Lecture 2: Infection Control & Medical Asepsis Flashcards

1
Q

Normal Flora

A

This is my home. I don’t usually cause trouble HERE, I often have weapons to protect my home, and the other residents keep me under control if I might get hostile

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2
Q

Pathogen

A
infectious agent (either virus or bacteria) 
-overwhelms infected host's defences causing illness
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3
Q

Nosocomial infections

A

HAIs health care associated infections

  • Normal flora go where they shouldn’t
  • Normal balance is compromised
  • Pathogens from elsewhere are introduced (MRSA, VRE)
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4
Q

A-sepsis

A

without or freedom from disease causing microorganisms

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5
Q

A-septic technique

A

decreasing the chance of transferring microorganisms from one place to another

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6
Q

what are the a-septic techniques

A

-Clean technique (trying not to touch things)
-Medical asepsis- Clean technique
-Surgical asepsis – Sterile technique
(washing hands, gloves, sanitizer, ppe)

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7
Q

Colonization

A

Strain of microorganism becomes resident flora

  • Grow and multiply but do not create illness
  • Infection can occur when the organism succeeds in overcoming the hosts defense mechanism
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8
Q

Asymptomatic/subclinical infections

A
  • No clinical evidence of disease

- Localized cell damage/infection

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9
Q

local infection

A
  • Limited to a specific part of the body

- Generally easier to treat

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10
Q

Systemic infection

A

-Infection has spread from the site of origin and affects more systems

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11
Q

Bactermia

A

bacteria in the blood

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12
Q

Septicemia

A

Bacteremia results in systemic symptoms

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13
Q

explain the pathology of infection

A

1)Infection enters host
2)Moves to preferred target site
3)Overcomes host defences
due to:
-highly virulent microbe
-High microbial load
-Defenses are weakened

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14
Q

what components are involved with chain of infection

A
infectious agent
susceptible host
portal of entry
mode of transmission
portal of exit 
reservoir
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15
Q

what strategies are used to break the chain of infection for health care associated infections?

A

1) routine practices/ precautions

2) isolation precautions

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16
Q

chain of infection :
Etiological Agent
- what factors are associated

A
  • Number (load, dose) – must be high
  • Virulence
  • Pathogenicity
  • Ability to enter
  • Susceptibility of host
  • Ability to live and grow in host
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17
Q

etiological agents include..?

A

virus

bacteria

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18
Q

how do we protect ourselves from etiological agents

A
  • Correctly cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing articles

- Educating clients and support persons

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19
Q

define: reservoir

A

The source, where microbe hangs out, causing illness or not

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20
Q

reservoir examples

A
  • Other people (most common)
  • Animals
  • Self
  • Plants
  • Food
  • Contaminated objects
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21
Q

reservoir: Respiratory tract

- what is the portal of exit?

A

Nose or mouth through sneezing, coughing, breathing or talking, endotracheal tubes or tracheostomies

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22
Q

reservoir: GI tract

- what is the portal of exit?

A

Mouth- saliva, vomiting
Anus- feces
Ostomies, drainage tubes

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23
Q

reservoir: reproductive tract

- what is the portal of exit?

A

Vaginal – vaginal discharge
Urinary meatus- semen, urine
Urethral discharge, contaminated urine

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24
Q

reservoir: blood

- what is the portal of exit?

A

Open wound, needle puncture, any disruption intact skin or mucous membrane surfaces

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25
Q

reservoir: tissue

- what is the portal of exit?

A

Drainage from wound or cut

26
Q

what precautions are used to protect ourselves from microorganisms in reservoirs?

A
  • Disposing of feces and urine appropriately
  • Covering or capping all fluid containers
  • Emptying suction and drainage bottles before full or according to agency policy
27
Q

portal of exit

A

in order to infect more hosts, microorganism must leave it’s reservoir

28
Q

possible portals of exit

A
Mouth, nose, 
Anus
Urethral meatus
Ostomies
Drainage from wound
Tubes and trachs
Drainage tubes
Open wound
Break in skin or mucous membrane
29
Q

what precautions are in place to avoid microbial transmission from portals of exit?

A
  • Avoid talking, coughing, or sneezing over open wounds or sterile fields
  • Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
  • Reservoir actions too
30
Q

define: transmission

A

How microbes get to a receptive portal of entry of a susceptible host

31
Q

what are the 6 routes of transmission?

