Infecton Control Flashcards
Why are patients often isolated?
Have infectious disease that could transmit to other patients, staff, visitors
Susceptible to infections and require protection from the environment aka if they were neutropenic.
What is meant by source isolation?
Aim to prevent the source of infection either infected or colonised from transmitting pathogenic organisms to other people.
What are some common modes of transmission of infection?
Airborne - respiratory secretions/droplets e.g pulmonary TB
Direct contact - MRSA
Enteric secretions - salmonella
Bodily fluids or blood - via sharp injury or exposure of wounds or mucous membranes or conjunctiva e.g hepatitis B
What are the three standards of source isolation?
Standard isolation
Respiratory isolation
Strict isolation
What are the features of standard source isolation?
Single room redeemable with own toilet and hand wash basin
Wash hands with liquid soap or alcohol gel after all procedures, after removing protective clothing, before leaving the room.
PPE - on before entering the room and off when in the room.
What are the features of respiratory isolation?
Own room own toilet and sink
Doors shut - negative pressure in the room
Mask on before entering and off when outside
Patients should wear surgical mask if leaving the room
Hands should be washed with liquid soap or alcohol gel after all procedures, after revoking protective clothing, after exiting the room.
What sort of conditions require respiratory isolation?
Measles
Chickenpox
Mumps
respiratory illness
What are the conditions for strict isolation?
Smallpox
Ebola
Viral haemorrhaging fever
What are the regulations for strict isolation?
Single room with an ante-room
Extract ventilation
Staff entering the room must be kept to a minimum
What are regulations of protective patient?
Aim to stop patient getting infection
Single room with own toilet
Hand washing x entering, before touching patient, following all procedures, before leaving room, after removing PPE (outside of room)
Aprons worn on entering the room
Drinking water should be boiled
Positive pressure rooms - with air intake though bacterial filters
What are the benefits of single rooms?
Privacy
Less disruption
Improved sleep
More control of environment (window open etc)
Reduced infection rates
Fewer medical errors
Faster patient recovery rates
Potential for more personalised staff involvement
What are the drawback of single occupancy room in hospital?
Reduced social interaction - patient isolation
Building costs
Reduced surveillance by staff
Increased failure to rescue
Increased rate of slips, trips and falls
Increased staffing numbers required
Increased staffing demands
Increased walking distance for staff
What is the hierarchy for isolation?
Universally fatal:
Viral haemorrhaging fever
Small pox
Respiratory spread:
MDR-TB
SARS
Swine flu
Measles
Chickenpox
Potential to spread to staff:
Viral encephalitis
Bacterial meningitis
Noroviirus
C.diff
Spread by hand
MRSA
What is meant by a positive pressure room?
How is it used in a hospital?
Pressure in the rooms is higher than pressure outside - forces airflow out.
Air intake is only though a control source through bacterial filters
Commonly used for immunocompromised patients who need to be protected from other people/pathogens
What is meant by a negative pressure room?
How is it used in a hospital?
Pressure in the room is lower than pressure in surrounding rooms - this draws air into the room
Air flow out of the room is only done via a controlled outlet with bacterial filters
Used for highly infectious patients - reduced the risk of airborn spread to other patients.
