Infection Control Flashcards
What are the 6 components of the infection cycle?
- infectious agent- bacteria, viruses, fungi
- reservoir- natural habitat of organism
- portal of exit- how it leaves
- means of transmission- direct, airborne, indirect, etc
- portal of entry
- susceptible host
4 types of infectious agents?
Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Parasites
Virus
- smallest of all microorganisms
- antibiotics have no effect on viruses
- antivirals are used for viruses
Fungi
- plant like organisms that present in air, soil, and water
- molds and yeasts
- can cause infections
- ex; yeast infections, ringworm
- antifungals are used to treat these
Bacteria
- most significant and most prevalent in hospital settings
- can be categorized by shape
- antibiotics are used to treat these
- some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics
What is the classification of Bacteria?
- Cocci, Bacilli, or spirochetes
- gram pos or neg
- aerobic or anaerobic
needs O1
aerobic
What are the 4 factors that affect an organism’s potential to produce disease?
- number of organisms
- virulence
- competence of person’s immune system
- length and intimacy of contact between person and microorganism
What are 5 possible reservoirs for microorganisms?
Other people Animals Soil Food, water, milk Inanimate objects- ex; tables
What are the 5 common portals of exit for infections?
Respiratory tracts GI Genitourinary tract GU Breaks in skin Blood and tissue
What are the stages of infection? (4)
Incubation period- organisms growing and multiplying
Prodromal stage- person is most infectious, often spreads it not knowing they have it.
Full stage of illness- presence of symptoms and signs, still infectious
Convalescent period- recovery from the infection
What factors affect the host susceptibility?
- Intact skin and mucous membranes
- Normal pH levels
- Body’s WBC
- Age, sex, race, and other heredity factors
- Immunization, natural (if they had it they will have antibodies towards it) or acquired (immunizations)
- Fatigue, climate, nutritional and general health status
- stress
- use of invasive or indwelling medical devices ex; catheters, IV, etc
Outcome Identification and Planning/Infection Control
- hand hygiene
- identify signs of infection
- maintain adequate nutritional intake
- proper disposal or soiled articles
- appropriate disinfecting techniques
- awareness of necessity immunizations
- demonstrate stress-reduction techniques
What are the 5 cardinal signs of acute infection?
redness heat swelling pain loss of function
What Lab data indicates infection?
- WBC over 10,000
- increase in monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, and eosinophils
- elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (how fast erythrocytes settle at ht bottom of a test tube)
- presence of pathogen in lab test (urine, blood, etc)
5 MOMENTS FOR HAND HYGIENE
- before touching a patient
- before a clean or aseptic procedure
- after a body fluid exposure risk
- after touching a patient
- after touching patient surroundings
What is bacterial flora and what are the two types?
-collective bacteria and other microorganisms in a host are known as flora
Transient: attached loosely on skin, easy to remove
Resident: found in creases of skin, requires friction to remove
What are the 4 categories responsible for a majority of the HAI’s?
- catheter- associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)
- Surgical site infection (SSI)
- Central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
What are some risk factors for VRE?
- compromised immune systems
- recent surgery (breaks skin)
- Invasive devices (foreign body)
- prolonged antibiotic use
- prolonged hospitalization (longer stay= more opportunities to become infected)
- chemotherapy
____ is used to treat colitis (inflammation of the intestine caused by certain bacteria) that may occur after antibiotic treatment.
Vancomycin
CDC Recommendations to prevent C. Diff Infection (CDI)
- avoid use of electronic equipment that is difficult to clean
- disinfect items and equipment
- gown and gloves
- patients in private rooms or w others that have the SAME STRAIN of C. diff
- hand hygiene
- educate providers on transmission, presentation, and epidemiology
- use antimicrobials
C. Diff symptoms and facts
symptoms: abdominal pain, very watery diarrhea
- not killed with antibacterial rubs
- very common and contagious
What are the body’s 3 defenses against infection?
- Normal flora: (the microorganisms that live on another living organism without causing disease)
- Inflammatory response
- Immune response
What are the 6 factors determining use of sterilization and disinfection methods?
- nature of organisms present
- # of organisms present
- Type of equpiment
- Intended use of equipment
- Available means for sterilization and disinfection
- Time
3 types of transmission-based precautions:
airborne: spread through air. ex: chickenpox, TB, etc. PATIENTS SHOULD BE IN A NEG AIR PRESSURE ROOM.
droplet: can land on things, they are bigger. ex: rubella, mumps, adenovirus
contact: through touch. ex: MRSA, C. Diff
What are the 2 categories of aseptic technique:
Medical asepsis: clean technique
Surgical asepsis: sterile technique
Where is surgical asepsis used?
- operating room, labor and delivery area
- certain diagnostic testing areas
- patient bedside ex; catheter
Teaching Medical Asepsis at home:
- wash foods
- wash hands
- cook foods completely
- keep food refrigerated
- wash hands after bathroom
Evaluating Patient Goals: (4)
- use techniques of medical asepsis
- Identify health habits and lifestyle patterns promoting health
- state signs and symptoms of an infection
- Identify unsafe situations at home