A
Direct
Indirect
Droplet (sneeze)
Airborne (TB)
Vehicle borne (kleenex and dressings)
Vector borne (bugs, animals)
32
Q

Direct contact transmission

A

Just as the name sounds – requires direct transfer from person to person

33
Q

Indirect contact transmission

A

Passive transfer from reservoir to intermediate inanimate object then to recipient
(sneeze on hand, touch door knob, another person touch knob then their nose)

34
Q

Droplet transmission

A
  • type of direct contact
  • Large drops of respiratory secretions from coughing, sneezing, talking, singing, or when we suction patients
  • Projected a short distance
35
Q

airborne transmission

A

-particles are small
5 microns compared to 20 microns (droplet)
Remain in the air for a long time
ex) TB
-Particles are transmitted by air currents to a suitable portal of entry i.e. respiratory tract

36
Q

Vehicle-borne transmission

A
  • Any substance that serves as a means of transportation between infected host and the new host
  • Fomites- inanimate materials or objects- including utensils, cups, soiled clothing, toys
  • Water, food, milk, blood, serum and plasma
37
Q

Vector-borne transmission

A

Animal or insect that serves as an intermediate means of transporting the infectious agent
-Salivary fluid is injected during biting or when feces or other materials are deposited into the skin through a bite or open wound

38
Q

how do we protect ourselves from transmission?

A
  • Teach appropriate hand hygiene
  • Use proper antiseptics and disinfectants
  • Wear gloves, gowns, masks and eye protection when necessary (PPE)
  • Discard soiled materials appropriately
  • Dispose of urine and feces appropriately
39
Q

portal of entry

A

How the microorganism enters the host’s body

40
Q

what are examples of portals of entry

A
  • Break in skin or m membrane
  • Mm of the eyes
  • Respiratory tract
  • Gi tract
  • Blood stream
41
Q

how do we protect ourselves against portal of entry

A
  • Use sterile technique for invasive procedures and exposing open wounds
  • Use puncture-resistant containers for used needles and syringes
  • Provide clients with own personal care items
  • PPE
42
Q

susceptible hosts

A

Person at risk for infections

43
Q

what factors increase susceptibility for infection?

A

1)Age –> very young and elderly (weaker immune systems)
2)Immune status (presence of antibodies)
3)Heredity
4)Physical and emotional stressors–> raises cortisol in the blood, decreasing immune and inflammatory response
5) Nutritional status
6) Medical therapies–> meds can increase risk of infection (antibiotics may kill off good bacteria), treatments (radiation), surgery
Medications
Obesity
Smoking

44
Q

how do we decrease a person’s susceptibility?

A
  • Maintain integrity of skin and mucous membranes
  • Ensure client receives a balanced diet
  • Educate public about importance of immunizations
  • Educate about increased risks
45
Q

routine precautions (standard universal)

A
  • used with all clients
  • all interventions that break chain of infection
  • *hand hygiene, PPE (gloves, gown, masks, goggles)
  • isolation precautions
  • clean equipment, environment
  • control source of infection
  • educate
46
Q

additional precautions

A

Used in addition to Routine Practices for patients with known or suspected infections that are spread by:

  • airborne, droplet, contact transmission
  • *special precautions used for drug resistant and emerging pathogens (C diff, MRSA, VRE, norovirus)
47
Q

droplet precautions used for:

A

Influenza, Invasive Group A strep, MRSA, Meningitis, Pertussis, Respiratory infection of unknown origin, Rubella

48
Q

contact precautions used for:

A

Clostridium difficile, ESBL, Gastroenteric illness of unknown origin, vomiting, diarrhea, impetigo, head lice, scabies

49
Q

airborne and contact precautions used for:

A

Chickenpox, Disseminated Shingles, Measles (Rubella), TB (pulmonary)

50
Q

special precautions used for:

A

VRE

51
Q

What do you do if you are exposed to a blood borne pathogen?

A
  • Report the incident immediately
  • Needle stick injury
  • Complete injury report
  • Seek appropriate evaluation and follow-up
52
Q

if you are punctured or lacerated by a utensil…

A

Encourage bleeding
Clean the area with soap and water
Initiate first aid
Seek treatment if indicated

53
Q

mucous membrane exposure

A

Eyes, nose, mouth
Flush with saline solution or water
Flush for 5 to 10 minutes

54
Q

how can you help susceptible hosts protect themselves?

A
Help patients perform good hygiene
-Hand washing
-Peri-care 
Ensure balanced nutrition with adequate hydration 
Mitigate stress
-Coping mechanisms
Ensuring adequate tissue oxygenation
Glycemic controls
Encourage immunizations 
Activate immunity (produce antibodies)
55
Q

natural active immunity

A

Antibodies are formed in presence of active infection in the body

-lifelong

56
Q

Artificial active immunity

A

Antigens administered to stimulate antibody formation

-lasts for years but is reinforced by booster vacines

57
Q

passive immunity

A

Host receives natural or artificial antibodies produced from another source

58
Q

Natural passive immunity

A
  • Antibodies transferred naturally from an immune mother to baby through the placenta or in colostrums
  • last 6 months to 1 year
59
Q

Artificial passive immunity

A
  • Occurs when immune serum (antibody) from an animal or another human is injected
  • lasts 2 - 3 weeks
60
Q

what are the risks for Nosocomial infections?

A

Diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Compromised host

Insufficient hand hygiene