Hospital Acquired Infections Flashcards
What are healthcare infections?
Infections arising as a consequence of providing healthcare. In hospital patients this must be neither present nor incubating at time of admission (>48 hours after admission). Also includes infections in healthcare workers, hospital visitors etc.
Why are healthcare infections so important?
They occur in 8% of in-patients despite being preventable. They have a significant impact on health as well as healthcare organisations.
Semmelweiss was the founding father of infection control. Using the infection model can you think where he thought intervention could be taken to prevent the spread of infection?
Name a parasitic healthcare infection.
Malaria.
Name a couple of fungal healthcare infections.
Yeast: Candida albicans Mold: Aspergillus spp.
What are some examples of healthcare infections transmitted by viruses?
Blood borne viruses (Hep B, C, HIV), Norovirus, Infleunza, Chickenpox (Varicella Zoster, Virus of the Herpes family)
What are some examples of healthcare infections transmitted by bacteria?
Staphylococcus aureus (inc. MRSA), Clostridium difficile, E Coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
What about the patient (one of the determinants of disease) could increase the risk of acquiring a healthcare infection?
Extremes of age / weight Diabetes Cancer Immunosuppression Smoker Surgical patient Emergency admission
What are the 4 P’s of infection prevention and control aka determinants of disease?
This is a diagram illustrating how an infection might be spread. … How can we reduce the risk of a patient acquiring a healthcare infection?
Through patient interventions:
Optimising the patient’s condition (if they smoke - stop; diabetes - manage), Antimicrobial prophylaxis, Hand hygiene.
Specific actions: MSRA screens and disinfectant body wash may be considered, especially if patient is at high risk.
How can we reduce the risk of patient to patient transmission of a healthcare infection?
Through physical barriers: isolation of infected patients and protection of susceptible patients. This could be through them having their own room, which may be negative pressure as well (perhaps for immunosuppressed patients).
Healthcare workers are both at risk of receiving as well as spreading infections. How can we minimise these risks?
Healthcare workers should be healthy - disease free and vaccinated.
Good clinical practice should be carried out:
Making sure equipment is sterilised when carrying out procedures; Hand Hygiene, PPE (used for ebola patients - Personal Protective Equipment).
This is a diagram illustrating how an infection might be spread. … How can we reduce the risk of a patient acquiring a healthcare infection from the environment (the hospital)?
Built environment - layout and toilets and wash basins are important
Furniture and furnishings (copper fittings would stop spread of MRSA - but expensive)
Cleaning is important - disinfectants, steam cleaning, H2O2 vapour can be used
Food - there should be good food hygiene practice, in both the kitchen and on the ward. Otherwise disease spread by faecal-oral route (e.g. Norovirus, C Diff, Hep A)
In a hospital, medical devices are also a part of the environment. How can we stop the spread of infection from these medical devices?
Ideally medical devices should be single use equipment. If not they should be sterilised and decontaminated.
