Lecture 8- Healthcare Infections Flashcards
What is a healthcare infection?
Infection arising as a consequence of providing healthcare
How is a healthcare infection identified?
Must occur 48hrs after admission. Could get surgical site infections etc a long time later
How common are healthcare infections and why are they a problem?
Present in 8% of inpatients and cost NHS huge time and resources. They are also all preventable
Where can healthcare infections be controlled?
You can prevent the pathogen from reaching the host. You can prevent the pathogen from establishing itself in the host. The pathogen can be prevented from spreading to other hosts
Examples of healthcare infection types?
Virus- influenza and chickenpox
Bacteria- E.Coli and staphaureous
Fungi- Candida albicans
Parasites- malaria
What are the four p’s of infection prevention?
Patient
Pathogen
Place
Practice
Be able to list some factors for each
Patient interventions?
Optimise their health through smoking cessation weight loss etc
Skin preparation
Hand hygiene
Isolate patient
Protect susceptible patients
Healthcare worker interventions?
Hand hygiene
Disease free
Vaccinated
Good clinical technique
Environental interventions.
Adequate space
Well cleaned
Toilets eg close for diarrhoea
What is the I 5 for patients?
Identify Isolate Investigate Inform Initiate
What if identified would trigger you to go through the rest of the I5?
Abroad Expectorating Vomiting/diarrhoea Rash Blood borne infection Colonised
What does colonised mean in terms of infection?
That the germs are present but have not caused disease
