Infection Control Flashcards
What is infection control?
Infection control refers to the practices and procedures that prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings.
True or False: Hand hygiene is the most important measure to prevent the spread of infections.
True
Fill in the blank: The _____ technique is used to prevent contamination during medical procedures.
aseptic
What does PPE stand for?
Personal Protective Equipment
Which of the following is NOT a type of PPE? A) Gloves B) Masks C) Stethoscope D) Gowns
C) Stethoscope
What is the primary purpose of sterilization?
To eliminate all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, and spores.
True or False: Disinfection kills all microorganisms.
False
What is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?
Cleaning removes dirt and impurities, while disinfecting kills germs on surfaces.
What is the recommended alcohol concentration for hand sanitizers to be effective?
At least 60% alcohol.
Fill in the blank: _____ is the process of reducing the number of microorganisms to a safe level.
Decontamination
What is one key factor in the transmission of infections?
The presence of pathogens, a susceptible host, and a mode of transmission.
Which type of infection is acquired in a healthcare setting?
Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)
True or False: Antibiotics are effective against viral infections.
False
What is the role of an infection control committee?
To develop and oversee infection prevention policies and practices.
Which method is commonly used to sterilize surgical instruments?
Autoclaving
What is the purpose of an isolation room?
To prevent the spread of infections by separating infected patients from others.
Fill in the blank: _____ precautions are used for all patients, regardless of their infection status.
Standard
What is the most common mode of transmission for respiratory infections?
Airborne transmission
True or False: Gloves should be worn only when handling blood or bodily fluids.
False
What is a common symptom of an infection?
Fever
Which organization provides guidelines for infection control in healthcare settings?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
What is the purpose of a surgical mask?
To protect the wearer from inhaling pathogens and to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets.
Fill in the blank: _____ is a method of preventing infection by using chemical agents.
Chemoprophylaxis
What is the difference between acute and chronic infections?
Acute infections develop quickly and are short-lived, while chronic infections develop slowly and last for a long time.
What is the term for infections that are resistant to multiple antibiotics?
Multidrug-resistant infections
True or False: It is acceptable to reuse disposable PPE.
False
What is a common method for hand hygiene in the absence of soap and water?
Using hand sanitizer.
Fill in the blank: _____ infections are transmitted from animals to humans.
Zoonotic
What is the role of a healthcare worker in infection control?
To follow protocols to prevent the transmission of infections.
Which type of cleaning agent is commonly used in healthcare environments?
Disinfectants
True or False: Patients with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for infections.
True
What is the purpose of vaccination in infection control?
To provide immunity against specific infectious diseases.
Fill in the blank: _____ is the process of monitoring and controlling infection rates in healthcare facilities.
Surveillance
What is the primary goal of infection prevention and control programs?
To reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
Which infection is commonly associated with catheter use?
Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)
True or False: All patients should be treated as if they are potentially infectious.
True
What is the term for the process of removing pathogens from surfaces?
Disinfection
Fill in the blank: _____ is the practice of ensuring cleanliness and hygiene in the healthcare environment.
Environmental control
What is the importance of proper waste disposal in infection control?
To prevent the spread of infections and protect healthcare workers and the environment.
Which organization sets standards for infection control in hospitals?
The Joint Commission
True or False: Airborne precautions are necessary for diseases like tuberculosis.
True
What is the purpose of a biosafety cabinet?
To provide a safe environment for handling infectious materials.
Fill in the blank: _____ is a type of infection that occurs during hospital stay.
Nosocomial
What is the role of handwashing in infection control?
To remove dirt, bacteria, and viruses from hands to prevent transmission.
What is the term for the study of factors affecting the spread of diseases?
Epidemiology
True or False: Only healthcare workers need to practice infection control.
False
What is the significance of the chain of infection?
It illustrates how infections spread and how to break that chain to prevent transmission.
Fill in the blank: _____ is a common bacterial infection that can occur in surgical wounds.
Staphylococcus aureus
What is the role of antimicrobial stewardship in infection control?
To optimize the use of antibiotics and reduce resistance.
True or False: Infection control measures should be implemented only during outbreaks.
False
What is the purpose of a health screening in infection control?
To identify individuals who may be contagious and require isolation.
Fill in the blank: _____ is the practice of isolating patients with contagious diseases.
