Medical/Surgical Asepsis - Unit 1 Flashcards
Medical Asepsis/Clean Technique - practices that…
practices that reduce/limit the number, growth, and direct or indirect transfer of disease producing microorganisms.
Surgical Asepsis/Sterile Technique - measures that..
render & maintain objects free from ALL microorganisms including spores.
Clean - def
denotes the presence of some microorganisms, but the absence of potentially infectious agents.
Dirty - def
soiled/contaminated - denotes the likely presence of microorganisms that are capable of causing disease.
Pathogen - def
disease causing microorganism.
Infection - def
Infiltration/invasion of an area by a pathogen.
Nosocomial Infection - def
Hospital acquired infection.
What are the top 6 nosocomial infections?
- UTI
- Surgical Wound Infection
- Nosocomial Pneumonia
- Bacterionemia - Bacteria in the blood.
- Burn wound infection
- Enterig Infection = food or water born.
UTI - If a patient has a foley catheter, there’s a ___ % chance they will get a UTI.
100%!!!!!
For an infection to occur, there must be an interaction between…
a susceptible host & an infection agent is required.
What are the six links in chain of infection?
- Microorganism/infectious agent.
- Reservoir - Source of infectious agent.
- Portal of exit - way infectious agent leaves the reservoir.
- Mode of transmission - route by which infectious agent is transmitted.
- Portal of entry - method by which infectious agent enters the body (susceptible host.)
- Susceptible Host - Person who is at risk for an infection.
What is the goal of medical/surgical asepsis/infection control?
Break chain of infection! Intervention to break chain can occur at any link.
Any microorganism is potentially pathogenic (potential to cause disease in susceptible house.) T/F?
True!
Extent of capability to produce infectious process depends on….
of microorganisms present, virulence (ability to cause infection), ability of organism to enter body, susceptibility of host (how good the immune system is, etc.)
Normal flora - these are microorganisms that…
normally inhabit a body site.
Normal flora - E. Coli is fine in the intestines, but what happens if it ends up in the urinary tract?
It could cause an infection!
Organisms that are normal flora & do not cause infection in a person who is healthy may cause infection in a person whose…
immune defenses are compromised.
Reservoir - def
any habitat of the organism - place where it can grow and reproduce, etc.
Sources of reservoirs?
Humans (self and others), plants, animals, ticks, water supplies, uncooked poultry, etc.
Carrier - def
carry disease producing organisms in body, but are not ill themselves..like Typhoid Mary!
What are the 4 types of carriers?
- Chronic - long time.
- Intermittent - can shed organisms at intervals. (S. aureus in nose.)
- Transient Carriage - like e coli on fingers.
- Resident Flora - (S. Aureus in nose.)
How do we break the chain between the infectious agent and the reservoir?
Sterilization, antibiotics/antimicrobials, handwashing (#1 way of eliminating an infection!)
What are some portal of exits? Example - respiratory tract -
Nose and mouth!
Breaking the chain between the reservoir and the exit from the reservoir - how to?
Personal Hygiene, Dressing changes, disposal of fluid canisters, changing soiled linen…
Mode Of transmission - what are the 4?
Contact, Vehicle Transmission, Airborne, Vector-borne.
Contact Transmission - most frequent. T/F?
True!
Vehicle transmission - could be from a ..
stethoscope! It’s being helped by something!
Airborne Transmission - is in the..
air!!
Droplet is similar to airborne, except…
droplet is much bigger!
Vector-Borne Transmission - non-human carrier. T/F?
True!
Breaking the chain between the exit from the reservoir and the means of transmission…how?
Dry, intact dressing/cover mouth and nose when sneezing, handwashing, gloves if contact with body fluids.
Portal of Entry - means by which…
infectious agent enters the body.
Breaking The Chain between the means of transmission and the portals of entry - how?
Handwashing, refrigeration, wearing gloves, masks, gowns, goggles, proper disposal of contaminated objects, etc.
Susceptible Host - def
Anyone at risk for infection, like someone with lowered resistance, or who may be compromised because of drugs or treatments or illness or something.
What are some factors that affect susceptibility of host?
Immune responses decrease with age, stress increases immune response, etc.
Breaking the chain between the portals of entry and susceptible host - how?
Sterile technique, proper disposal of sharps/needles, etc.
Breaking the chain - between the susceptible host and infectious agent - how?
Immunization, exercise, adequate nutrition, etc. skin integrity…
As a nurse, you don’t need to wash your hands..T/F?
FALSE FALSE FALSE!!!
Other precautions…
wash hands, and be careful!
Isolation - def
The separation of infected sources from others to prevent or limit direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent.
What are the two levels of precautions?
Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions
Transmission Based Precautions include…
Airborne, Droplet, and Contact.
Airborne Precautions – Room - info? What do you wear?
Private room with negative air pressure, you wear masks/respiratory protection, and use with TB, varicella, rubeola, and possibly SARS.
What happens for Droplet Precautions?
Private room, wear mask WITHIN 3 FEET of patient, transport patient with mask, use with rubella, mumps, diphtheria and adenovirus (common respiratory virus.)
Contact Precautions - private room, if available, and…
wear gloves, may need gown if contact with infectious agent is possible, used for microorganisms spread by direct or indirect contact, for…MRSA, VRE
Reverse Precautions - used when patient is not very sick. T/F?
FALSE - this is used when patients are very susceptible.
What are Infectious Process Stages? (4)
- Incubation
- Prodromal
- Full Stage
- Convalescence
Infectious Process Stages? - Incubation - time between…
entry and onset of symptoms. (1-2 days.)
Infectious Process Stages - Prodromal - Time between..
non-specific and specific Signs and Symptoms of infection - like, “I feel pooped! I don’t feel well!”
Infectious Process Stages - Full Stage - Signs and symptoms…
specific to type of infection manifest.
Infectious Process Stages - Convalesence - Time when…
acute signs and symptoms of infections disappear (and then go back to normal!)
Localized infection involves…
single body area, causes inflammation, pain/tenderness at site, etc.
Systemic Infection - infection spreads to…
other body systems, and there will be a fever, increased pulse and respirations, lassitude (exhaustion), etc.
Septicemia - Pathogens in…
circulating blood.
Increased WBC (4,500 - 11,000/cu mm) =….
Infection!
Differential - Neutrophils = elevated means..
Acute Bacterial Infection, or increased in response to stress.
Differential - Lymphocytes - elevated means..
Chronic bacterial or viral infection.
Differential - Monocytes - elevated means..
Increased in severe infections.
Differential - Eosinophils - elevated means…
Allergic reaction!
Differential - Basophils - elevated means..
viral infections, leukemia and other bone marrow problems.
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate - ESR - is…
inflammatory process is happening! could be rheumatoid arthritis…
What are some positive cultures?
Urine, blood, sputum, etc.
