Infection Control Flashcards
Clean
Refers to items or environments that are free from visible dirt, debris, or contamination.
In healthcare, clean items are those that have been disinfected
Dirty
Refers to items or environments that are contaminated with MO, bodily fluids, and other substances. These items require thorough cleaning and disinfection
Acute Infection Isolation
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.
Chronic Infection Isolation
The practice of isolating patients with chronic infections, which are long lasting and persistent, to manage and prevent transmission over extended periods
Medical Asepsis
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
Local Infection
An infection confined to a specific area or body part, such as a wound or skin infection.
Systemic Infection
An infection that affects the entire body or multiple systems, often spreading through the bloodstream, such as sepsis
Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MDRO)
MO, specifically bacteria, that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics.
Eg., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
Surgical Asepsis
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.
Microorganisms
Microscopic organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and Protozoa that can cause infections and diseases
Nosocomial Infection
Also known as a healthcare associated infection (HAI), it is an infection acquired in a healthcare setting.
Hand Hygiene
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
Bacteria
Single celled microorganisms that can cause infections.
Eg., E.Coli, Streptococcus
Virus
A smaller microorganism that requires a histogram cell to replicate and can cause various infections, such as the flu or COVID
Fungi
Eukaryotic microorganism that include yeast and mold, which can cause infections such as athletes foot or candidiasis
Iatrogenic Infection
An infection that is a truly from a medial or surgical treatment, such as infection acquired from procedures or use of medical devices
Gain of Infection
A model used to understand how infections spread, includes: pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, portal of entry, mode of transmission,susceptible host
Invasive Procedures
Medical procedures that involve entering the body, either through incision or insertion, such as surgeries, catheters insertion, biopsies.
These increase risk of infection
Pathogens
Any MO that can cause disease, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and Protozoa
Standard/ Universal Precautions
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
Infection Control
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
Patients Risk Factors
Assessing and addressing individual patient risk factors for infection, such as immunocompromised status, chronic diseases, or recent surgical procedures.
Chain of Infection: Infectious Agent
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
Chain of Infection: Reservoir
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)
