Infection Control Review Flashcards
Define Personal Protective Equipment
items used to protect employees from infectious material
Define Antiseptic
chemical that kills microorganisms on the skin
Define Disinfectant
chemical used to reduce or lower the number of microorganisms on objects
Define bioburden
any bodily fluid, secretion, or excretion
Define touch surface
surfaces directly touched and contaminated during procedures
Define transfer surface
surfaces not directly touched but often contacted by contaminated instruments
Define Nosocomial
disease originating in a hospital
Define Colonization
disease inhibited in your body that cannot make you sick
Define Infection
disease inhibited in your body that can make you sick
MRSA
Methicilin resistant staphylococcus aureus
VRE
Vancomycin resistant enterococcus
Statistics of HCW who carry MRSA
1 in 20
Concerns of MRSA
easily spread & difficult to contain
Concerns of VRE
hard to Tx & passes on drug resistant genes
Identify something unique about VRE
inflammation, opportunistic pathogen
Top risk factors when dealing with MRSA
invasive procedures & invasive devices
Top risk factors when dealing with VRE
compromised immune system & severe illness
Best way to prevent spread of superbugs?
Wash hands
GNB is unique due to
outer membrane structure which protects bacteria from several antibiotics
Most common GNB found in ICUs
Acinetobacter
when to wash hands
before and after dealing with pt
2 times when to change gloves
in between pts and between body parts
4 rules about handling sharps
- dispose in biohazard puncture proof container
- do not recap needles
- do not carry open needles
- point open needle up or down
4 ways to transmit disease
- airborne
- droplets
- contact
- reverse isolation
what is unique about reverse isolation?
the patient is protected from the public’s germs
number 1 way to transmit disease in hospital
Contact
special precautions in isolation rooms
- room must be private
- visitors and staff wear PPE
- pt wear mask when leaving room
steps in case of exposure
- immediately wash/flush exposed area
- incident report
- blood test
- follow-up
order to put on PPE
- gown
- cap/booties
- mask
- goggles/face shields
- gloves
where does soiled PPE go?
in biohazard container
when to use sterile technique?
surgery/surgery-like procedure
examples of High Risk of Infection Procedures
(invasive/surgical procedures) urinary catheter, Sx, rectal tubes, IV/CL catheter, urostomy bags, colostomy bags, wound dressings
examples of High Risk of Infection Pts
very old and young, neonates, burn, transplant, cancer, suppressed immune system, aids pt
how do Autoclaves clean
with steam and pressure (pressurized steam)
rules about autoclave tape
if no color change, equipment is considered contaminated
how is sterile equipment packaged?
double wrapped
how to handle sterile equipment?
with clean hands and sterile gloves
what to do if sterile protocol is breeched?
tell personnel involved
equipment after procedure should be..
all equipment should be accounted for
5 levels of disinfectant grades
- high level
- hospital level
- intermediate level
- low level
- immersion level
4 disinfectant chemicals commonly used in hospital
- sodium hypochlorite
- iodophor
- glutaraldehyde
- synthetic phenol
