Infection Prevention Flashcards
How can HCAIs develop? Who is at increased risk of them?
HCAIs can develop either as a direct consequence of treatment or from a healthcare environment
Patients, healthcare workers, family members and carers are all at increased risk of acquiring an infection
What are the six most common types of HCAIs in adults?
- Respiratory tract infections (22.8%)
- Urinary tract infections (17.2%)
- Surgical site infections (15.7%)
- Clinical sepsis (10.5%)
- Gastrointestinal infections (8.8%)
- Bloodstream infections (7.3%)
What are the three most common types of HCAIs in children?
- Clinical sepsis (40.2%)
- Respiratory tract infections (15.9%)
- Bloodstream infections (15.1%).
What vaccines should healthcare workers have?
The Department of Health recommends that healthcare staff involved in direct patient care should be up to date with their routine immunisations (e.g. tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio and measles, mumps and rubella) as well as BCG, hepatitis B, influenza and varicella vaccines
Healthcare workers who are working on specialist wards, such as infectious diseases units, may require additional vaccines (e.g. diphtheria booster given five years after original vaccination and subsequently at ten-yearly intervals
What are the five moments to perform hand hygeine?
- Before touching a patient;
- Before a clean or aseptic procedure;
- After body fluid exposure risk;
- After touching a patient;
- After touching a patient’s surroundings (e.g. changing bed linen).
What is needed to wash hands correctly?
To wash hands correctly, both the hands and wrists need to be fully exposed to the product, and therefore should be free from jewellery and long-sleeved clothing (bare below elbow).
Non-analytical studies and case reports have demonstrated that ties, rings and false nails worn by healthcare workers can be colonised with potentially harmful microorganisms, and can impede performing effective hand hygiene