Quarantine
Which infection is commonly associated with surgical procedures?
Surgical site infection (SSI)
What is the role of education in infection control?
To inform and train healthcare workers and patients on best practices to prevent infections.
True or False: Vaccination is a form of primary prevention against infections.
True
What is the significance of hand hygiene compliance in healthcare settings?
It is crucial for preventing the transmission of infections.
Fill in the blank: _____ are infections that occur in patients with a weakened immune system.
Opportunistic infections
What does the term ‘aseptic technique’ refer to?
Methods used to prevent contamination during medical procedures.
True or False: Infections can only be transmitted through direct contact.
False
What is the importance of routine cleaning in infection control?
To reduce the presence of pathogens in the healthcare environment.
Fill in the blank: _____ is an infection that occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream.
Bacteremia
What is the role of contact precautions?
To prevent the spread of infections through direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment.
True or False: Infection control measures are only necessary in hospitals.
False
What is the purpose of surveillance in infection control?
To monitor infection rates and identify outbreaks.
Fill in the blank: _____ is a method of controlling the spread of infection by using barriers.
Isolation
What is the significance of environmental cleaning in infection control?
It helps eliminate pathogens from surfaces to reduce the risk of infections.
True or False: Infection control practices should be adapted based on the type of infection.
True
What is the role of the World Health Organization in infection control?
To provide global leadership and guidance on infection prevention and control.
Fill in the blank: _____ is the practice of utilizing sterile equipment in medical procedures.
Sterilization
What is the term for a healthcare worker acquiring an infection from a patient?
Occupational exposure
What are germs?
Germs are a part of everyday life, living in our air, soil, water, and on our bodies. Some germs are helpful, while others are harmful.
What is an infection?
An infection occurs when germs enter the body, increase in number, and the body reacts.
Can all germs cause infection?
Only a small portion of germs can cause infection.
What are sources in relation to germs?
Sources are places where infectious agents (germs) live, such as sinks, surfaces, and human skin. Sources are also called reservoirs.
What is a susceptible person?
A susceptible person is someone who is not vaccinated or otherwise immune, such as a person with a weakened immune system who has a way for germs to enter the body.
What is transmission?
Transmission is the way germs move to a susceptible person, depending on people, the environment, and/or medical settings.
What is the minimum number of germs required to enter the body?
≥91 germs to enter the body.
What is transmission in the context of germs?
Transmission is a way germs move to a susceptible person. It depends on people, the environment, and/or medical equipment in healthcare settings. Transmission is also called a pathway.
What does colonization mean?
Colonization is when someone has germs on or in their body but does not have symptoms of an infection. Colonized people can still transmit the germs they carry.
What are the steps for an infection to occur?
For an infection to occur, germs must transmit to a person from a source, enter their body, invade tissues, multiply, and cause a reaction.
What are the sources of germs in healthcare settings?
Sources can be people such as patients, healthcare workers, and visitors.
What are some sources of infection in healthcare settings?
Sources can be people such as patients, healthcare workers, and visitors.
Additional sources include dry surfaces in patient care areas, wet surfaces, cooling towers, and indwelling medical devices.
What are examples of dry surfaces that can be sources of infection?
Examples include bed rails, medical equipment, countertops, and tables.
These surfaces can harbor pathogens.
What are moist environments and biofilms?
Moist environments and biofilms are collections of microorganisms that stick to each other and surfaces in moist environments, like the insides of pipes.
Biofilms can be difficult to eliminate.
What types of equipment can be sources of infection?
Cooling towers, faucets, sinks, and equipment such as ventilators can be sources of infection.
These areas need regular cleaning and maintenance.
What are indwelling medical devices?
Indwelling medical devices include catheters and IV lines.
These devices can introduce pathogens into the body.
What types of debris can be sources of infection?
Dust or decaying debris such as construction dust or wet materials from water leaks can be sources of infection.
Proper waste management is essential.
How can transmission of infections occur?
Transmission can happen through activities such as physical contact.
This includes contact with contaminated surfaces or individuals.
How can transmission happen through physical contact?
Transmission can occur when a healthcare provider touches medical equipment with germs and then touches a patient without cleaning their hands.
What role do sprays and splashes play in transmission?
