Infection Control Flashcards

1
Q

What are infections?

A

Diseases caused by microbiological agents

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2
Q

What are microbiological agents?

A

Organism that are too small to be seen with the naked eye

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3
Q

What are the other names for microbiological agents?

A

Microorganisms, microbes or germs

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4
Q

How do most infections occur?

A

As the result of microorganism entering the body through a wound or the respiratory systems

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5
Q

Do all microorganism cause disease?

A

No, some are essential to human life

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6
Q

What microorganisms are essential to human life?

A

Microbes that aid in digestion

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7
Q

What are pathogens?

A

Infectious microorganisms that cause disease

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8
Q

What is idiopathic?

A

A disease where the cause or origin is unknown

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9
Q

What is iatrogenic?

A

Diseases that result from contact from a healthcare provider

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10
Q

What are 4 types of microorganisms?

A
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Fungi
  • Protozoan parasites
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11
Q

What type of microorganisms are bacteria?

A

Microscopic, single celled microorganisms

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12
Q

What are types of bacteria?

A

TB, Strep throat, bacterial pneumonia, salmonella and Lyme disease

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13
Q

How are bacteria classified?

A

By their rod shaped, spiral and spherical appearance under a microscope

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14
Q

Where do bacteria reside?

A

In a host as a group or cluster called a colony

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15
Q

What can be used to fight bacterial infections?

A

Antibiotics

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16
Q

What are antibiotics?

A

Man-made or naturally occurring substances which are used to destroy microorganism within the body

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17
Q

How do antibiotics work?

A

With the patient’s immune system to fight the infection and control the spread of illness

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18
Q

What are viruses?

A

The smallest microorganism that are known to produce disease in human

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19
Q

Where can viruses live?

A

Only inside a living cell and need a host to survive and replicate

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20
Q

What are examples of viruses?

A

HIV, AIDS, Mumps, Measles, mononucleosis, Herpes, Hepatitis, common cold and influenza

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21
Q

What are used to fight viruses?

A

Only a few antivirals exist, antibiotics will not work

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22
Q

What does multiplication of the virus depend on?

A

The health of the host

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23
Q

How long can viruses live?

A

May lie formant for extended periods of time and then manifest in illness

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24
Q

What are the two forms of fungi?

A

Yeast and molds

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25
Q

What regions of the body are usually affected by fungi?

A

In moist-covered regions of the body

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26
Q

What are examples of fungi?

A

Ringworm, mold, athlete’s foot and tinea nigra

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27
Q

What are protozoon parasites?

A

An organism that spends part of its existence on or in another organism

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28
Q

What are examples of Protozoan parasites?

A

Malaria, pinworms, tapeworms, malaria and trichomonas vaginalis

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29
Q

What are features of protozoan parasites?

A

They are neither plant nor animal, are larger than bacteria and can ingest food particles

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30
Q

Where do protozoan parasites live?

A

On or in other organism at expense of the host

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31
Q

What solutions do the EPA recommend that areas of patient surface contact be cleaned with?

A

Sodium hypochlorite + water and prepared commercial solutions

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32
Q

What is the sodium hypochlorite + water ratio?

A

1:10 (1 part bleach to 10 parts water)

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33
Q

What is encounter?

A

The contact of the organism with the host

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34
Q

What is entry?

A

The entrance of a microbe into the body

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35
Q

How does a microbe enter the body?

A

Through the respiratory or digestive systems

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36
Q

What is spread?

A

The propagation of infectious organisms

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37
Q

How are diseases spread?

A

Through sneezing or coughing

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38
Q

What is multiplication?

A

The increase in the number of microbes

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39
Q

During what period does multiplication occur?

A

Incubation period

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40
Q

What is damage?

A

Destruction that the microbe causes to the host

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41
Q

What is an outcome?

A

A result of the infectious agent’s encounter with the host

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42
Q

What are the 3 outcomes of a disease?

A
  • the host eliminates the infectious agent
  • the infectious agent overcomes the host and causes disease
  • the host and the infectious agent live in harmony
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43
Q

What is the chain of infection?

A

Pathogens -> Reservoir -> Portal of Exit ->Source -> Fomite

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44
Q

What are pathogens?

A

Infectious agents including bacteria, viruses and fungi

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45
Q

What is a reservoir?

A

A habitat of organisms (where they grow and reproduce)

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46
Q

What is a portal of exit?

A

The primary route of escape for the organism

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47
Q

What is the source?

A

Person with or incubating the disease

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48
Q

What is a fomite?

A

An inanimate object, such as clothing, or table that harbors pathogenic microrganisms

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49
Q

What are examples of fomites?

A

Xray table, soiled linen, needles, clothing

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50
Q

What are the stages of the infectious process?

A
  1. Incubation or Latent period
  2. Prodromal stage
  3. Active or full phase
  4. Convalescence phase
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51
Q

What is the latent period?

