Infection Prevention & Control Flashcards
What is infection?
Infection is a pathogen that invades the body and causes signs/symptoms
What is colonization?
This is when the pathogen/micro lives in the body, but does not cause any symptoms
Example: when someone comes in contact with mono, it can live in a dormant state in their body
A healthcare acquired infection (HAI)
Infections that occur inside the hospital
-As nurses we must try to prevent this
-It increases the length of stay
-It increases healthcare cost
Communicable disease
This is something that can be passed to one another (Covid, flu, hepatitis)
These diseases must be reported for public health safety
What are factors that affect the spread of infection
Susceptibility: how likely someone is to catch it an illness
Drug resistance: micro organisms have evolved and have made themselves more resistant against medication’s (penicillin, resistant)
Immunosuppression: someone who is on chemo, auto immune disease, which are more likely to get sick
What increases risk for infection?
- Increased exposure to pathogens:
Hospitals
-Invasive procedures: anything that has an open wound is at risk if the procedures we’re not done correctly, lack of sanitation (ex: Foley, catheter, IV, outpatient surgery)
Some examples of micro organisms include
Bacteria: which can be killed
Viruses: which are short-lived, symptoms can be treated, if necessary, antiviral medication could be provided
Fungi
Protozoa
Modes of transmission
Direct contact: touching
Indirect contact: surfaces
Droplet: sneezing, coughing, germs can spread up to 6 feet
Airborne: coughing, sneezing (germs that stay in the air from minutes to hours)
Vehicles: contaminated objects (water, blood, food)
Vectors: living organisms that can cause diseases(mosquitoes, text, raccoons)
What is the difference between local and systemic infection?
Localized means an infection is housed in one area
Systemic means it has spread throughout the body through the bloodstream
Three defenses against infections are
Normal flora: (good)micro organisms that hang out on the skin
Body systems : circulatory system, immune system, G.I. track(flushes out infections)
Inflammation: it’s the white blood cells that destroy bad pathogens
What are four Hospital acquired infections(HAI)
75% of hospitals acquired infections are caused by catheters—-
Clostridium Difficile (c.diff)
Central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
Catheter associated urinary track infection (CAUTI)
Hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP)
Surgical site infection
Clostridium Difficile (c.diff)
-Is watery diarrhea
-Puts the patient at risk for dehydration
-You must perform hand, hygiene with soap and water
-Services must be cleaned with bleach
Could be associated to antibiotic use
symptoms: foul smell
Central line associated bloodstream infection(CLABSI)
May be related to unsterile insertion or frequent manipulation of
Symptoms: are different. They just depends on the severity.
-Lethargy
-Fever
-Chills
-Altered mental status(AMS)
-Hypertension
The nurse must stop IV and send them in to culture to find root cause
Catheter associated urinary tract infection(CAUTI)
-75% of all hospital acquired infection
-May be related to unsterile insertion, -frequent catheterizations
-Poor peri care
-In proper drainage management
Symptoms: fever, AMS, change in urine color
Hospital acquired pneumonia(HAP)
May be related to altered LLC, aspiration, tracheostomy, PEG tube, post, operative and mobility
Symptoms:
-Fatigue
-Fever
-Chills
-Dyspnea (difficulty to breathe)
-Hypoxia(low o2)
Surgical site infection
May be related to the breach in sterile technique, improper skin, prep, contamination during dressing change
Symptoms: warmth, erythema (redness), perulent drainage(Pus wound), separation of tissue
