Infection control: Key Concepts Flashcards
What is the most important technique for preventing and controlling infection transmission?
- Hand hygiene
What factors determine a microorganism’s potential to cause disease?
- Number of organisms
- Virulence
- Ability to enter and survive in host
- Host susceptibility
How do normal body flora help resist infection?
- Release antibacterial substances
- Inhibit multiplication of pathogens
What are the signs of local inflammation and infection?
- The signs are identical
When can an infection develop?
- When the six elements of the chain of infection are uninterrupted
How are microorganisms transmitted?
- Direct/indirect contact
- Droplets
- Airborne particles
- Contaminated vehicles and vectors
What increases a person’s susceptibility to infection?
- Advancing age
- Poor nutrition
- Stress
- Immune system diseases
- Chronic diseases
- Treatments/conditions compromising immune response
What are the major sites for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?
- Urinary tract
- Respiratory tract
- Bloodstream
- Surgical/traumatic wounds
What does the CDC recommend as an alternative to handwashing?
- Alcohol-based waterless antiseptics to reduce microorganism transmission
What increases a hospitalized patient’s risk for HAIs?
- Invasive procedures
- Medical therapies
- Long hospitalization
- Contact with healthcare personnel
What is the purpose of isolation practices?
- Prevent personnel/patients from acquiring infections
- Prevent transmission of microorganisms
What do standard precautions involve?
- Use of generic barrier techniques for all patients
When are transmission-based precautions used?
- For patients with specific, highly transmissible infections
What does proper cleansing involve?
- Mechanical removal of soil from object/area
What can isolation subject a patient to?
- Sensory deprivation due to restricted environment
