Hygienic practice: handwashing

Question 1

pathogen

Answer 1

organism that can cause an infection

Question 2

infection

Answer 2

multiplication of pathogenic organisms within or on a host with reaction of host tissues

Question 3

disease

Answer 3

a disturbance of normal host function

Question 4

infectious disease

Answer 4

an infection where the host reacts to a pathogen and as a result the host cells can’t carry out al normal functions

Question 5

contamination

Answer 5

temporary presence of organisms in a location/enivronment without reaction/injury

Question 6

colonisation

Answer 6

continued presence of organisms in a location/environment without reaction/injury

Question 7

hygiene

Answer 7

condition or practice conducive to the preservation of health, as cleanliness

Question 8

HCAI

Answer 8

healthcare acquired/associated infections
infectious disease acquired >48 hours after admission, 48< after discharge

Question 9

common HCAIs

Answer 9

pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections
urinary tract infections
surgical site infections (multidrug resistant organisms)
gastroenteritis (clostridiodes and norovirus)

Question 10

7 modes of transmission

Answer 10

airborne
direct contact
faecal-oral
indirect contact
blood borne
vector
vertical

Question 11

chain of infection

Answer 11

infectious agent
reservoir
portal of exit
mode of transmission
portal of entry
susceptible host

Question 12

detergent

Answer 12

disinfectant
hydrophobic part sticks to hydrophobic oils and micro-organisms
hydrophilic part allows water to rinse it away
works on all micro-organisms

Question 13

alcohol

Answer 13

disinfectant
dissolves the ell membrane and denatures the proteins in the membrane
works on some micro-organisms

Question 14

chlorine/chlorhexidine

Answer 14

sterilising agent
dissolves the cell membrane, positive charge binds the negative charged parts of micro-organisms
also attacks the inner membrane
works on all micro-organisms

Question 15

modes of prevention

Answer 15

immunisation
screening
indwelling devices

Question 16

screening

Answer 16

screening of patients on arrival to hospital or pre-operatively
MRSA: nose, perineum swab, patients are then given a decolonising body wash
CPE and ESBL producing enterbacteriacae: rectal swab or faeces

Question 17

indwelling devices

Answer 17

increase the risk of infection e.g. urinary catheters (UTI’s) and venous cannulas (bacteraemia/sepsis)

Question 18

personal responsibility

Answer 18

ensure you don’t attend work with diarrhoea and/ or vomiting
ensure you’re up to date on all vaccinations e.g. covid-19, FLU, HEP B and MMR
ensure you report recurrent boils, lesions, rashes or styes on the eye

Question 19

outbreak

Answer 19

occurrence of more cases of a disease than would be expected within a specific place or group of people over a given period of time

Question 20

what do the number of cases in an outbreak depend on

Answer 20

outbreak will vary according to the infection strain/disease size and type of population exposed and time and pale of occurrence

Question 21

how do we control and prevent infectious disease spreading q

Answer 21

hand hygiene and PPE
decontamination/disinfection/sterilisation
waste and linen segregation
sharps safety
isolation and barrier nursing
immunisation programmes
building design
use of aseptic techniques
education
surveillance
wound dressing management and care of invasive devices
appropriate use of antimicrobials

Question 22

purpose of outbreak management

Answer 22

protect public health by identifying the source and implementing control measures to prevent further spread or recurrence of the infection

Question 23

how are outbreaks detected

Answer 23

IPCON teams in trusts
notification of UKHSA via suspected notifiable disease legislation
mandatory surveillance to UKHSA
reports from the public q

Question 24

essential steps in outbreak management

Answer 24

surveillance
documentation
communication
timely and appropriate intervention measures

Question 25

which HCAIs have mandatory surveillance

Answer 25

MRSA and MSSA bacteraemia
E.coli bacteraemia
P.aeruginosa
Klebsiella spp
C. difficile infection
COVID-19

Question 26

what does surveillance of HCAIs allow

Answer 26

prompt action to reduce spread of infectious diseases

Question 27

my responsibility and legislation

Answer 27

all staff should demonstrate good infection control and hygiene practices, effective prevention and control of healthcare acquired infections has to be embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently by everyone