Infection Prevention and Control

Question 1

Impact of healthcare-acquired infection

Answer 1

-Increased length of stay
-Cause pain/discomfort
-Can cause significant decline in overall health
-May have long term or permanent effects
-Increased waiting times in hospitals
-Extra cost

Question 2

Factors contributing to healthcare-acquired infection
(MMMI)

Answer 2

-More ill / aged / frail patients
-More complex & invasive surgical procedures
-Mixing of patient populations
-Increase in antibiotic-resistant organisms

Question 3

Standard precaution for HCAI

Answer 3

-hand hygiene
-PPE
-safe disposal of waste
-safe management of care equipment
-Skin: cover any cuts
-Sharps safety

Question 4

Antimicrobial stewardship

Answer 4

-Antibiotic prescribing guidelines
-Education and audit antibiotic
strategy
-Restrict use of antibiotics
-Antibiotic ward rounds

Question 5

Outbreak surveillance

Answer 5

Improve utilisation of lab results
& sensitivities
-Notifiable disease reporting
-Voluntary surveillance: Decided by individual hospitals
-Sentinel surveillance: Carried out by various reference centres/laboratories

Question 6

Definition: Infectious disease screening
Examples?

Answer 6

Used to to identify and treat people with infections before they develop complications and before they spread disease to others

Example:
-MRSA screening

Question 7

Healthcare-associated infection (HCAI)

Answer 7

Any infection that is acquired as a result
of interaction with healthcare provision

Question 8

Types of screening

Answer 8

-Sickle cell
-New born hearing
-Diabetic eyes screening