Outbreak

Question 1

What is a healthcare associated infection?

Answer 1

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

For some organisms this will vary depending on the incubation period of the organism

Question 2

What are the most common types of infection acquired in hospital?

Answer 2

UTI - mainly related to catheterisation

Infections after surgery (operations)

RTI - intubation etc

Skin infections

Sickness and diarrhoea

Question 3

Definition of an outbreak

Answer 3

An outbreak of an infection is defined as 2 or more cases of an infection linked in time and place

Question 4

Purpose of infection prevention and control?

Answer 4

Prevent individual infections AND outbreaks

Question 5

Chain of infection

Answer 5

Infectious agent - susceptible host - portal of entry - mode of transmission - portal of exit - reservoir

Question 6

Types of infectious agent (4)

Answer 6

Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Prion

Question 7

Reservoirs for infectious agents (5)

Answer 7

Humans
Equipment
Environment
Food 
Animals

Question 8

Portal of exit (3)

Answer 8

Blood and bodily fluids

Skin scales/wound

Coughing and sneezing

Question 9

Mode of transmission (3)

Answer 9

Direct/indirect

Inhalation

Ingestion of contaminated food

Question 10

Portal of entry (5)

Answer 10

Skin/surgical wounds

Eyes or mouth

Respiratory tract

Intestinal tract

Tubes

Question 11

Susceptible hosts (4)

Answer 11

Underdeveloped immune system

Decreasing immune system

Drugs or diseases

Tubes

Question 12

How can you prevent transmission of a pathogen?

Answer 12

Hand hygiene

PPE

Food safety

Cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation

Isolation

Question 13

5 moments of hand hygiene

Answer 13

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

Question 14

How to avoid creating reservoirs for pathogens to accumulate in?

Answer 14

Cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation

Pest control

Question 15

What is a droplet?

Answer 15

> 5µm

Spread assumed to be about 1m

Drop to ground

Question 16

What is an aerosol?

Answer 16

<5µm

Much more widespread

Remain suspended in the air. These are more highly transmissible and therefore require different precautions

Question 17

What happens when you disinfect an area?

Answer 17

Large reduction in microbe numbers - spores may remain

Question 18

What happens when you sterilise an area?

Answer 18

Remove/destroy ALL microbes and spore

Question 19

Give examples of medical equipment that needs to be disinfected (2)

Answer 19

Vaginal specula - used to dilate the vagina for examination of the vagina and cervix

Endoscopes

Question 20

Give an example of medical equipment that needs to be sterilised

Answer 20

surgical instruments

Question 21

Look

Answer 21

You must clean equipment before you disinfect/sterilise them

Also you must let them dry - drying is an important part of the process

Question 22

Methods of disinfection by heat (2)

Answer 22

Pasteurisation (e.g. bedpans, linen, dishwashers) - high enough temp to kill pathogen

Boiling (vaginal specula, ear syringes)

Question 23

Methods of sterilisation (4)

Answer 23

Steam under pressure (autoclave)

Hot Air Oven

Gas (ethylene dioxide)

Ionising Radiation