Infection 6 - Surface + Hospital-acquired Infections

Question 1

Which viruses commonly infect the skin/epithelia?

Answer 1

• Human papilloma virus

- Herpes simplex virus

Question 2

Which bacteria commonly infect the skin/epithelia?

Answer 2

• Staph. aureus
• Coagulase negative staphylococci
• Cornyebacterium
• Enterobacteriaceae

Question 3

Which fungi commonly infect the skin/epithelia/nails?

Answer 3

• C. albicans

- Dermatophytes

Question 4

Which parasites commonly infect the skin/hair?

Answer 4

Mites

Question 5

Which bacteria commonly infect the nares?

Answer 5

• Staph. aureus

- Corynebacterium

Question 6

Which bacteria commonly infect the nasopharynx?

Answer 6

• Strep. pneumonia
• Haem. influenzae
• Neis. meningitidis

Question 7

Which micro-organisms commonly infect the mouth?

Answer 7

• Cand. albicans
• Viridans streptococci
• Neisseria spp.
• Lactobacillus
• Bacteroides

Question 8

What is a ‘natural surface infection’?

Answer 8

Infection caused by microbes which are usually part of the normal flora, but when transferred to another site, or allowed to overgrow, become pathogenic.

Question 9

How does a natural surface infection of prosthetic joints occur?

Answer 9

Innoculation with coagulase negative staph. or S.aureus may occur during surgery

Question 10

Which bacteria most commonly causes a natural surface infection of prosthetic cardiac valves?

Answer 10

Coagulase negative staph.

Question 11

Which bacteria most commonly cause natural surface infections of pacing wires?

Answer 11

Coagulase negative staph.

S. aureus

Question 12

What methods can be used to diagnose a surface infection?

Answer 12

• Throat/vaginal swab
• Blood/urine/stool tests and cultures
• Lumbar puncture cultures
• Sonication and culture of fluid

Question 13

How can you treat a surface infection?

Answer 13

• Antibiotics
• Removal of prosthetic material
• Resection of infected material

Question 14

How can you prevent a surface infection?

Answer 14

• Prevent colonisation/contamination
• Maintain surface integrity
• Remove colonising bacteria

Question 15

What are the main 7 questions to ask someone with a travel-related infection?

Answer 15

1) Where did you go?
2) When did you go, and the symptoms appear?
3) What are the symptoms?
4) How did they acquire it?
5) Any unwell travel contacts?
6) Any pre-travel vaccinations/preventions?
7) Any healthcare exposure?

Question 16

List some ways a patient may contract a travel-related infection:

Answer 16

• Food
• Water
• Swimming
• Insect bite
• Sex
• Animal contact
• Beach

Question 17

Why is it important to know whether a patient with a travel-related infection has had any healthcare exposure while abroad?

Answer 17

May be infected with multi-resistant organisms
Particularly at risk if travelled to:
- S + SE Asia
- C + S America
- N + W + E Africa

Question 18

Define Travellers diarrhoea:

Answer 18

Diarrhoea (loose/watery stools, 3x within 24hrs) which develops during or shortly after travel abroad.

Question 19

Name some bacteria which commonly cause travellers diarrhoea:

Answer 19

• Salmonella
• Shigella
• Camphylobacter
• E.coli

Question 20

Name some viruses which commonly cause travellers diarrhoea:

Answer 20

• Norovirus

- Rotavirus

Question 21

Name some parasites which commonly cause travellers diarrhoea:

Answer 21

• Giardia
• Cryptosporidium
• E. histolytica

Question 22

What treatment is usually given for travellers diarrhoea?

Answer 22

If moderate = no treatment, just rest + fluids

If severe:

• Fluid resuscitation
• Anti-diarrhoea med = Loperamide
• Antibiotics = Ciprofloxacin