IPAC Flashcards
IPAC
A set of policies and procedures designed to prevent the transmission of organisms in a healthcare facility
Responsibility of everyone
Why is IPAC important?
protects people from HAI
saves money spent on treating someone who gets infected
what’s the #1 way to reduce the spread of infection?
hand hygiene
what are the 4 types of HAIs?
surgical site infection (SSI)
central line-associated bloodstream infection (clabsi)
ventilator-associated pneumonia (vap)
catheter-associated urinary tract infection (cauti)
what are the 3 common HAIs?
C. difficile
Influenza
Antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs) - MRSA, VRE, CPE
name all 6 parts of the chain of transmission
infectious agent reservoir portal of exit mode of transmission portal of entry susceptible host
Provide examples of infectious agents
bacteria
viruses
parasites
fungi
Provide examples of reservoirs
people
animals
environment/equipment
food
Provide examples of a portal of exit
respiratory tract
GI tract
non-intact skin
Provide examples of modes of transmission
direct contact indirect contact airborne (breathing) droplet (coughing or sneezing) vehicle (vial) vector (bugs) parenteral (needle)
Provide examples of portals of entry
respiratory tract
GI tract
non-intact skin
mucous membranes
Who are at high risk for HAIs?
Young children 0-4
Older adults 65+ (bc of chronic disease and the negative impact of age on the immune system)
How do you break the chain of transmission?
Vaccination & accurate identification of microorganisms
what is the purpose of routine practices? when is it appropriate to use them?
Prevent the transmission of microorganisms that cause infections in healthcare facilities
A standard of care that should be provided to all patients all the time
what are the 4 components of routine practices?
hand hygiene
PPE
Patient enviro
ANTT
what are the two components of effective hand hygiene?
- killing microorganisms on the hands (ex. anti-bacterial lotion)
- maintaining good skin integrity (ex. by using lotion)
what are the 4 moments of hand hygiene?
before patient/patient enviro contact
after patient/patient enviro contact
before an aseptic procedure
after exposure to bodily fluids
What are the two types of hand hygiene auditing? Which is more effective?
direct observation by someone from the IPAC department
electronic monitoring in hand sanitizer dispensal machines
Hand hygiene adherence drops during electronic monitoring
PPE is clothing or equipment used by healthcare workers for protection against ______
hazards
PPE is used when you are likely to be in contact with:
body fluids/tissues
non-intact skin
mucous membranes
contaminated equipment or surfaces
Key questions to ask during PPE risk assessment
What task am I going to perform?
What is my risk of exposure?
How experienced am I in performing this task?
- Less experience = more possibility of things going wrong
How cooperative will the patient be while I perform this task? (Un-cooperative may cause accidents)
Principles for using PPE
1) Assess risk of exposure and choose appropriate PPE to prevent contact with infectious material
2) Make sure PPE fits
3) Avoid contaminating yourself and the environment when using/removing PPE
4) Use “dirty to clean” concept when removing PPE
5) The more you wear, the more you need to take off (taking things off is where there is risk of transmission)
How do we manage the patient environment to keep it infection-free?
- cleaning and disinfecting
- patient equipment
- waste management
- laundry (do not shake)
What is the difference between sterile, aseptic, and clean?
s- free from all microorganisms; not possible outside controlled environments ex. OR
a- free from pathogenic organisms in sufficient numbers to prevent infection
c- free from marks and stains
What’s the difference between a key part and key site?
‘key part’ is the part of the equipment that must remain sterile (e.g., syringe hub)
‘key site’ is the area on the patient that must be protected from microorganisms
only key parts can touch key sights
What are additional (isolation) precautions and when are they necessary?
Additional precautions to routine practices
Required when the patient is infected or colonized with a known infectious agent or when they have symptoms
What are the components of additional precautions?
routine practices + specialized accommodation and signage PPE dedicated equipment and additional cleaning measures limited transport communication
What are the contact precautions?
HH
gown + gloves
what are the droplet precautions?
HH
gown + gloves
mask + eyewear
clean equipment after use
what are the airborne precautions?
HH
N95 mask
keep door closed ( - pressure room)
clean equipment after use
When should you initiate additional precautions?
When you suspect someone has an infectious disease
What are AROs, what is the mode of transmission, provide 2 examples.
Antibiotic-Resistant Organisms - microorganisms that have developed resistance to the antimicrobials
Ex. MRSA, CPE, VRE
Mode of Trans: direct or indirect contact
define colonization vs. infection
C: having microorganisms on or in the body that can be transferred to others, but that cause no symptoms of illness (txt not required)
I: clinical signs of illness due to tissue damage caused by invasion of microorganisms (txt is required; redness/puss seen)
How do we screen for AROs?
swabs collected from body sites typically colonized by AROs
Point Prevalence Screening
the collection of specimens on all patients at a single point in time to determine the total number of cases
What are some emerging pathogens internationally?
MERS-CoV, Ebola, Avian Influenza, CPE
Is there a cure for CPE
No, 50% fatality rate
What’s the main difference between the common cold, stomach flu, and influenza?
Influenza can be prevented by immunization, the common cold and flu cannot
What’s the only side effect of the influenza vaccine?
sore arm
T or F: CPE can be transmitted from drains in sinks?
True
