Outbreak!

Question 1

What is a Healthcare Associated Infection? (HAI)

Answer 1

an infection you might catch when getting healthcare in: - hospitals,

• care homes,
• doctors’ surgeries,
• health centres
• or when receiving care at home

Question 2

What is a hospital acquired infection? Common examples?

Answer 2

Generally an infection acquired after being in hospital for more than 48 hours

• UTI after catheterization
• Surgical site infection
• Resp. tract infection (25% due to intubation)

Question 3

What is an outbreak of an infection defined as?

Answer 3

2 or more cases of a infection linked in time and place

Question 4

What are the possible infectious agents?

Answer 4

Bacteria

Virus

Fungi

Prion (misfolded proteins with the ability to transmit their misfolded shape onto normal variants of the same protein)

Question 5

When should you practice hand hygiene when dealing with patients?

Answer 5

1. Before touching patient
2. Before clean / aseptic procedure
3. After body fluid exposure risk
4. After touching a patient
5. After touching patient surroundings

Question 6

Difference between cleaning, disinfecting and sterilization?

Answer 6

Cleaning - Physical removal of organic material and decrease in microbial load

Disinfecting - Large reduction in microbe numbers - spores may remain

Sterilization - Removal/Destruction of ALL microbes and spores

Question 7

What are some methods of sterilization?

Answer 7

Steam under pressure (autoclave)

Hot Air Oven

Gas (ethylene dioxide)

Ionising Radiation

Question 8

What infection types is it mandatory to report for surveillance reporting in Scotland?

Answer 8

MRSA bacteremia

MSSA bacteremia

Clostridium difficile

Surgical Site Infections

E coli bacteremia

Question 9

What are some examples of transmission based precautions that can be taken to stop spread of infection?

Answer 9

• Gloves
• Aprons
• Masks
• Eye protection