Infected individuals can create droplets containing germs when they cough or sneeze, which can land on another person’s eyes, nose, or mouth.
How does inhalation contribute to transmission?
Inhalation occurs when infected patients cough or talk, or when construction zones kick up dirt and dust containing germs that others breathe in.
What are sharps injuries?
Sharps injuries refer to accidents where someone is stuck with a used needle.
What makes a person more susceptible to infection?
A person can become more susceptible to infection if they have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or organ transplantation.
What can increase susceptibility to infection?
Underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or organ transplantation can decrease the immune system’s ability to fight infection.
How can medications affect susceptibility to infection?
Medications such as antibiotics, steroids, and certain cancer-fighting medications can decrease the body’s ability to fight infection.
What types of treatments or procedures can increase infection risk?
Treatments or procedures such as urinary catheters, tubes, and surgery can provide additional ways for germs to enter the body.
What are the basic infection prevention measures that healthcare providers can perform?
Healthcare providers can perform basic infection prevention measures to prevent infection.
What are the two tiers of recommended precautions to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings?
- Standard Precautions, used for all patient care.
- Transmission-based Precautions, used for patients who may be infected or colonized with certain germs.
What additional guidelines can healthcare providers follow to prevent transmission of infections?
There are transmission- and germ-specific guidelines providers can follow to prevent transmission and healthcare-associated infections from happening.
What is infection control?
Infection control refers to the policy and procedures implemented to control and minimize the dissemination of infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings with the main purpose of reducing infection rates.
When was infection control established as a formal entity in the United States?
Infection control as a formal entity was established in the early 1950s in the United States.
What did hospitals begin to recognize by the late 1950s and 1960s?
A small number of hospitals began to recognize healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and implemented some of the infection control concepts.
What are the objectives of the infection control activity?
Objectives include identifying the most effective way to prevent infection, summarizing various precautions, reviewing precautions for specific infections, and outlining interprofessional team strategies.
What is the single most effective and least expensive way for providers to prevent the spread of infection?
Identifying the single most effective and least expensive way for providers to prevent the spread of infection is one of the objectives of the activity.
What types of precautions are summarized in the infection control activity?
Standard precautions, contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne precautions are summarized.
What types of precautions are required for a patient with tuberculosis versus a patient with Clostridium difficile?
The activity reviews the types of precautions required for a patient with tuberculosis versus a patient with Clostridium difficile.
What strategies are outlined for the interprofessional team in infection control?
Interprofessional team strategies for ensuring proper infection control measures are being followed to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare institutions are outlined.
What is infection control?
Infection control refers to the policy and procedures implemented to control and minimize the dissemination of infections in healthcare settings with the main purpose of reducing infection rates.
When was infection control established as a formal entity?
Infection control was established as a formal entity in the early 1950s in the United States.
What was the primary purpose of early infection control programs?
The primary purpose was to focus on the surveillance for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and incorporate basic understandings of epidemiology to elucidate risk factors for HAIs.
Who primarily organized and managed early infection control programs?
Most infection control programs were organized and managed by large academic centers rather than public health agencies.
What characterized the new era in infection control in the late 19th and early 20th century?
The new era was characterized by consumer demands for transparency and accountability, increasing scrutiny and regulation, and expectations for rapid reductions in HAI rates.
What are some methods to prevent and reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections?
Methods include implementing infection control programs in the forms of surveillance, isolation, outbreak management, environmental hygiene, employee health, education, and infection prevention policies and management.
Who organized and managed most infection control programs?
Most infection control programs were organized and managed by large academic centers rather than public health agencies.
What marked the new era in infection control?
The new era in infection control began in the late 19th and early 20th century through three pivotal events.
What were the three pivotal events in the new era of infection control?
The three pivotal events included the Institute of Medicine’s 1999 report on errors in health care, the 2002 Chicago Tribune representation on HAIs, and the 2004/2006 publications on significant reductions in bloodstream infection rates.
What characterizes the new era in healthcare epidemiology?
The new era is characterized by consumer demands for transparency and accountability, increasing scrutiny and regulation, and expectations for rapid reductions in HAI rates.
What is the role of infection control?
The role of infection control is to prevent and reduce the risk for hospital-acquired infections.
How can infection control be achieved?
