Outbreak Flashcards
What does HAI stand for?
Heathcare associated infection
What is a healthcare associated infection?
Infection you might catch when getting healthcare in the hospital or community
What are the most common infections in hospitals?
Urine infections, infections after surgery, skin infections, sickness and diarrhoea
What is a hospital acquired infection?
Infection after being in hospital for more than 48 hours
What are the most common hospital acquired infections?
- UTI (23%)
- Mainly related to catheterisation
- Surgical site infection (19%)
- Respiratory tract infection (18%)
- Bloodstream infections (11%)
- GI infection
- Skin and soft tissue infection
What is an outbreak?
An infection defined as 2 or more cases of an infection linked in time and place
What does IPCT stand for?
Infection, prevention and control team
What is the purpose of the IPCT?
Prevent infections and outbreaks
What are the steps in the chain of infection?
1) Infectious agent
2) Reservoir
3) Portal of exit
4) Transmission
5) Portal of entry
6) Susceptible host

What are examples of infectious agents?
- Bacteria
- Virus
- Fungi
- Prion
What are examples of reservoirs?
- Humans
- Equipment
- Environment
- Food
- Animals
What are examples of portals of exit?
- Blood and body fluids
- Skin scales/wound
- Coughing and sneezing
What are examples of modes of transmission?
- Direct or indirect
- Inhalation
- Ingested of contaminated
What are examples of portals of entry?
- Skin/surgical wounds
- Eyes or mouth
- Respiratory tract
- Intestinal tract
- Tubes
What are examples of things that make people susceptible hosts?
- Underdeveloped immune system
- Decreasing immune system
- Drugs or disease
- Tubes
What are ways of breaking the chain of infection to stop outbreaks at the infectious agent phase?
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Antimicrobial stewardship
What are ways of breaking the chain of infection at the reservoir phase?
- Cleaning
- Infection prevention
- Pest control
What are ways of breaking the chain of infection at the portal of exit phase?
- Hand hygiene
- PPE
- Personal hygiene
- First aid
- Removal of catheters and tubes
What are ways of breaking the chain of infection at the mode of transmission phase?
- Hand hygiene
- PPE
- Food safety
- Cleaning
- Isolation
What are ways of breaking the chain of infection at the susceptible host phase?
- Immunisation
- Treatment of underlying disease
- Health insurance
- Patient education
What are the 5 points of hand hygeine?
1) Before patient contact
2) Before aseptic procedure
3) After body fluid exposure
4) After patient contact
5) After touching patient environment

What does TBPs stand for?
Transmission based precautions
What are some examples of transmission based precautions?
- Contact
- Gloves
- Apron
- Masks
- Eye protection
What are some airborne precautions for isolated patients?
