Mod 5 Flashcards
What is Routine Practice use for?
Routine Practice is used to protect patients and health care workers (especially when health care workers have to work with body substances)
What does “hand hygiene” mean?
“Hand hygiene” means to wash hands with soap/water/ alcohol based hand rubs
What is the purpose of wearing a mask/ eye protection/ face shield?
Wearing mask/ eye protection / face shield protects mucous membrane of eyes, nose and mouth during procedures where splashes/ sprays can occur
What is the purpose of wearing a gown?
Wearing a gown protects skin and prevents soiling of clothes
How should one handle patient care equipment that has been soiled with body fluids?
Handle in a manner that prevents skin/ mucous membrane to be exposed, avoid contamination of clothing and transfer of micro organisms to other patients/ environment
When should health care providers use a private room for patient?
When patient contaminates the environment or if a patient cannot maintain proper hygiene
When should we change gloves?
Between tasks and procedures on the same patient/ after contact with material that contains high concentrations of micro organisms
How can one avoid transfer of micro organisms to other patients and environments?
By washing their hands
What are the 3 criteria for choosing gloves?
- Gloves have to be suitable for the task
- Gloves fit well/ have to fit tight at the wrist
- Are good quality and thickness
What is recommended when working with high risk of perforation or when working with high risk biologicals?
Double gloving
What is the acceptable limit for defect latex surgery gloves?
1.5%
What is the acceptable limit for examination gloves?
4%
How long does it take for 100% of isopropyl or 70% of ethyl alcohol to penetrate latex or vinyl gloves?
10 mins
When working with sweaty gloved hands, what happens after 50 minutes?
Gloves become 50% permeable to HBV, HCV, HIV (gloves become less protective)
How long should gloves be change to prevent the loss of protection against HBV, HCV and HIV?
After 30 minutes
What should one do in between changing gloves?
Wash and carefully dry hands
Why is contact dermatitis for health care workers a concern?
Health care workers with dermatitis will have staphlococcus aureus and this can cause nosocomial infections.
What is a more serious reaction than contact dermatitis?
Latex allergy
When should a health care worker wear masks? (3 reasons)
- To avoid splashes/ aerosols/ infectious material from patients
- To protect patient from infectious micro organisms that healthcare worker might be carrying
- To prevent the spread of micro organisms
How many times can a regular procedure (surgical) mask can be used?
Once
If a mask gets wet, is it still effective?
No
What should one do before putting on gloves?
Wash their hands and dry their hands
Name 3 situations where hand hygiene is required
- Immediately after removing gloves
- After unprotected exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions/ excretions
- After hands have contacted a contaminated equipment
When hand washing, how is bacteria removed?
It is the friction and the soap that loosen the bacteria ready to be removed by the rinse that follows
After hand washing, why is it important not to share hand lotion?
To avoid possible cross contamination
When using soap or alcohol hand cleansing, what is the most important thing to remember?
To make sure that the soap or alcohol covers the fingers and hands entirely
What does donning and doffing mean?
Donning means to put on protective clothing. Doffing means to remove protective clothing
When donning what is the order of doing things? (5 steps)
- Perform hand hygiene
- Gown
- Mask
- Eye/ face protection
- Gloves
When donning, what is the last thing to do?
Gloves - always put on gloves last
–> Pull gloves over the cuffs on the gown
What is the order for doffing (6 steps)?
- Gloves (if gown has ties in the front, remove ties in the front with gloves first)
- Gown
- Hand hygiene (before going near to face)
- Eye/ face protection
- Mask
- Hand hygiene
How full can sharp containers be filled up do?
Sharp containers can only be no more than 3/4 full
Is disinfectant instantaneous/ happens right away?
No
When a moderate to large spill happens, what are the steps to clean up the spills? (4 steps)
- Put on gloves
- Put on gown and face shield
- Use commercially available clay/ chlorine base absorbent pads to clean up the spill
- Decontaminate the area/ broom/ cleanup equipment with 1/100 bleach solution for 10 minutes
For small spills/ spill that are just a few drops, how do we clean them up?
With a gloved hand, the small spill can be absorbed carefully with disinfectant wipe of disinfectant soaked paper towels
Why do we want to avoid scrapping dried spills?
To prevent the infectious micro organisms into the air
What is a biological hazard?
It is any material or substance that is harmful to health
When doing laundry with soiled linen how can the risk of disease/ transmission be negligible?
By wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to place soiled linen in leak proof bags
Why are laboratory specimens considered as biohazardous?
Because the samples contain blood and body fluids
How long does it take 1/100 of bleach solution to inactivate HBV and HIV?
1/100 of bleach solution inactivates HBV in 10 minutes and inactivates HIV in 2 minutes
Define significant occupational exposure
It is when a health care worker is in contact with a potentially harmful physical, chemical or biological agent (ie: blood splashes, skin gets pierced/ broken)
If an occupational exposure occurs, what should you do?
If an occupational exposure occurs, you have to immediately follow the procedures outlined by the Post Exposure Protocol/ document the incident with a written report
Who will assist workers with treatment, documentation and counselling?
Occupational Health
What does “Added Precautions/ Isolation Procedures” do? (3 things)
- Minimize the spread of infection in a health care setting
- Separate patients with transmissible diseases from contact with other patients/ health care workers/ visitors
- Protect patients who are immunodeficient
Can an isolated patient share with another patient that has the same infection or disease?
Yes
The CDC Infection Control Guidelines has 2 tiers of precautions. What are they?
- Routine Practice - this is use to care for all patients regardless of their diagnosis
- Transmission - based precautions - is used for patients known to be infected with pathogens that requires special precautions
What are the 3 types of Transmission - based precautions and define what they are?
- Airborne Precautions - Patients known of being infected with micro organisms that can be transmitted via droplet nuclei (COVID - 19, TB)
- Droplet Precautions - Micro organisms camplable being transmitted by droplets. Droplets are generated when a patient talks, coughs or sneezes
- Contact Precautions - This is when patient is infected or colonized with epidemiologically micro organisms that can be spread via contact or indirect contact (surfaces or patient’s care items)
Where can we check to fine the most current information?
The IPC Manual
What are the two types of pressure rooms and what are they used for?
- Negative Pressure Room - A room that only allows air flow into the room (air does not go out of the room. It is used to prevent the spread of airborne diseases
- Positive pressure rooms - A room that allows air flow from the room to the hall. Is used to prevent airborne pathogens from entering the room/ for immuno compromised patients
Why are Protective Environment procedures required?
They are required to protect patients that have diseases or have undergone treatments that weaken their immune system
Does wearing gloves replace hand hygiene?
No
What does N95 not protect against? (3 things)
- Chemical vapours
- Gases
- Oxygen deficient atmospheres
What is the difference between negative pressure rooms vs. positive pressure rooms?
Negative pressure rooms = protect others
Positive pressure rooms = protect patients