Infection control can be achieved through surveillance, isolation, outbreak management, environmental hygiene, employee health, education, and infection prevention policies.
What is the main purpose of an infection control program?
The main purpose of an infection control program is to prevent and stop the transmission of infections.
What are standard precautions?
Standard precautions are used for all patient care and include hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, appropriate patient placement, and safe injection practices.
What are contact precautions?
Contact precautions are used for patients with known or suspected infections that can be transmitted through contact, requiring standard precautions plus additional measures.
What are droplet precautions?
Droplet precautions are for patients with infections that can transmit by air droplets, requiring a mask on the patient and limitations on transport.
What are airborne precautions?
Airborne precautions are for patients with infections transmitted by the airborne route, requiring an airborne infection isolation room.
What is the most significant precaution in preventing infection transmission?
The most significant precaution is hand hygiene, achieved by washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer.
What should healthcare facilities have for infection control?
Healthcare facilities must have the necessary equipment to implement standard precautions for all patients.
What are standard precautions in healthcare?
Standard precautions are measures taken to prevent infection transmission in healthcare settings.
What is the most significant precaution for preventing infection transmission?
Hand hygiene is the most significant precaution for preventing infection transmission.
How can hand hygiene be achieved?
Hand hygiene can be achieved by washing hands with soap and warm water and/or by using alcohol or nonalcohol based hand sanitizer.
What is the protocol for using gloves as a standard precaution?
New gloves must be used for each patient and disposed of after each patient interaction.
What are examples of personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Examples of PPE include procedure/surgical masks, goggles, face shields, and gowns.
What is required for infection control regarding housekeeping?
Adequate and routine disinfection of surfaces and floors is required for infection control.
How should linens be handled to prevent exposure?
Linens must be handled and transported in a manner that prevents skin and mucous exposure by using appropriate personal protective equipment.
What personnel are needed for a well-structured infection control program in hospitals?
Hospitals need hospital epidemiologists, infection preventionists, and an infection control committee.
What is the role of a hospital epidemiologist?
The hospital epidemiologist interfaces with various departments and administrators to discuss responsibilities, expectations, and resources.
What programs does the hospital epidemiologist oversee?
The epidemiologist generally oversees the infection prevention program and sometimes the quality improvement program.
What qualifications does a hospital epidemiologist typically have?
A physician with a subspecialty in infectious disease usually holds the position.
What is the background of an infection preventionist?
A registered nurse with a background in clinical practice, epidemiology, and basic microbiology typically holds the infection preventionist title.
How many infection preventionists can a hospital have?
Hospitals can have multiple infection preventionists depending on the number of beds, patient mix, and CDC recommendations.
What is the composition of the infection control committee?
The committee consists of an interprofessional group of clinicians, nurses, administrators, epidemiologists, infection preventionists, and representatives from the laboratory, pharmacy, operating rooms, and central services.
What are the responsibilities of the infection control committee?
The committee is responsible for generating, implementing, and maintaining policies related to infection control.
What are the responsibilities of the central services committee?
To generate, implement, and maintain policies related to infection control.
What is the primary aim of surveillance programs in hospitals?
To assess the rate of infections and endemic likelihood.
Where do hospitals typically target surveillance for HAIs?
In areas with the highest rate of infection, including ICUs, hematology/oncology, and surgery units.
What recent change has occurred in surveillance programs?
Surveillance has expanded to include hospital-wide based surveillance as a mandatory requirement by public health authorities.
How has the implementation of electronic health records impacted surveillance?
It allows medical providers to access electronic records at patients’ bedside and assess risks and surveillance data.
What is the main purpose of isolation in infection control?
To prevent the transmission of microorganisms from infected patients to others.
Why should isolation only be utilized when necessary?
It is expensive and time-consuming, and not implementing it can increase morbidity and mortality.
What guidelines have been issued by the CDC regarding isolation?
Guidelines outline approaches to enhance isolation based on standard and transmission-based precautions.
What are the main elements of standard precautions?
Hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and safe needle practices.
What is the bare below the elbows initiative?
A requirement for healthcare providers to wear short-sleeved garments without accessories.
What are transmission-based precautions?
Precautions based on the type of microorganism to prevent disease transmission.
How can outbreaks of microorganisms be identified?
Through the surveillance system when infection rates cross the 95% confidence interval threshold.
