Infection Control Flashcards
Define ‘infection’
Invasion by and multiplication of pathogenic micro organisms in a bodily part or tissue, which may produce tissue injury and progress to overt disease
What is a control strategy?
Risk assessment of a number of key tasks identified and strategies for reducing risk agreed
Describe a bacterial infection
Single celled micro organism, larger and live everywhere.
Can multiply every 20 mins
Enter body, increase in number
Examples MRSA ECOLI
Describe a viral infection
Smallest, requires a host.
Invades cell and kills or intervenes with cell function.
Multiplies but cannot survive for long outside of host.
Antibiotics are ineffective
Examples HIV HEP B Covid
Describe a fungal infection
Gets nutrition from host
Releases spores which can be picked up, inhaled or digested.
Mould, mildew, yeast ie parasitic plant
Examples ring worm athletes foot ear fungus
How does an infection travel? (4)
Direct contact person to person
Contact with contaminated objects ie hearing aid or impression
Contact with infectious material ie infected wax
Droplets ie common cold
How do we manage infections?
Cleaning - removes doesn’t kill
Disinfection - inactivates and reduces
Sterilisation - destruction of all forms of microbial life
Name the elements that make up the chain of infection
Infectious agents ie pathogen
Reservoir ie people, animals, plant,
Portals how it enters/exits ie blood, respiratory secretions
Mode of transmission ie sneezing
Susceptible host ie person with weak immune system
Remove one element and chain of infection is broken
What is the purpose of otoscopy?
Ensure ears are free of problems prior to hearing test or the fitting of instruments
What are looking for in otoscopy?
PISSEDAS
Perforations
Infections
Size
Shape
Excess wax
Discharge
Abnormalities
Safety
What is aseptics?
The concept of hygiene which maximizes the chance of avoiding cross infection:
From you to patient
From patient to patient
From patient to you
From ear to ear
HCPC definition of referral?
When a health professional asks another practitioner to take over the care of the service user because it’s beyond their scope of practice OR service user requests a second opinion
What is ‘scope of practice’ ?
The Knowledge, skills and experience to enable safe, lawful and effective practice
What are the HCPC expectations?
Registered with HCPC
HAD - protected Title
Meet all standards of proficiency
Always work within scope of practice
What is the scope of practice for a HAD?
Best interests of service user
Joint working with colleagues in care of service user sharing relevant info
Keep accurate records
Make and receive appropriate referrals
Understand and work within SOP
Gain appropriate experience before moving into new areas
Make informed, reasonable decisions and be able to justify them
Keep up to date with training
