Outbreak - infection control Flashcards
What is a Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI)?
An infection you might catch when getting healthcare in hospitals, care homes, doctors’ surgeries, health centres or receiving care at home
What are the most common types of infection in hospitals?
Urine infections
Infections after surgery
Skin infections
Sickness and diarrhoea
After how long in hospital might a patient acquire a HAI?
> 48 hours
What is the most common HAI?
UTI
What is an outbreak of infection defined as?
2 or more cases of an infection linked in time and place
What is the 1st purpose of IPCT?
Prevent individual infections and outbreaks
What is the purpose of surveillance by the IPCT?
Detect and identify a possible outbreak at the earliest opportunity
What are the 6 parts of the chain of infection?
Infectious agent Reservoir Portal of exit Mode of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host
What are examples of infectious agents?
Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Prion
What are examples of reservoirs for infection?
Humans Equipment Environment Food Animals
What are examples of portals of exit for infection?
Blood and body fluids
Skin scales/wound
Coughing and sneezing
What are examples of modes of transmission for infection?
Direct or indirect
Inhalation
Ingestion of contaminated food
What are examples of portals of entry for infection?
Skin/surgical wounds Eyes or mouth Respiratory tract Intestinal tract Tubes e.g. catheter, cannulas
What are examples of susceptible hosts for infection?
Underdeveloped immune system
Decreasing immune system
Drugs or diseases
Tubes
How could you break the chain of infection at the mode of transmission stage?
Hand hygiene PPE Food safety Cleaning, disinfection, sterilization Isolation
What are the 5 stages of hand hygiene?
Before touching a patient Before clean/aseptic procedure After body fluid exposure risk After touching patient After touching patients surroundings
How could you break the chain of infection at the reservoir stage?
Cleaning, disinfection, sterilisation
Infection prevention policies
Pest control
How could you break the chain of infection at the portal of entry stage?
Hand hygiene PPE Personal hygiene First aid Removal of catheters and tubes
How could you break the chain of infection at the susceptible host stage?
Immunisations
Treatment of underlying disease
Patient education
How could you break the chain of infection at the portal of exit stage?
Hand hygiene PPE Control of aerosols and splatter Respiratory etiquette Waste disposal
What are the contact: transmission based precautions (TBPs)?
Contact - hand hygiene
Gloves
Apron
Door closed
What are droplet: transmission based precautions (TBPs)?
Gloves Aprons Masks Eye protection Door closed Hand hygiene
How could you break the chain of infection at the infectious agent stage?
Diagnosis and treatment
Antimicrobial stewardship
What are airborne: transmission based precautions (TBPs)?
Hand hygiene Gloves Aprons Masks Eye protection Respirator Door closer
How large is a droplet particle?
> 5μm
How large is an aerosol particle?
<5μm
What is more widespread: an aerosol or a droplet?
Aerosol
Droplet and aerosol: which remains suspended in the air and which drops to the ground?
Drops to the ground: droplet
Remains suspended in the air: aerosol
Which type of infection is most transmissible: contact, droplet or airborne?
Airborne spread infections
What is cleaning in relation to infection control?
Physical removal of organic material and decrease in microbial load
What is disinfection in relation to infection control?
Large reduction in microbe numbers - spores may remain
What is sterilisation in relation to infection control?
Removal/destruction of ALL microbes and spores
What type of things get ‘cleaned’?
Low risk: Intact skin contact e.g. stethoscopes, cots, mattresses
What type of things get ‘disinfected’ or sterilised as appropriate?
Medium risk: mucous membrane contact e.g. bedpans, vaginal specula, endoscopes
What type of things get sterilised?
High risk e.g. surgical instruments
What is important in regard to cleaning during infection control?
Manufacturer’s instructions
Detergent and water
Drying
Cleaning prior to disinfection and sterilisation
What are methods of disinfection?
Heat e.g. pasteurisation, boiling
Chemical
What are methods of sterilisation?
Steam under pressure (autoclave)
Hot air oven
Gas (ethylene dioxide)
Ionising radiation
What types of infection control surveillance are there?
Local surveillance e.g. lab based, ward/clinical area based, national surveillance, all healthcare workers
