Outbreak ! Flashcards
What are Healthcare Associated Infections?
Infections that can be caught when accessing healthcare in hospitals, care homes, doctors surgeries, health centres or receiving
care at home
Acquired after 48 hours
What are the most common HAI?
Urine infections, skin infections, sickness and diarrhoea
Define an outbreak?
2 or more cases of infection linked in time and place
What is the purpose of IPCT?
Prevention of individual infections and outbreaks
What is the purpose of surveillance?
Detect and identify possible outbreak at earliest opportunity
What are infectious agents?
Bacteria, Virus, Fungi and Prion
Who can act as reservoirs?
Humans, Equipment, Environment, Food and Animals
What acts as the portal of exit?
Blood and body fluids, skin scales/wound, coughing and sneezing
What are the mode of transmission?
Direct or indirect, inhalation, ingestion of contaminated food
What are the portals of entry?
Skin/surgical wounds, eyes or mouth, respiratory tract, intestinal tract, tubes
What are susceptible hosts?
Underdeveloped immune system, decreasing immune system, drugs or diseases, tubes
Name the transmission based precautions?
Contact, gloves and aprons, masks, eye protection
Define cleaning?
Physical removal of organic material and decrease in microbial load
Define disinfection?
Large reduction in microbe numbers - spores may remain
Define sterilisation?
Removal/Destruction of ALL microbes and spores