What should be done when clusters of infections are reported?
An initial investigation should be conducted to assess if it is indeed an outbreak.
What methods can be used to identify common microorganisms in outbreaks?
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis or whole-genome sequencing.
Why is education important for healthcare professionals?
Healthcare professionals need to be educated and periodically reinforce their knowledge through seminars and workshops to ensure high understanding of how to prevent communicable diseases transmission.
What is the role of infection prevention liaison programs in hospitals?
The hospital might develop infection prevention liaison programs by appointing a healthcare professional who could reach out and disseminate the infection prevention information to all members of the hospital.
How should employee health services collaborate with infection control programs?
It is essential for the infection control program to work closely with employee health services to address important topics related to employee well-being and infection prevention.
What screening do new employees undergo in relation to communicable diseases?
All new employees undergo a screening by the employee health service to ensure they are up-to-date with their vaccinations and have adequate immunity against common communicable infections.
Which vaccinations are important for healthcare employees?
Healthcare employees should be up-to-date with vaccinations for hepatitis B, rubella, mumps, measles, tetanus, pertussis, and varicella, and encouraged to take the annual influenza vaccination.
What periodic test should healthcare employees undergo?
Periodic tests for latent tuberculosis should be performed to assess for any new exposure.
What is the purpose of antimicrobial stewardship programs?
Antimicrobial stewardship programs are designed to control antimicrobial resistance, improve outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.
What are the two types of antimicrobial stewardship programs?
Antimicrobial stewardship programs can be designed to be active and/or passive, targeting pre-prescription or post-prescription periods.
What does an active pre-prescription program include?
An active pre-prescription program includes prescription restrictions and preauthorization.
What does a passive post-prescription program involve?
Passive post-prescription involves the integration of electronic medical records to generate alerts for prolonged prescriptions and antibiotic-microorganism mismatch.
What is the main purpose of the infection control program?
The main purpose of the infection control program is to develop, implement, and evaluate policies and interventions to minimize the risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
How are policies for infection control developed?
Policies are usually developed by the hospital’s infection control committee based on the hospital’s needs and evidence-based practice.
What are vertical and horizontal interventions in infection control?
Vertical interventions reduce risk from a single pathogen, while horizontal interventions target multiple pathogens transmitted in the same manner.
What is an example of a vertical intervention?
An example of a vertical intervention is the surveillance cultures and subsequent isolation of patients infected with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
What is an example of a horizontal intervention?
An example of a horizontal intervention is handwashing hygiene, where clinicians are required to wash their hands before and after patient contact.
Why is environmental hygiene emphasized in hospitals?
As the inpatient population becomes more susceptible to infections, the emphasis on environmental hygiene has increased.
What newer methods improve hospital decontamination?
Newer methods include steam, antimicrobial surfaces, automated dispersal systems, sterilization techniques, and disinfectants.
What guidelines has the CDC published regarding environmental hygiene?
The CDC has published guidelines that emphasize collaboration between federal agencies and hospital engineers, architects, public health, and medical professionals.
What is the primary goal of infection control in hospitals?
To manage a safe and clean environment, including air handling, water supply, and construction.
What does infection control clinically translate to?
Identifying and containing infections to minimize dissemination.
What role do clinicians play in infection control?
They identify patients’ signs and symptoms suspicious for transmissible infections, such as tuberculosis.
What should be implemented even before a confirmatory diagnosis in infection control?
Precaution orders to avoid possible transmission of infectious pathogens.
What is a significant outcome of an efficient infection control program?
Fewer infection rates and lower risk for the development of multidrug-resistant pathogens.
What are hospital-acquired infections?
One of the most common healthcare complications.
What is the most effective way for clinicians to apply infection control principles?
Washing hands before and after any patient interaction.
How can hospitals promote handwashing?
By providing reminders at all bedsides and having sinks or hand sanitizer stations available.
What is a simple measure to avoid the transmission of droplets?
Educating patients to use their forearm to block their cough or sneeze.
What challenges does infection control face?
Increasing number of hospitalized patients, prevalence of invasive technologies, and immunocompromised patients.
What can poor infection control programs lead to?
Increased rates of infections and the likelihood of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
What is a major limitation in achieving optimal infection control?
Resources.
