Infection Prevention Control (IPAC)

Question 1

Microorganism

Answer 1

a microscopic living cells that live in animals (including humans) or on surfaces. Some are beneficial to humans and live in or on humans all of the time. For example, some aid with digestion. Others can be harmful to humans.

Question 2

Pathogen

Answer 2

A microorganism that can cause an infection

Question 3

Infection

Answer 3

signs and symptoms produced as a result of invasion by a microorganism

Question 4

Colonization

Answer 4

a pathogen has established itself in a host, but is not causing infection (no signs or symptoms)

Question 5

Chain of infection (6)

Answer 5

1. pathogen: must be present. This might be destroyed with antibiotics
2. reservoir: the place the pathogen lives while waiting to attack
3. portal of exit: how the organism gets out of its reservoir (coughing for example)
4. mode of transmission: how the organism gets to the next person to infect
5. portal of entry: how an organism gets into a body (inhaled, through cuts, etc)
6. susceptible host: a person who is not resistant to the infection. A host will be less susceptible if they have antibodies to protect them from that specific organism, either from vaccination or previous infection.

Question 6

Antibodies

Answer 6

Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to the presence of the organism. Being generally healthy will also assist the immune system to respond more effectively.

Question 7

Standard Practices (universal precautions) (4)

Answer 7

1. hand hygiene (washing or sanitizing): completed prior to entering the client’s environment, before and after tasks within the clients environment and when leaving the client’s environment. Hand hygiene should also be completed before and after handling equipment or supplies.
   hand washing must be completed (instead of hand sanitizing) when hands are visibly soiled, when a client has C-diff and every 5-10 time hand sanitizer has been used
2. gloves are always worn when there is any risk of coming in contact with anything that comes out of another persons body. Hand hygiene must still be completed after removal of gloves
3. gowns must be worn if there is risk of contamination of clothing with anything coming out of another persons body
4. masks and eye protection must be used if there is risk of splashing with anything coming out of another persons body

Question 8

Hand Hygiene (7 times)

Answer 8

1. completed prior to entering the client’s environment,
2. before and after tasks within the clients environment
3. and when leaving the client’s environment.
4. Hand hygiene should also be completed before and after handling equipment or supplies.
5. hand washing must be completed (instead of hand sanitizing) when hands are visibly soiled,
6. when a client has C-diff and
7. every 5-10 time hand sanitizer has been used

Question 9

Equipment

Answer 9

must be disinfected after use with one client prior to using it with a different client. If it is visibly soiled, it must be rinsed with cold water prior to disinfecting. Hand hygiene must be completed before and after touching equipment. Clean equipment is free of visible soiling, disinfected equipment strives to be free of pathogens, whereas sterile is free of all microorganisms.

Question 10

Clean

Answer 10

Not visibly dirty

Question 11

Disinfected

Answer 11

Free of pathogens

Question 12

Sterile

Answer 12

Free of all microorganisms

Question 13

Supplies

Answer 13

things such as linens that come from general floor stock should not be returned to the floor stock or taken from one client’s room to another. Hands hygiene should be completed before and after handling supplies. Soiled linens or supplies should never be placed on the floor

Question 14

Spills

Answer 14

If anything coming out of a persons body needs to be cleaned off of the floor, gloves should always be worn, wet areas should be absorbed with paper towels, which should then be disposed of in a waterproof bag. Hand hygiene should be completed following glove removal.

Question 15

Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI)

Answer 15

an infection that is acquired after admission a health care facility

Question 16

Contact

Answer 16

gloves and gowns for all direct care. Mask and eye protection if risk of splashes

Question 17

Droplet

Answer 17

mask and eye protection within 2 meters (6 feet) of the infected person. Because droplets and on surfaces and can be picked up through contact, this is generally combined with contact precautions so that a gown and gloves are also required. This is called droplet/contact precautions.

Question 18

Airborne

Answer 18

when the pathogen is tiny and does not need to be carried in droplet, it can float through the air over great distances. In this case, an N95 mask is required and the door to the client’s room must remain closed. Airborne precautions generally also require contact and droplet precautions any time you enter the room for full protection.