Infection Control Flashcards
What is the goal of infection control?
Break the chain
What is an infection?
The invasion and multiplication of a pathogen in or on body tissue causing clinal manifestations
When can normal or resident flora cause infections
- When it goes into a place where it is not normally found
- A susceptible person
- When getting treated for something else
What is a systemic infection? Is it the same as sepsis?
affects more than one area of the body. Different than sepsis
What is a nosocomial infection? Give an example
Infection acquired by patient while in a hospital
Ex. pneumonia
What is a Iatrogenic infection? Give an example
A nosocomial infection that is a result of a diagnostic/therapeutic treatment.
Ex. catheterization
What is a disease outbreak?
the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographical area or season
What is a “superbug”
Antibiotic Resistant Organisms
What are some examples of ARO’s?
MRSA and VRE
What are the 6 links in a chain of infection?
- Infectious Agent
- Reservoir
- Portal of Exit
- Means of Transmission
- Portal of Entry
- Susceptible Host
What is a pathogen?
A type of microorganism that can cause infection
What is an exogenous vs endogenous infection?
Exo: outside
Endo: internal
What is the difference between colonization and infection?
Colonization: germs in the body that can make others sick but doesn’t effect you
Infection: Germs in the body that make you sick and provoke a immune response
What is a reservoir?
A environment that supports the microorganism and allows it to remain in its current state and multiply
What is a portal of exit?
Path by which a pathogen leaves the reservoir
What are the most common portal of exits
Mucous membrane
What is the means of transmission?
How the microorganism gets from point A to point B
What are the 5 modes of transmission?
- Contact (direct and indirect)
- Droplet
- Airborne
- Common vehicle
- Vector- Borne
What is the difference between direct and indirect contact when transmitting a microorganism?
Direct: occurs when they are transferred by direct physical contact with infected patient
Indirect: when a microorganism is transferred via inadiment object
What is droplet transmission?
When droplets bigger than 5 microns get transferred through the air to a distance less than 2 meters from an individuals respiratory tract during coughing onto mucous membranes
Give an example of droplet transmission
Ebola or SARS
What is airborne transmission?
When microoganisms travel through the air that are smaller than 5 microns on dust particles
What is common vehicle transmission?
A single contaminated source that may result in a large-scale outbreak or spreads to multiple hosts
What are examples of common vehicle transmission?
Food, water sources and medications
What is vector-borne transmission?
Vectors are living organisms that can transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans
What are examples of vector borne transmitted diseases?
- Lyme disease
- West- nile
What is the portal of entry?
Same as the portal of exit
How do you stop the spread of an infectious agent?
break the chain at any point
What is asepsis?
Absence of pathogens
What is the most important way to prevent the transmission of microorganism?
Hand hygiene
What does PCRA stand for
Point of risk assessment
When would we perform this
To determine what PPE is needed
When are gloves needed?
When your hands may come in contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes or non intact skin
When do we wear gowns?
During activities that may cause soiling or generate splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids
When should we use facial protection?
- To protect from splashes or sprays
- As a barrier for infectious sources
- As a barrier when performing aseptic/sterile procedures
- To protect susceptible hosts when within 2 meters
When would we wear a N95 respirator?
For infectious airborne diseases and specific aerosol generating medical procedures
What are the two tiers of precautions
1: routine practices (standard precautions)
2: Additional precautions (airborne, droplet or contact)
What is the difference between an open and closed bed?
Open: top covers folded down to make it easier for client to enter
Closed: Top sheet, blanket and bedspread are drawn up under the pillow
What is the difference when making a surgical bed?
Fold sheets to one side so when person gets transferred in, the sheets can be pulled over
