Infection Control

Question 1

Clean

Answer 1

Refers to items or environments that are free from visible dirt, debris, or contamination.
In healthcare, clean items are those that have been disinfected

Question 2

Dirty

Answer 2

Refers to items or environments that are contaminated with MO, bodily fluids, and other substances. These items require thorough cleaning and disinfection

Question 3

Acute Infection Isolation

Answer 3

The practice of separating patients with acute infections from other patients to prevent the spread of rapidly spreading infections.
Acute infections are characterized by a sudden onset of severe symptoms.

Question 4

Chronic Infection Isolation

Answer 4

The practice of isolating patients with chronic infections, which are long lasting and persistent, to manage and prevent transmission over extended periods

Question 5

Medical Asepsis

Answer 5

Practice of reducing or preventing the spread of pathogens through cleanliness and hygiene. Involves procedures and practices aimed at maintaining a clean environment to minimize risk of infection. Eg., hand hygiene

Question 6

Local Infection

Answer 6

An infection confined to a specific area or body part, such as a wound or skin infection.

Question 7

Systemic Infection

Answer 7

An infection that affects the entire body or multiple systems, often spreading through the bloodstream, such as sepsis

Question 8

Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MDRO)

Answer 8

MO, specifically bacteria, that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics.
Eg., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

Question 9

Surgical Asepsis

Answer 9

Known as sterile technique, it involves maintaining a sterile environment during surgical procedures to prevent the introduction of pathogens into sterile areas.
Eg., instruments, drapes, gowns.

Question 10

Microorganisms

Answer 10

Microscopic organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and Protozoa that can cause infections and diseases

Question 11

Nosocomial Infection

Answer 11

Also known as a healthcare associated infection (HAI), it is an infection acquired in a healthcare setting.

Question 12

Hand Hygiene

Answer 12

Practice of cleaning hands to remove microorganisms.
Involves handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol based hand rubs
Proper hand hygiene is essential before and after patient contact, after handling materials, before performing aseptic procedures

Question 13

Bacteria

Answer 13

Single celled microorganisms that can cause infections.
Eg., E.Coli, Streptococcus

Question 14

Virus

Answer 14

A smaller microorganism that requires a histogram cell to replicate and can cause various infections, such as the flu or COVID

Question 15

Fungi

Answer 15

Eukaryotic microorganism that include yeast and mold, which can cause infections such as athletes foot or candidiasis

Question 16

Iatrogenic Infection

Answer 16

An infection that is a truly from a medial or surgical treatment, such as infection acquired from procedures or use of medical devices

Question 17

Gain of Infection

Answer 17

A model used to understand how infections spread, includes: pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, portal of entry, mode of transmission,susceptible host

Question 18

Invasive Procedures

Answer 18

Medical procedures that involve entering the body, either through incision or insertion, such as surgeries, catheters insertion, biopsies.
These increase risk of infection

Question 19

Pathogens

Answer 19

Any MO that can cause disease, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and Protozoa

Question 20

Standard/ Universal Precautions

Answer 20

Control practice to prevent the transmission of infection in healthcare settings. They include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, safe handling needles and other sharps

Question 21

Infection Control

Answer 21

Encompasses a range of activities including sanitation, disinfection, sterilization, and the use of personal Protective Equipment.
Its primary goal is to protect patients, workers, and visitors from healthcare associated infections by minimizing the transmission

Question 22

Patients Risk Factors

Answer 22

Assessing and addressing individual patient risk factors for infection, such as immunocompromised status, chronic diseases, or recent surgical procedures.

Question 23

Chain of Infection: Infectious Agent

Answer 23

Definition: The pathogen responsible for causing an infection. This can include bacteria, viruses, fungi, Protozoa.
Identification: diagnostic tests such as cultures, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), serological tests.
Treatment: administer anti microbial based on pathogen sensitivity and clinical guidelines

Question 24

Chain of Infection: Reservoir

Answer 24

Definition: The environment where pathogens live and multiply - can be human hosts, animals, or environmental sources such as soil and water.
Sanitation: implement regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment to reduce pathogen reservoirs
Waste Management: dispose waste materials properly (linen, sharps, etc)