Infection Control Flashcards
Healthcare associated infections are the _____ leading cause of death.
4th - affects 1 in 25 patients
What are common healthcare associated infections in the acute care setting?
- CLABSI: central line associated bloodstream infection
- CAUTI: catheter associated urinary tract infection
- SSI: surgical site infection
- VAP: ventilator associated pneumonia
Microorganisms are transmitted by various means in what kind of manner?
Cyclical
If there is interruption in the infection cycle this leads to what?
Interruption in a microorganism’s ability to grow and spread
Some microorganisms are more difficult to destroy than others. Why?
They are resistant to medication
Microorganisms proliferate best in what kind of environments?
Dark, warm, moist environments
- some require oxygen and some produce spores
What is in the infection cycle?
- Infectious Agent —>
- Reservoir —>
- Exit —>
- Method of Transmission —>
- Entry —>
- Susceptible Host —>
What is a medical aseptic technique?
Keep pathogens confined to a specific area, object, or person
What is surgical aseptic technique?
Exclude all microorganisms before they can enter a surgical wound or contaminate a sterile field
What are standard precautions?
Group of infection prevention practices that apply to all patients, regardless of diagnosis
What are standard precautions based on?
Based on principle that all blood, body fluids, excretions, secretions, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes may contain transmissible infectious agents
What are standard precautions for prevention? (what do we do to prevent disease spread)
- Frequent hand washing or hand rubs with proper techniques
- Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
What do transmission based precautions protect from?
Designed to protect caregivers from special patients with highly transmissible pathogens who are known or suspected to be infected
What are infection control procedures?
- Hand hygiene
- Gloves and/or gown
- Mask or respirator
- Eye protection or shield PRN
- Proper care of patients skin, linens, and personal items
What are examples of transmission based precautions?
- Contact
- Droplet
- Airborne
Pathogen transmission can be both _____ and _____ contact.
direct, indirect
What can pathogen transmission come from?
- Direct/indirect contact
- contaminated linen or clothing
- inadequately cleaned utensils, instruments, toys, equipment
- moisture droplets (droplet precautions)
- Air currents (airborne precautions)
What are the two primary methods of hand hygiene?
- Hand rubbing
- Hand washing
Hand rubbing is done with what kind of product and is most effective when?
- Alcohol-based, waterless antiseptic
- Most effective when hand washing is not required
What are the advantages of hand rubbing?
Less time, more effective than soap and water, more accessible than sinks, causes less damage to skin
Why can hand washing be beneficial?
preferred method when hands are visibly dirty, soiled, or considered to be contaminated
How is bacteria removed with hand washing?
Bacteria is removed as a result of mechanical action of friction when rubbing and scrubbing
When is hand washing frequently required?
Before entering the ICU or operating suite
What makes an antiseptic?
Adding an antimicrobial or germicidal agent (ex: chlorohexidine gluconate)
What should you do after treating a patient with C.diff?
Wash your hands! Its a better means of decontamination than hand rubbing
What are potential contaminants during handwashing?
- Bar soap
- Sink rims
- Waterspout
- Basin
- Towel
- Dispenser
- Faucet handle
- Etc.
Isolation precautions are linked to what?
The method by which pathogens are transmitted
Where are isolation precautions indicated?
In the medical record
When entering the patients environment the caregiver must adhear to specific actions such as…
- Contact (direct or indirect)
- Droplet (direct or indirect - respiratory droplets)
- Airborne
Where can you find PPE, biohazard bags, and other necessary materials and supplies?
The cart outside the room
Where can you find directions for your isolation precautions?
Just outside the room, just inside the room, or in an anteroom
What was sterile field designed for?
maintain sterility of objects within the field (dressing, bandages, instruments)
What are the four rules of asepsis?
- Know which items are sterile
- Know which items are not sterile
- Separate sterile items from non-sterile items
- If a sterile item becomes contaminated, remedy the situation immediately (discard the item and re-establish the sterile field)
What are examples of PPE?
- Gloves
- Gown
- Mask or respirator
- Protective eyewear (shield, safety glasses)
T/F - You should take your PPE off outside of your patients room.
False. Do not wear PPE outside of a patients room.
What are the two methods to clean an item?
- Disinfection
- Decontamination
Disinfection has three categories (high, intermediate, low). What falls under each category?
- High: everything except high numbers of bacterial spores
- Intermediate: most viruses, fungi, vegetative bacteria, TB
- Low: most bacteria, some viruses, some fungi
What does it mean to decontaminate something?
To remove, inactivate, or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or items to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles
What are contact precautions recommend for?
Transmission of infectious agents which are spread through direct or indirect contact with patients or the environment a patient is in (ex: C. diff)
What PPE do contact precautions require?
- Gown
- Gloves
- Hand washing
- Don PPE Before entering and Doff before exiting
What are droplet precautions recommended for?
Transmission of pathogens spread through close respiratory or mucous membrane contact with respiratory secretions (ex: flu)
What PPE do droplet precautions require?
Donning a surgical mask before entering the room
What are airborne precautions recommended for?
Infectious agents that remain infectious over long distances suspended in the air (Ex: TB and chickenpox)
What PPE do airborne precautions require?
- N-95 fitted mask
- Specifically ventilated room
- Closed door
What responsibilities does the healthcare facility have?
- Educate employees on methods of transmission and prevention
- Provide safe and adequate PPE
- Educate on standard precautions
- Provide proper disposal containers
- Offer HBV vaccine
- Provide follow-up care to employees exposed to communicable diseases
What are OSHA guidelines?
- Use PPE provided by facility
- Dispose of wastes in proper containers
- Dispose of sharps in proper containers
- Keep work and patient care areas clean
- Wash hands before and immediately following removal of gloves
- Immediately report any exposures or personal illnesses
What is MRSA?
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococus Aureus - a staph infection that is difficult to treat because it is resistant to some antibodies
- Spreads easily in hospitals
- Many healthcare providers are carriers
- Can cause sepsis and death if left untreated
What kind of precautions does MRSA require?
Contact
What is VRE?
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci - antibiotic resistance to vancomycin of enterococci bacteria
How do patients get VRE?
- Usually happens with long term antibiotic use
- Often in those hospitalized or with weakened immune systems
- Spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces
What is C-diff?
Clostridioides difficile infection - a bacteria that causes severe and/or life threatening diarrhea
- side effect of taking antibiotics
What are symptoms of C-diff and how does it spread?
- Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite and nausea
- Spreads through person to person contact
What are examples of ancillary staff?
- Diagnostic: laboratory tests, radiology, genetic testing, diagnostic imagine
- Therapeutic: PT, PTA, OT, COTA, SLP, RT, rehab psychology, dietician, massage, rehab aides
- Custodial: environmental services, food services
How can you communicate with ancillary staff?
- Verbal: tone, volume, inflection
- Nonverbal: body position, facial expression, active listening
- Written: lay language, typed, handwritten
