Outbreak Flashcards
Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI)
Infection caught when receiving healthcare in hospitals, care homes, doctors’ surgeries, health centres or at home
- Hospital acquired infection: infection acquired after being in hospital >48 hours
Most common HAI infection sites
- UTI
- Surgical site
- RTI
- Bloodstream
- GI
- Skin and soft tissue
Outbreak of an infection
2 or more cases of an infection linked in time and space
Prevention of outbreak
Infection Prevention and Control measures
Surveillance of outbreak
- Detect
- Identify
Local (lab, ward)
National
Infection chain
- Infectious agent
- Reservoir
- Point of exit
- Mode of transmission
- Point of entry
- Susceptible host
Infectious agent
Bacteria, virus, fungi, prion
Infectious agent: break the chain
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Antimicrobial stewardship
Reservoir
- Humans
- Environment
- Water and food
- Animals, insects and soil
Reservoir: break the chain
- Cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation
- Infection prevention policies
- Pest control
Portal of exit
- Blood
- Body fluids
- Skin scales/wounds
- Aerosols: coughing, sneezing
Portal of exit: break the chain
- Hand hygiene
- PPE
- Control of aerosols: respiratory etiquette
- Waste disposal
Mode of transmission
Contact: direct/indirect
- Inhalation and ingestion
Mode of transmission: break the chain
- Hand hygiene
- PPE
- Food safety
- Cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation
- Isolation
Portal of entry
- Broken skin/incisions
- Respiratory tract
- Mucous membranes: eye, mouth, intestinal
- Catheters and tubes
