Nosocomial Infections Flashcards
True or False: Nosocomial infections may occur in non-hospital settings.
True. Nursing homes, for instance.
What are the most frequent nosocomial infections?
Urinary tract infections (32%), surgical wound infections (22%), pneumonia (15%), and bloodstream infections (14%). All others make up the remaining 17%.
What are the most frequent nosocomial infections?
Urinary tract infections (32%), surgical wound infections (22%), pneumonia (15%), and bloodstream infections (14%). All others make up the remaining 17%.
What is the most important risk factor for the development of nosocomial bacteriuria?
The duration of catheterization
What organisms are often seen in nosocomial UTIs?
Aerobic gram-negative bacilli, Pseudomonas sp., Candida sp., enterococci, and coagulase-negative staphylococci.
True or False: The majority of nosocomial UTIs require antimicrobial therapy for resolution.
False. The majority of these infections will resolve with removal of the catheter alone, although some may require antimicrobial therapy.
What is the key concept behind perioperative antibiotics?
Antibiotics must be given PRIOR to surgery and their levels maintained throughout the procedure in order to impact the rate of nosocomial surgical wound infections.
What is the most frequent cause of nosocomial surgical wound infections?
Staphylococcus aureus, although coagulase-negative staphylococci, enterococci, and various Gram-negative organisms have also been implicated.
What is the most prevalent and deadly respiratory infection to occur in the hospital setting?
Nosocomial pneumonia. It accounts for the majority of deaths attributed to nosocomial infections.
What is the most important risk factor for the development of nosocomial pneumonia?
Insertion of an endotracheal tube. Natural host defense mechanisms are impaired, and the tube allows direct access to the lower respiratory tract.
What organisms are frequently isolated in nosocomial respiratory infections?
Gram-negative aerobes (Pseudomonas sp., enteric gram-negative bacilli) and Staphylococcus aureus.
How are nosocomial bloodstream infections defined?
Clinically significant positive blood cultures (i.e. not contaminants) obtained more than 48 hours after hospital admission.
What is the difference between a primary bloodstream infection and a secondary bloodstream infection?
Primary bloodstream infections are those without an obvious source of infection. Secondary bloodstream infectoins result from infection at another site (e.g. UTI, pneumonia, etc.).
What kind of patients are primary bloodstream infections most frequently identified in? What organisms cause these infections?
Patients who are neutropenic. Organisms isolated are most frequently coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, and enterococci.
True or False: Peripheral vascular catheters should be changed every 72 hours, since there is increased risk of infection after that time period.
True.
