Infection Prevention and Control Flashcards
In a clinical setting, who is responsible for infection prevention and control?
All staff.
However, the establishment and assignment of effective procedures and the ongoing monitoring and accountability rests with the practitioner.
Who is responsible for establishing infection control strategies and procedures also regularly evaluating and updating these procedures?
The TCM practitioner.
True or False
Infections can occur with or without direct skin penetration
True
What are the three mucous membranes where infections are transmitted?
Eye(s), nose, mouth
What is the scientific name of potential sources of infection such as tables, work surfaces, door knobs, and waiting room furniture?
Fomites- objects that have become contaminated with microorganisms and serve as a vehicle of transmission for infection.
In a TCM setting, what are the four main transmission routes?
- Direct Contact Transmission-Direct Physical transfer
- Indirect Contact Transmission-Intermediary contact such as contaminated equipment or work surfaces
- Droplet- Contaminated Sneezing or spittle droplets
- Airborne - infected particles can remain suspended in the air for extended periods of time.
Eg. TB, Measles & chickenpox.
A Vulnerable host is the person infected by the agent. What types of people are the most vulnerable?
The very young and the elderly or those who have suppressed immune systems.
If a work surface is damp, warm and improperly cleaned. How long can viruses survive?
A few hours
How long can the HIV survive on an improperly cleaned surface?
for weeks or longer
How long can Hepatitis A survive on an improperly cleaned surface?
for months
There is no cure for Hepatitis B but there are means to control the infection. _____________ is an effective means to prevent HBV infection.
Vaccination
Practitioners who regularly come into contact with blood and other bodily fluids should be vaccinated
An effective means of prevention against HAV is_____________.
Regular hand washing
Hepatitis C has an acute and chronic form. There are some treatments but there is no ___________.
Vaccine
What is the correct infection control strategy for this patient interaction?
Routine patient interview with no physical interaction.
Hand Washing
Respiratory etiquette* (cover mouth when coughing, wash hands)
What is the correct infection control strategy for this patient interaction?
Physical contact with patient and either you or the patient has an open wound.
Hand Washing
Use of medical gloves, proper disposal, followed by hand washing
What is the correct infection control strategy for this patient interaction?
Contact with patient may involve body fluids or splattering (droplets)
Hand washing
Professional judgement related to use of medical gloves, mask, eye protection, gowns
Proper disposal of protective equipment, followed by hand washing
Masks are effective in minimizing the risks and the spread of droplet-borne organisms but are less effective for ______________.
air borne infections
Non clinical surfaces that are low risk of contamination should be cleaned first then disinfected using a low level disinfectant such as _____, ______, _______, ________.
ammonia
bleach solution 1:500
3% hydrogen peroxide
phenols
What alcohol percentage can be used to clean a clinical contact surface?
70-90%
What is the ratio of bleach used to clean a clinical contact surface?
1:10
What is the sterilization process do?
destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life
Describe the disinfection process.
the process used on inanimate objects, in which all infectious organisms are destroyed except bacterial spores.
What are sterilants?
are a unique class of disinfectants which kill bacterial spores
Decontamination removes ______ ______ from _______ so they are safe to handle or discard.
infectious microorganisms, objects
Germicide is an agent that can kill pathogenic organisms or germs. The term germicide includes both _______ and __________.
antiseptics, disinfectants
antiseptics can be used on skin while disinfectants can only be used on inanimate objects
What is the minimum cleaning requirement process for a critical medical item?
cleaning followed by sterilization
What is the minimum cleaning requirement process of a semi-critical medical item?
cleaning, followed by a high level disinfection
What is the minimum cleaning requirement process of a non-critical medical item?
cleaning, plus low level disinfection
When disinfecting with 2% gluteraldehyde, it is important to never use in a spray bottle and is very ________.
toxic - also very irritating to the skin
What type of application is 6% hydrogen peroxide used in?
Semi critical medical devices
What type of application is 70-90% isopropyl alcohol used in?
semi-critical medical devices, environmental surfaces
Low level and Intermediate level disinfection will kill most viruses, bacteria, most fungal infections but will not kill this type of bacterial spore?
mycobacterium tuberculosis
What percentage of hydrogen peroxide is used for daily cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces?
3% hydrogen peroxide
What are the two main types of sterilization?
steam (autoclave) and dry heat
True of false. When sterilizing medical instruments, the date does not need to be recorded in a log book?
false
Who is responsible for the written policies and procedures of infection control?
the TCM practitioner
What are the two most important vaccines that TCM practitioners and staff are strongly recommended to have?
Hepatitis B and tetanus
What are the correct steps when there has been blood borne pathogen exposure after a sharps injury?
- allow wound to bleed freely, gently wash with soap and water, bandage
- assess patient status and seek patient consent for testing
- staff member should be referred to an infectious disease specialist for ER for further advice if necessary
- document the incident
