Infection Control Flashcards
Disinfection
eliminating many/all microorganisms
Alcohols, chlorines, hydrogen peroxide
Examples: patient rooms between inpatients; linens, stethoscopes
Sterilization
complete elimination of all pathogens, including spores
Steam under pressure and special chemicals
Examples: surgical instruments, implants, urinary catheters
Contact Precautions
Gowns, gloves
Wash hands with soap, water after leaving room (+)
Contact Precautions - Examples
Major wound infections VRE MRSA Scabies Herpes simplex Cdiff (contact PLUS)
Droplet Precautions
Droplets larger than 5 microns, being within 3 feet of patient
Private room
Mask/respirator
not N95
Droplet Precautions - Examples
Diptheria Rubella Pertussis Mycoplasma PNA Meningococcal PNA or sepsis Influenza
Airborne Precautions
(highest risk precaution)
Droplets smaller than 5 microns, remain in air for longer periods of time
*Private negative pressure room (suction effect - keeps all the bad air in)
Air is filtered thru high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) *N95 respirator for personnel
Airborne Precautions - Examples
Examples:
Measles
Chickenpox
TB
“Reverse” isolation - Protective Environment
Protects immunocompromised patients
*Positive pressure private room - pushes air out (bad germs from the outside doesn’t come in)
Air is filtered thru high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
Patient must wear mask when out of their room
Lab Data Supporting Infection
Elevated Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Cultures of urine, blood, sputum, or other drainage
Elevated WBC count (normal is 5000 to 10,000/mm3)
Changes in WBC differential (see next slide)
Exudate - Serous
clear, thin, and watery (plasma)
Exudate - Purulent
opaque, thick, and viscous (WBC & bacteria)
Exudate - Sanguineous
bloody drainage (RBC)
Exudate - Sero-sanguineous
both blood and the liquid
Neutrophils: 40% to 60%
increased chances of acute infection; decreased viral infection, widespread bacteremia
Lymphocytes: 20% to 40%
increased chances of chronic bacterial or viral infection, Hepatitis
Monocytes: 2% to 8%
increased chances of chronic bacterial or viral infection, TB
Eosinophils: 1% to 4%
increased chances of parasitic infection
Basophils: 0.5% to 1%
increased chances of after splenectomy, allergic rxn, varicella; decreased chances of acute infection
Hepatitis A:
feces;
highly contagious liver infection
vaccine
Hepatitis B:
blood, body fluids, sexual contact
highly contagious liver infection
vaccine
Hepatitis C:
blood, body fluids, sexual contact
almost always chronic and spreads only by blood
no vaccine
HSV 1:
lesions on mouth/skin, saliva
herpes
Varicella
spread by cough, sneeze
Chickenpox