What should hospital epidemiologists consider when implementing new interventions?
The balance between cost, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and economic impact.
What is the major direct complication of an inappropriately managed infection control program?
Infection risk for the patient.
What types of infections can patients be at risk for?
Bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections.
What can severe infections lead to?
Sepsis and possible septic shock, which are life-threatening.
What is the most basic preventive method in infection control?
Washing hands.
Why should nursing observations and recommendations be taken seriously?
Nurses have the highest level of contact with patients and access to all aspects of the facility.
What is infection prevention and control (IPC)?
IPC is a practical, evidence-based approach to preventing patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections.
Who is involved in effective IPC?
Effective IPC requires constant action from policymakers, facility managers, health workers, and those who access health services.
Why is IPC unique in patient safety?
IPC is universally relevant to every health worker and patient at every health care interaction.
What can defective IPC cause?
Defective IPC can cause harm and can kill.
What is impossible without effective IPC?
Without effective IPC, it is impossible to achieve quality health care delivery.
What aspects of health care does IPC affect?
IPC affects hand hygiene, surgical site infections, injection safety, antimicrobial resistance, and hospital operations during emergencies.
Why are IPC programmes important in low- and middle-income countries?
They are particularly important because health care delivery and medical hygiene standards may be negatively affected by secondary infections.
What percentage of patients is harmed in health care?
Around 1 in every 10 patients is harmed in health care, resulting in more than 3 million deaths annually due to unsafe care.
In low-to-middle income countries, as many as 4 in 100 people die from unsafe care.
What proportion of harm in health care is preventable?
Above 50% of harm (1 in every 20 patients) is preventable; half of this harm is attributed to medications.
What is the estimated rate of patient harm in primary and ambulatory settings?
As many as 4 in 10 patients are harmed in primary and ambulatory settings, with up to 80% of this harm potentially avoidable.
What are common adverse events that may result in avoidable patient harm?
Common adverse events include medication errors, unsafe surgical procedures, health care-associated infections, diagnostic errors, patient falls, pressure ulcers, patient misidentification, unsafe blood transfusion, and venous thromboembolism.
How does patient harm affect global economic growth?
Patient harm potentially reduces global economic growth by 0.7% a year, with indirect costs amounting to trillions of US dollars each year.
What can be done to reduce patient harm?
Investment in reducing patient harm can lead to significant improvements in health care safety.
What is the most fundamental principle of health care?
“First, do no harm” is the most fundamental principle of any health care service.
What are the implications of avoidable patient harm?
Avoidable patient harm has major human, moral, ethical, and financial implications.
How is patient safety defined?
Patient safety is defined as the absence of preventable harm to a patient and reduction of risk of unnecessary harm associated with health care to an acceptable minimum.
What does the broader health system context of patient safety involve?
It involves a framework of organized activities that creates cultures, processes, procedures, behaviours, technologies, and environments in health care that consistently and sustainably lower risks, reduce the occurrence of avoidable harm, make error less likely, and reduce the impact of harm.
What can investment in reducing patient harm lead to?
Investment in reducing patient harm can lead to significant financial savings and better patient outcomes.
What is an example of a good return on investment in health care?
An example of a good return on investment is patient engagement, which can reduce the burden of harm by up to 15%.
What is the prevalence of medication-related harm in health care?
Medication-related harm affects 1 out of every 30 patients in health care, with more than a quarter of this harm regarded as severe or life threatening.
Half of the avoidable harm in health care is related to medications.
What percentage of preventable patient harm is reported in surgical settings?
10% of preventable patient harm in health care was reported in surgical settings.
Most of the resultant adverse events occur pre- and post-surgery.
What is the global rate of health care-associated infections?
The global rate of health care-associated infections is 0.14%, increasing by 0.06% each year.
These infections result in extended hospital stays, long-standing disability, increased antimicrobial resistance, additional financial burden, and avoidable deaths.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a serious condition that occurs when the body’s immune system has an extreme response to an infection.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a serious condition that happens when the body’s immune system has an extreme response to an infection, causing damage to its own tissues and organs.
Of all sepsis cases managed in hospitals, 23.6% were health care associated, and approximately 24.4% of affected patients lost their lives as a result.
What are diagnostic errors?
Diagnostic errors occur in 5-20% of physician-patient encounters.