A

Pathogens enter the host but there are no apparent signs of the illness or clinical symptoms

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52
Q

What is the prodromal stage?

A

Early signs and symptoms of the disease are present

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53
Q

What is the active phase?

A

Complete symptoms are manifested in the patient

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54
Q

What is the convalescence phase?

A

Period of recovery

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55
Q

How long can the convalescence stage last?

A

A few days to months depending on the illness

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56
Q

What are the methods of transmission of infection?

A

Direct and indirect

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57
Q

What is direct transmission?

A

Direct contact with the infected person or animal with disease

58
Q

What are methods of direct contact?

A

Touching, contact with blood or bodily fluids

59
Q

What are droplets?

A

Infectious secretions such as coughing, sneezing or talking

60
Q

What is indirect transmission of infection?

A

Touching objects that have been contaminated

61
Q

What are vehicles?

A

Any medium that transports microorganisms

62
Q

What are airborne transmissions of infections?

A

Diseased microorganisms suspended in the air

63
Q

What are vectors?

A

Insects or animals that carry a disease

64
Q

What are types of healthcare associated infections?

A
  • Nosocomial infections
  • Iatrogenic infections
  • Compromised patients
  • Medical personnel
  • Patient flora
  • Blood-borne pathogens
65
Q

What are nosocomial infections?

A

Infections that originate in the hospital

66
Q

When do nosocomial infections occur?

A

After an initial incubation period of 72 hours

67
Q

What do nosocomial infections take advantage of?

A

Compromised patients in the hospital

68
Q

What is an immuno-suppressed condition?

A

A person whose body cannot adequately defend itself against disease

69
Q

What are other terms for patient’s with immunosuppressed conditions?

A

Immune deficient or compromised patients

70
Q

What are common nosocomial acquired infections?

A
  • UTI
  • respiratory infections
  • wound infection secondary to surgical procedure
71
Q

What are the 3 sources of nosocomial infections?

A
  • medical personnel
  • patient flora
  • contaminated hospital environment
72
Q

What ways are medical personnel sources of nosocomial infections?

A
  • Direct skin to skin contact with hospital staff
  • Contact by ingestion or inhalation
73
Q

What is patient flora?

A

Microorganisms that are routinely found in areas of the body exposed to the external environment

74
Q

What is a contaminated hospital environment?

A

Infections introduced through hospital environment

75
Q

What are ways contaminated hospital environments infect patients?

A

Through contaminated food, air and instruments

76
Q

What is contaminated?

A

Any object, article of clothing or medical equipment/devices which has been exposed to pathogenic microorganisms

77
Q

What are blood borne pathogens?

A

Disease causing microorganisms that may be present in blood

78
Q

What are examples of blood borne pathogens?

A

Hepatitis Virus (HVB), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

79
Q

What are invasive procedures?

A

Procedures which include the insertion of needles, vascular catheters, ET tubes and endoscope into the body which allows microbes to gain entrance

80
Q

What is asepsis?

A

Freedom from infections

81
Q

What are the types of asepsis?

A
  • Medical
  • Surgical
  • Sterilization
82
Q

What is medical asepsis?

A

The limiting of the number of microbes, keeping them as low as possible

83
Q

What is the single most important component of medical asepsis?

A

Frequent hand washing

84
Q

When is medical asepsis practiced?

A

All the time

85
Q

What is surgical asepsis?

A

Sterilization applied before, during and after surgery to completely remove or destroy microbes

86
Q

When is surgical asepsis practiced?

A

Required for invasive procedures

87
Q

What are the ways in which microorganisms are removed during surgical asepsis?

A

By heating or chemical processes

88
Q

What is sterilization?

A

The process of complete destruction or elimination of all microorganisms

89
Q

What are the methods of sterilization?

A
  • autoclaving
  • gas sterilization
  • chemical sterilization
  • dry heat
  • ionizing radiation
  • microwaves/non-ionizing radiation
90
Q

What is the most convenient method of sterilization?

A

Autoclaving

91
Q

What is autoclaving?

A

Steam under pressure

92
Q

What is chemical sterilization?

A

Germicidal solutions

93
Q

What are temperatures for dry heat?

A

Greater than 300 degrees

94
Q

What are chemical methods of asepsis?

A

Disinfectants used to kill microorganisms

95
Q

What are physical methods of asepsis?

A
  • Heat
  • Freezing
  • UV light
96
Q

What are barrier methods?

A

Physical shields health care workers wear to prevent the spread of infection

97
Q

What are examples of barrier methods?

A

Gloves, gowns, protective eye wear, face shields

98
Q

What is does PPE stand for?

A

Personal protective equiptment

99
Q

What is PPE?

A

Specialized clothing or equipment worn to prevent skin or mucous membrane exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material

100
Q

What is the most important mean of preventing infection?

