Infection, Prevention and Control Flashcards
What is MRSA?
Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus - gram positive cocci
Healthy patients can carry MRSA with no clinical problems. True or false?
True
When are problems with MRSA expected?
When patient is at high risk of infection e.g. pre-surgery, hospitalisation, injecting drug users
Staph.aureus is part of skin flora. When do things get problematic?
When entry to blood is gained - systemic symptoms of infection (sepsis)
What are enterococci?
gram positive organisms found in the gut
What is the resistant strain of enterococci called?
Glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE)
What are enterobacteriaceae?
Gram negative bacilli resident in the gut e.g E.coli
Multi-resistant enterobacteriaceae are the biggest threat in terms of antibiotic resistance. True or false?
True
What microbes have developed due to excess use of beta-lactams?
Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) microbes
ESBL microbes are capable of inactivating the beta-lactam ring. True or false?
True
What are the challenges with GRE, ESBL and CPE?
They all colonise in the gut, unlike MRSAm in the skin, so prevention of infection is very difficult
What are healthcare associated infections?
Complications of healthcare interventions e.g. surgical wound infection,
contamination for patients with someone else’s colonised resistant microbes
At the surgical site of infection, antibiotics should be given as prophylaxis to prevent infection in which two situations?
Any ‘dirty’ operation (involving faecal matter)
Operations that disturb the normal flora (e.g. urinary, respiratory…)
Antibiotics should cover the expected pathogens for the surgical site
The timing of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery is not important, as long as antibiotic is given. True or false?
False - the timing is critical. Most IV antibiotic prophylaxis should be given within 30 mins before skin incision and oral should be given earlier to give time for absorption
