Identifying Sepsis

Question 1

hygiene requirements for C. Diff?

Answer 1

must wash hands with soap and water (not hand gel)

C. Diff is a spore forming bacteria so hand gel is ineffective

Question 2

transient colonisation?

Answer 2

short lived colonisation of bacteria not really causing any problems
e.g staph aureus existing on skin sometimes

Question 3

what organisms are usually found in the peritoneum?

Answer 3

none

peritoneum is sterile

Question 4

what organisms are usually found in blood?

Answer 4

none

blood is sterile

Question 5

what is a pathogen?

Answer 5

any microorganism which has the potential to cause disease

Question 6

what is virulence?

Answer 6

likelihood of causing disease

Question 7

risk factors for staph epidermidis?

Answer 7

metal or plastic prosthetic valve, joint etc

Question 8

prodrome?

Answer 8

little bit ill before you get really ill
e.g - pain along the dermatome before the blisters appear in shingles
occurs during incubation period of organism before true symptoms appear

Question 9

where do anaerobe infections often occur in the body?

Answer 9

in places which don’t have a lot of air (e.g bowel)

Question 10

4 examples of aerobic organisms?

Answer 10

staph
strep
enterococci
coliforms

Question 11

give an example of a strict aerobe

Answer 11

pseudomonas

Question 12

E. coli turns mconekey agar what colour?

Answer 12

pink

Question 13

features of septic shock?

Answer 13

haemodynamic instability
mottled skin
decreased urine 
altered consciousness
very high lactate

Question 14

what late complications can occur after sepsis?

Answer 14

infection
mental health disorders
cognitive impairment

Question 15

what is post sepsis syndrome?

Answer 15

variety of physical, psychological and emotional problems which can occur following sepsis (insomnia, hair loss etc)
not well understood