Infection Control Flashcards
How many healthcare related infections occur each year?
2 million
How many healthcare related infections result in death each year?
100,000
What places patients at risk for healthcare related infections?
Progressive and complex medical procedures
Invasive procedures
Antibiotic resistant bacteria
What remains one of the most important infection control measure?
Hand hygiene
What are the human sources of infection transmission?
Patients
Health care personnel
Family members
Visitors
What is infection transmission dependent on?
The source of infectious agents
Susceptible host
Entry portal
Mode of transmission for pathogen
What respiratory care equipment can serve as sources of infection transmission?
Stethoscopes
Beside tables
Any inanimate object that travels from room to room
Who qualifies as a susceptible host?
Person who is exposed to an infection and becomes asymptomatic carrier or develops the disease
What are the routes of infection transmission?
Direct contact
Indirect contact
Droplet
Airborne
Vehicle
Vector
What are some examples of pathogens that are transmitted via contact?
Influenza
HIV
Ebola
What are some examples of pathogens that are transmitted via indirect contact?
Staph
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Hep b and c
HIV
What are some examples of pathogens that are airborne?
Legionellosis
Tuberculosis
Varicella
What are some examples of pathogens that are transmitted via droplets?
Rhinovirus
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Rubella
What are some examples that are transmitted via a vehicle such as water or food?
Water: cholera
Food: salmonella and hepatitis
What are some examples of pathogens that are vector borne?
Ticks: rickettsia and lyme disease
Mosquitoes: malaria
What are the basic strategies for infection control?
Immunization of heathcare providers
Equipment processing
What is required for a piece of equipment to be critically processed aka sterile?
No viable or living organisms
What is required for a piece of equipment to be semi-critical aka disinfected?
Few organisms remaining
Spores and nonlipid viruses possibly remaining viable
What is required for a piece of equipment to be considered noncritical aka clean?
Gross appreciable organic matter removed
What are chlorine and chlorine compounds used to disinfect?
Spot disinfection
CPR training dummies
What are the steps of equipment processing?
Cleaning
Disinfection
Steilization
Monitoring and surveillance
Describe what indicator strips are used for and what a positive vs a negative test looks like
Internal chemical indicator strips and challenge packs are used to capture sterilization failures
Gives immediate results
What is alcohol usually used to disinfect?
Thermometers
Scissors
Stethoscopes
What are the methods of sterilization?
Steam = autoclaving
Ethylene oxide
Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
Peracetic acid
What is acetic acid used to disinfect?
Homecare equipment
What is glutaraldehyde use to disinfect?
Spirometry tubing
Anesthesia resuscitation bags
What is peracetic acid used to disinfect?
Endoscopes
What is idodophor used to disinfect?
Hydrotherapy tanks
Thermometers
What is hydrogen peroxide used to disinfect?
Ventilator surfaces
What is benzyl ammonium chloride used to disinfect?
CPAP masks
What are phenols used to disinfect?
Environmental surfaces
Bed rails
Tables and surfaces
What are quaternary ammonium compounds used to disinfect?
Floors
Furniture
Blood pressure cuffs
How do indicator strips for radioactive sterilization work?
Change from yellow to red upon exposure to gamma or electron beam radiation
Describe the process for removing a contaminated gown
Unfasten ties
Pull away from neck and shoulders touching inside of the gown only
Turn gown inside out
Fold or roll into bundle and discard
What are the methods equipment surveillance?
Aspiration
Plating
Swabbing
What is the sequence for removing gloves?
Outside of gloves is contaminated
Grasp outside of glove with opposite gloved hand and peel off
Hold removed glove in gloved hand
Slide fingers of ungloved hand under remaining glove at wrist
Peel glove over first glove, discard
What are the standard precautions that should be taken?
Hand hygiene
Gloves, masks, and eye protection when appropriate
Limit touching of face or adjusting PPE with contaminated glove
When should hands be washed vs using hand sanitizer?
Hands should be washed when they are soiled with blood, body fluids, or excrement
What provider variable could reduce hand hygiene effectiveness?
Long nails, nail extenders and jewelry
Describe the process for removing goggles or faceshield
Handle by headband or ear pieces
Place in designated receptacle for processing or in waste container
Describe the process for removing a mask or respirator if it has been contaminated
Grasp bottom and then top ties or elastics and remove. Discard in waste container
What are healthcare associated sources of respiratory infection?
Ventilatory circuit changes
Condensate in vent tubing
Humidifiers
Nebulizers
Suction catheters
PFT equipment
what is the best way to prevent the spread of infection in the ICU
wash yo hands
The proper sequence for doffing PPE is
gloves, gown, mask
the process that destroys all forms of pathogenic organisms on an inanimate object is
sterilization
A male patient is admitted for influenza, in addition to standard precautions, what other safety precautions should be taken?
Patient should wear a surgical mask
Everyone within 3 feet of the patient should wear a surgical mask
A private room is preferred
The correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment is
mask, gown, gloves
what devices are used to capture sterilization failures?
Indicator strips
Aspiration
Swabs
Visualization
A patient is admitted with MRSA, in addition to standard precautions, what other precautions should be taken?
Hands must be washed after removing gown
Patient must wear a gown during transport
Gloves must be changed after contact with contaminated secretions
Gloves are required when entering the room
A patient is admitted with tuberculosis, in addition to standard precautions, what other precautions should be taken?
patient should be placed in an airborne isolation room with 6-12 air changes per hour
Everyone entering the room should wear an N95 or PAPR
Patient should wear a surgical mask for transports