Outbreak Flashcards
What is a healthcare associated infection?
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
What are the most common types of infection acquired in hospital?
UTI - mainly related to catheterisation
Infections after surgery (operations)
RTI - intubation etc
Skin infections
Sickness and diarrhoea
Definition of an outbreak
An outbreak of an infection is defined as 2 or more cases of an infection linked in time and place
Purpose of infection prevention and control?
Prevent individual infections AND outbreaks
Chain of infection
Infectious agent - susceptible host - portal of entry - mode of transmission - portal of exit - reservoir
Types of infectious agent (4)
Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Prion
Reservoirs for infectious agents (5)
Humans Equipment Environment Food Animals
Portal of exit (3)
Blood and bodily fluids
Skin scales/wound
Coughing and sneezing
Mode of transmission (3)
Direct/indirect
Inhalation
Ingestion of contaminated food
Portal of entry (5)
Skin/surgical wounds
Eyes or mouth
Respiratory tract
Intestinal tract
Tubes
Susceptible hosts (4)
Underdeveloped immune system
Decreasing immune system
Drugs or diseases
Tubes
How can you prevent transmission of a pathogen?
Hand hygiene
PPE
Food safety
Cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation
Isolation
5 moments of hand hygiene
- Before touching a patient
- Before aseptic procedure
- After body fluid exposure risk
- After touching a patient
- After touching patient surroundings
How to avoid creating reservoirs for pathogens to accumulate in?
Cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation
Pest control
What is a droplet?
> 5µm
Spread assumed to be about 1m
Drop to ground
What is an aerosol?
<5µm
Much more widespread
Remain suspended in the air. These are more highly transmissible and therefore require different precautions
What happens when you disinfect an area?
Large reduction in microbe numbers - spores may remain
What happens when you sterilise an area?
Remove/destroy ALL microbes and spore
Give examples of medical equipment that needs to be disinfected (2)
Vaginal specula - used to dilate the vagina for examination of the vagina and cervix
Endoscopes
Give an example of medical equipment that needs to be sterilised
surgical instruments
Look
You must clean equipment before you disinfect/sterilise them
Also you must let them dry - drying is an important part of the process
Methods of disinfection by heat (2)
Pasteurisation (e.g. bedpans, linen, dishwashers) - high enough temp to kill pathogen
Boiling (vaginal specula, ear syringes)
Methods of sterilisation (4)
Steam under pressure (autoclave)
Hot Air Oven
Gas (ethylene dioxide)
Ionising Radiation
