isolation of infected and protection of vulnerable) Positive pressure ventilation lobby
Healthcare worker interventions
Healthy (disease free and vaccinated) Good practice (PPE, hand hygiene, sterile non touch, good antimicrobial prescribing)
Environmental interventions
Well designed spacious
Furniture must tolerate cleaning
Good food hygiene in staff kitchens
Ways of cleaning environment
Disinfectants
Steam cleaning
Hydrogen peroxide vapour
How are medical devices infection controlled?
Some single use (cross through 2 sign)
Sterilisation
Decontamination
Have you I-fived your patient today? (5 I’s)
Identify Isolate Investigate Inform Initiate
Patients to identify (I5)
A-F
Abroad Blood borne virus Colonised Diarrhoea/vomitting Expectorating (cough) Funny looking rash
Investigations to carry out
Rectal swabs (gram -ve GI?) FBC Throat/nasal swabs (MRSA) Stool sample Sputum sample Vesicle fluids (rash?)
