Preventing Disease Transmission Flashcards
who provides the recommendations to the hospitals infection control department when new policies are developed?
The CDC (centres for disease control and prevention)
How often are reports published by the CDC?
Weekly and annually
Outline/breakdown what emerging diseases include:
- new diseases appearing in the population
- existing ones that are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range
- resurgent or recurrent old diseases caused by and old or mutated pathogen
List the 8 facts that precipitate to disease emergence:
- Increased human exposure to vectors in nature
- Population growth and migration to crowded cities
- Rapid international travel and transportation of goods
- Contact with new strains of dangerous pathogens
- Pathogen mutation created by over utilizing anti-microbial agents
- Breakdowns in public health measures
- Climate change
- Bioterrorism
Identify 2 causes for the cholera outbreaks in South America and Africa
- Poor sanitation
2. Insufficient chlorine levels in water supplies
Where did the immigrants that reintroduced diphtheria into the USA come from?
Russian immigrants from the former Soviet Union
Name the disease emergence which was responsible for the 1993 Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
Climate change due to a 6 year drought causing an increased human exposure to vectors in nature (increased deer mice contact with humans)
List the signs and symptoms of Dengue fever or “breakbone fever”
- high fever
- headache
- muscle and joint aches
- malaise
- rash
- be aware these symptoms are very common for many other diseases
what is the vector for Lyme disease?
Increasing populations of deer and tricks from deforestation
Which disease emergence is responsible for the spread of “once localized” infections such as HIV?
-human migration from isolated areas of the world to crowded cities
In 2001, terrorists caused an outbreak of which disease in the USA?
Anthrax
What was the course of the SARS outbreak to North America in 2003?
Travellers form Asia
List the reason the influenza virus is so successful
It mutates rapidly resulting in many different strains of influenza and the frequent appearance of new strains
Which flu in 2009 was a vaccine developed for?
Swine flu
Unpasteurized apple juice and contaminated spinach is linked to causing which E. Coli?
E. Coli strain 0157:H7
In June 2011, a deadly strain of E. Coli caused deaths in Germany. which countries were linked to this strain as well?
The UK and Egypt
the E. coli 104:H4 has a trait that produces a toxin that causes kidney failure. What is the name of that toxin?
Shiga toxin
Where did the 2014 multi-country outbreak of Ebola occur?
West Africa
List 3 ways Ebola can spread
- Blood and body fluids of an infected person
- Objects contaminated with the virus
- Infected fruit bats or primates
how many days after exposure does the Ebola flu like signs and symptoms appear in an infected person?
2 to 21 days after exposure
Is there a vaccine for Ebola?
NOPE
List two methods that help prevent contracting the Ebola virus
- Proper use of PPE (personal protective equipment)
2. Disinfection protocols
What is another term for nosocomial infections?
Hospital-acquired infections
List the typical hospital acquired infections source of infection:
- contaminated hands of health care providers
- contaminated instruments
- urinary catheters, ventilators, central lines, surgical sites, hospital beds
Which nosocomial infection can cause respiratory infections?
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
What are the causes supporting the spread of multi drug resistant infections?
- overuse of antimicrobial agents
- poor infection control practices
what is the cause of CA-MRSA?
- recent antibiotic use
- sharing contaminated personal items
- living in crowded areas/settings
- poor hygiene
- geriatric facilities are usually where this is more common
why is C-difficult so difficult to control?
It is a spore forming bacterium that is not eliminated by routine asepsis methods
Chronically recurring C-difficult effects what percentage of the population?
20%
AIDS is what stage of the HIV infection?
Stage 3
After how many days can an HIV infected individual transmit the virus to others?
After a few days
How is HIV transmitted?
- sexual contact
- contaminated blood/needles
- fluid containing blood
- mother to fetus via placenta
- transmitted to infants via breast milk
What factors are contributing to a continued decline in AIDS diagnoses and deaths?
- prevention efforts of medical treatment and early diagnosis
- better access to healthcare, simpler drug regimes, continued development of effective antiretroviral drugs and other therapies
There are how many types hepatitis?
5 (A, B, C, D, E)
How is hepatitis B spread?
Contact with blood or blood products, body fluids (saliva, semen, vaginal secretions), maternal-fetal contact
What % of health care workers are subject to sporadic percutaneous exposures to hepatitis?
1-2%
How can hepatitis B be transmitted?
- non-intact skin contact of infected sources
- needle stick injury of infected needle
Which type(s) of hepatitis have the potential to develop into chronic infections and cirrhosis?
Hepatitis B and C (greater risk with C)
Which type(s) of hepatitis is there a vaccine for?
Hep A and B
NOT for C
what is the immediate management of an accidental needle stick by a contaminated object?
Allow the wound to bleed under cold water and wash with soap
What allows a TB droplet nuclei to live on surfaces for years?
A protective waxy coat coat surrounding nuclei
What causes the deactivation of TB and what factors contribute to this deactivation?
-immune response is weakened (old age, illness, malnutrition, immunosuppressant therapy)
A negative baseline TST test indicates what?
That the person has never been infected with TB
How should a diagnosed patient with an active TB be managed?
Isolation in a negative pressure room with air that is filtered 6 times an hour
-airborne isolation precautions (N95 mask)
According to OHSA, out of 1000 workers, how many could be exposed to TB while on the job?
386 (1/3rd of all workers)
List the diseases the United States Public Health Service still has the legal authority to detain and quarantine.
- cholera
- diphtheria
- infectious TB (active)
- plague
- smallpox
- yellow fever
- SARS
- viral hemorrhagic fevers (Ebola)
