Infection Prevention And Control Flashcards

1
Q

What do we do before performing hand hygiene?
(4)

A

Expose forearms (bare below the elbow)

Remove all hand jewellery

Make sure fingernails are clean and short, and don’t wear artificial nails or nail products

Cover all cuts or abrasions with a waterproof dressing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is allowed to be worn during hand hygiene?
(2)

A

A single,plain metal finger ring, e.g. wedding band (but should be removed or moved up during hand hygiene)

A religious bangle (but should be moved up the forearm during hand hygiene and secured during patient care activities)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When should we wash our hands with non-antimicrobial liquid soap and water?
(4)

A

If hands are visibly dirty

When caring for patients with vomiting or diarrhoeal illnesses

When caring for a patient with suspected or known gastrointestinal infections

(In all other circumstances, use alcohol-bases handrubs (ABHRs) )

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

When should we clean our hands?
(6)

A

Before touching a patient

Before clean or aseptic procedures

After body fluid exposure risk

After touching a patient

After touching a patient’s immediate surroundings

Before putting on gloves

After removing gloves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

When should we wear gloves?
(4)

A

When exposed to blood and/or other body fluids or non-intact skin

It should be changed immediately after each patient and/or after completing a procedure even on the same patient, and hand hygiene is performed

Changed if a puncture is suspected

They’re NEVER cleaned with BBHR or soap between use

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is clinical waste?
(3)

A

Waste that contains micro-organisms or their toxins will cause disease

Waste that contains or is contaminated with a medicine that contains a biologically active pharmaceutical agent

Waste that is a body fluid containing or contaminated with a dangerous substance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is offensive waste?
(3)

A

It’s not clinical waste

It’s not infectious

It’s non-hazardous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

When was the Human Rights Act introduced?

A

1998

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What did the Human Rights Act 1998 say everyone has the right to?
(4)

A

The right to life

Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment

Freedom from slavery and forced labour

Right to liberty and security, e.g. when the government tried to force everyone to stay inside during covid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does human rights link to healthcare professionals?

A

The standards expected of healthcare professionals may be higher than the minimum required by law, e.g. the government tried to get all healthcare professionals to get the Covid vaccine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How long do healthcare professionals have to report incidents after observing or suspecting something?

A

24 hours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When was the Mental Capacity Act introduced?

A

2007

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does the Mental Capacity Act say?
(3)

A

Everyone has capacity unless proven otherwise

It sets out the legal requirements to assess whether or not a person has the capacity to make a decision

Where a person lacks the capacity to make a decision for themselves, any decision must be made in that person’s best interests

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When does a person lack capacity?
(4)

A

If they have an impairment or disturbance that affects the way their mind or brain works, e.g. a disability, the effect of drugs or alcohol, etc

The impairment means that they’re unable to make a specific decision at the time it needs to be made

People may have capacity to consent to some events but not to others. They may also be able to consent at some times but not others.

Lasting power of attorney (LPA)- this is a person who’s legally authorised to make decisions on behalf of someone. This lasts forever, even if the impairment goes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

When is a LPA chosen?

A

Ideally, before the impairment gets too serious

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Who is the LPA for children?

A

The parent/carer/guardian

17
Q

What is important about consent?
(5)

A

Valid consent must be given before starting treatment or starting physical investigation

It allows patents to have a right over what happens to their own bodies

A professional who doesn’t respect this may be liable to both legal action by the patient and to action by their professional body

If professionals fail to get proper consent and the patient is harmed as a result of treatment, this may be a factor of negligence.

Where a patient has the capacity to make decisions about treatment, they have the right to refuse treatment- even when the consequences of such decisions could lead to their death

18
Q

What does consent have to be for it to be valid?
(5)

A

Given voluntarily by an appropriately informed person who has the capacity to consent

The patient has to be over 18, with someone who has parental responsibility over them or with someone who has an LPA

Informed- the person must be given all of the information about what the treatment involves, including the benefits and risks, whether they’re alternative treatments, and what will happen if the treatment doesn’t happen

Current- the person should consent every time. The patient can withdraw at anytime for any reason. If this happens, write it down that the patient withdrew their consent.

Acquiescence, where the person doesn’t know what the treatment entails, is not consent

19
Q

What is acquiescence?

A

Reluctant acceptance

20
Q

What do we do when asking consent from a 17 year old?

A

Ask both the patient (17 yr old) and the carer

21
Q

What are the types of consent?

A

Verbal

Written

Implied