Infection Prevention Flashcards
What are the possible common sources of infection (other than people) in general terms?
Environmental (Legionella pneumophila) Food/water (food poisoning) Animals (rabies)
Give an example of an infection which is passed directly from person to person.
Influenza Norovirus Neisseria Gonorrhoea
Give an example of an infection which is passed indirectly from person to person.
Malaria (mosquitos)
Define ‘endemic disease’.
The usual background rate (i.e. regularly found among people in particular area)
Define ‘outbreak’
Two+ cases linked in time and place
Define ‘epidemic’
Rate of infection higher than usual background rate
Define ‘pandemic’
Very high rate of infection spreading across many regions, countries etc.
What is the ‘Basic Reproduction number’ (Ro)?
Average number of cases one case generates over course of infectious period in an otherwise uninfected, non-immune population
If Ro is greater than 1 what does this mean?
Increase in number of cases
What is the ‘infectious dose’?
Number of microorganisms required to cause infection
Which factors affect the ‘infectious dose’?
-presentation of microorganism -micro-organism -immunity of potential host
What interventions can be made to limit to spread of an infection with relation to the pathogen?
- Antibacterials, decontamination, sterilisation 2. Eliminate vector breeding sites
What interventions can be made to limit to spread of an infection with relation to patients?
- Improve health- nutrition/medical treatment 2.Immunity- passive and active- creat HERD IMMUNITY
Define ‘herd immunity’.
Resistance to spread of contagious disease in a population due to a sufficiently high level of immunity within the population
What interventions can be made to limit to spread of an infection with relation to practice?
- Avoidance- geographical/protective clothing, equipment 2. Behavioural- safe sex, sharps disposal, food and drink prep
What does this graph show?
Epidemic curve