According to doctor reviews, harmful diagnostic errors were found in a minimum of 0.7% of adult admissions. Most people will suffer a diagnostic error in their lifetime.
What are patient falls?
Patient falls are the most frequent adverse events in hospitals, with a rate of occurrence ranging from 3 to 5 per 1000 bed-days.
More than one third of these incidents result in injury, reducing clinical outcomes and increasing the financial burden on systems.
What is venous thromboembolism?
Venous thromboembolism, more simply known as blood clots, is a highly burdensome and preventable cause of patient harm, contributing to one third of the complications attributed to hospitalization.
What are pressure ulcers?
Pressure ulcers are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue.
What are pressure ulcers?
Pressure ulcers are injuries to the skin or soft tissue that develop from pressure to particular parts of the body over an extended period. If not promptly managed, they can have fatal complications.
How common are pressure ulcers in hospitalized adults?
Pressure ulcers affect more than 1 in 10 adult patients admitted to hospitals.
What is the impact of pressure ulcers?
Despite being preventable, pressure ulcers have a significant impact on the mental and physical health of individuals and their quality of life.
What are the risks associated with unnecessary transfusions?
Unnecessary transfusions and unsafe transfusion practices expose patients to the risk of serious adverse transfusion reactions and transfusion-transmissible infections.
What is the average incidence of serious adverse transfusion reactions?
Data from a group of 62 countries show an average incidence of 12.2 serious reactions per 100,000 distributed blood components.
What is patient misidentification?
Patient misidentification is the failure to correctly identify patients, which can lead to catastrophic adverse effects, such as wrong-site surgery.
What did the Joint Commission report in 2018 reveal about patient identification?
The report identified 409 sentinel events of patient identification out of 3,326 incidents (12.3%) between 2014 and 2017.
How many injections are administered worldwide each year?
Each year, 16 billion injections are administered worldwide.
What risks do unsafe injection practices pose?
Unsafe injection practices place patients and health and care workers at risk of infectious and non-infectious adverse events.
What was estimated regarding hepatitis infections due to unsafe injections from 2000-2010?
An estimated 1.67 million hepatitis B virus infections, between 157,592 and 315,120 hepatitis C virus infections, and between 16,939 and 33,877 HIV infections were associated with unsafe injections.
What are some factors leading to patient harm in healthcare?
Factors include system and organizational factors, technological factors, and more.
What are examples of system and organizational factors that can lead to patient harm?
Examples include the complexity of medical interventions, inadequate processes and procedures, disruptions in workflow and care coordination, resource constraints, and inadequate staffing and competency development.
What are technological factors that can contribute to patient harm?
Technological factors include issues related to health information systems.
What are human factors and behavior that affect patient safety?
Communication breakdown among health care workers, ineffective teamwork, fatigue, burnout, and cognitive bias.
What patient-related factors impact patient safety?
Limited health literacy, lack of engagement, and non-adherence to treatment.
What external factors influence patient safety?
Absence of policies, inconsistent regulations, economic and financial pressures, and challenges related to the natural environment.
What is the system approach to patient safety?
Most mistakes that lead to harm are due to system or process failures rather than individual practices.
What is required to understand the underlying causes of errors in medical care?
A shift from a traditional blaming approach to a more system-based thinking.
What does a system-based thinking approach attribute errors to?
Poorly designed system structures and processes, and the human nature of health care workers under stress.
What defines a safe health system?
A safe health system adopts measures to avoid and reduce harm through organized activities.
What is the role of leadership in a safe health system?
Leadership commitment to safety and creating a culture where safety is prioritized is essential.
What ensures a safe working environment in health systems?
Ensuring a safe working environment and the safety of procedures and clinical processes.
How can health and care workers improve safety?
Building competencies of health and care workers and improving teamwork and communication.
How are patients and families involved in health safety?
Engaging patients and families in policy development, research, and shared decision-making.
What systems are established for patient safety?
Establishing systems for patient safety incident reporting for learning and continuous improvement.
What are the benefits of investing in patient safety?
Investing in patient safety positively impacts health outcomes, reduces costs, improves efficiency, and restores trust in health care systems.
What is the WHO’s stance on patient safety?
The WHO recognizes patient safety as a global health priority and an essential component of health systems.
