Infection Prevention control

Question 1

What are the stages in the chain of infection

Answer 1

1- Pathogenic organism present.
2- reservoir for organism t grow.
3-mode of exit from reservoir
4-mode of transmission from source to host.
5-portal of entry through which pathogen can enter the host.

Question 2

What methods can be used to eliminate a pathogenic organism

Answer 2

Environment cleaning and decontamination
Equipment decontamination
Antisepsis- disinfect skin
Antibiotic prophylaxis- before surgery.

Question 3

What methods can be used to remove the reservoir (humans or environment)

Answer 3

hand hygiene

environment decontamination and cleaning.

Question 4

What methods can be used to minimise transmission

Answer 4

hand hygiene
personal protective equipment- gloves, apron etc.
disposable equipment
equipment decontamination

Question 5

What methods can be used to eliminate entry and exist

Answer 5

Antispesis- surgical prep
Asepsis- e.g. when putting in a urinary catheter.
Air handling- air filtration
sharps management
patient management minimise use of invasive procedures.

Question 6

What methods can be used to reduce susceptibility to infections

Answer 6

Antibiotic stewardship- start smart then focus

Immunisation

Question 7

DefineSurveillance

Answer 7

Process of gathering information to ensure that disease outbreaks are pre-empted or identified early

Question 8

define sterilisation

Answer 8

complete killing or removal of all types of microorganisms.

Question 9

What are the types of sterilisation methods.

Answer 9

Heat- most dry- stem and pressure (140 degrees so only used on metals)
Chemical- gas or liquid
Filtration
Ionising radiation- used for single use disposable equipment.

Question 10

Define disinfection

Answer 10

Removal or destruction of sufficient numbers of potentially harmful micro-organisms to make an item safe to use

Question 11

Define antisepsis

Answer 11

disinfection applied to damaged skin or living tissue. (achieved chemically)

Question 12

How do you determine which methods you use to disinfect/sterilise equipment.

Answer 12

Risk of infection- High, intermediate, low
Physical properties- Item, packaging materials
Decontamination level- Sterilisation, disinfection (antisepsis), cleaning, disposal
Heat is the least hazardous method and should be used where possible
Chemical disinfection is largely limited to:
– Environmental decontamination (surfaces, spills etc.)
– Antisepsis
– Heat-sensitive items

Question 13

What are the possible negative effects of chemical disinfectatnats

Answer 13

– Physical effects- Corrosiveness

– Harmful effects- Irritant potential, toxicity