A

Hand washing

101
Q

What type of asepsis is hand washing?

A

Medical Asepsis

102
Q

When should radiographers wash their hands?

A

Before and after each patient

103
Q

What are the benefits of alcohol based hand rubs?

A
  • Require less time
  • Convenient
  • More effective for standard hand washing than soap
  • More accessible than sinks
  • Reduce bacterial counts on hands
  • Improve skin condition
104
Q

When x-raying a patient in isolation what must the radiographer do?

A
  • Wash hands before entering the room and immediately after leaving
  • Wear gloves, masks as indicated on the isolation notice posted outside the room
  • Cover the cassette with plastic sterile bag
  • Dispose of all contaminated laundry in biohazard bags
105
Q

What is isolation?

A

Physical separation of the infected person and non-infected persons as a way of breaking the cycle of infection

106
Q

What type of asepsis is isolation?

A

Medical asepsis

107
Q

What is another term for isolation precautions?

A

Barrier precautions

108
Q

What is contact isolation?

A

A type of isolation that is used to prevent the spread of disease acquired from close contact with an infected individual

109
Q

What is respiratory isolation?

A

Type of isolation used to prevent the spread of infection acquired through respiratory droplets

110
Q

Where are patients placed in respiratory isolation?

A

In a private room where all visitors and healthcare workers must wear masks

111
Q

What is disease specific isolation?

A

Patients with the same diseases are roomed together

112
Q

What is strict or complete isolation?

A

A private room with a closed door where patients that are highly contagious stay

113
Q

What must be used in strict or complete isolation?

A

Use of gloves, masks and gowns when in contact with the patient

114
Q

What is protective isolation or reverse isolation?

A

A modified form of strict isolation where patient who are high risk of infection stay

115
Q

What types of patients follow protective isolation?

A

Burn victims, organ transplant patients, patients with severely compromised immune systems

116
Q

What are standard precautions?

A

Type of infection control that should be used for all patients with BBP

117
Q

What fluids that require standard precautions?

A

Blood, semen, Synovial fluid, saliva and CSF

118
Q

What should be used in standard precautions?

A
  • Hand washing
  • Gloves
  • PPE
  • Needle recapping
  • Bio spills
119
Q

What do standard precautions primarily control?

A

The spread of Hepatitis B and HIV

120
Q

What do standard precautions assume?

A

That all blood and bodily fluids from any person may be a source of infection

121
Q

What do standard precautions not apply to?

A

Feces, urine, mucus, sweat, tears and vomit unless they contain blood

122
Q

What body fluids have been proven to spread HIV?

A

Blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk and other bodily fluids containing blood

123
Q

What are additional body fluids that may transmit HIV?

A
  • Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord
  • Fluid surrounding the bone joints (synovial fluid)
  • Fluid surrounding unborn babies
124
Q

What standard precautions should be taken for all patients?

A
  • Wash hands often
  • Wear disposable gloves whenever you touch bodily fluids
  • Eye protection when there is a chance of fluid splattering
  • Wear plastic gowns when clothing is likely to be soiled
  • Never recap needles
  • Disposal of all contaminated material
125
Q

What is Hepatitis?

A

A collection of viral diseases that affect the liver

126
Q

How many types of hepatitis are there?

A

7 types (A-G)

127
Q

What disease are healthcare workers more likely to contract?

A

Hepatitis over HIV

128
Q

Should needles be recapped?

A

No

129
Q

If needles need to be recapped what method should be used?

A

One-hand technique

130
Q

What are the 3 steps of the one-hand technique?

A
  1. Place the cap on a flat surface, then remove your hand from the cap
  2. With one hand, hold the syringe and use the needle to scoop up the cap
  3. When the cap covers the needle completely use the other hand to secure the cap and dispose in the Sharps bin
131
Q

What are the ways blood exposures should be managed?

A
  • Provide immediate care to the exposed site
  • Wash wounds and skin with soap and water
  • Flush mucous membranes with water
  • Seek help at employee health service
132
Q

What is a biohazard kit?

A

Kit that includes supplies for a quick and cost-effective clean-up of a bio-hazardous spill or situation

133
Q

What do biohazard kits include?

A
  • Absorbent powder pack
  • Scoop & scraper
  • Disinfectant surface wipe
  • Red biohazard waste bag
  • Pair of latex free exam gloves
  • Antimicrobial hand wipes
  • Exposure incident form
134
Q

What is AIDS?

A

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

135
Q

What is HIV?

A

Human immunodeficiency virus

136
Q

What is CDC?

A

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

137
Q

What is CSF?

A

Cerebral Spinal Fluid

138
Q

What is HBV?

A

Hepatitis B Virus

139
Q

What is OI?

A

Opportunistic infections

140
Q

What is STD?

A

Sexually transmitted disease