Preventing outbreak 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.
The most common types of infection in hospitals are? (3)
urine infections, infections after surgery (operations), skin infections, sickness and diarrhoea.
Some facts about HAI’S? (3)
- acquired after being in hospital for more than 48 hours
- will vary depending on the incubation period of the organism
- All infections are transmissible – somehow
Define what is meant by an outbreak of a infection
as 2 or more cases of a infection linked in time and place.
1st Purpose of IPCT ?
PREVENT individual infections AND outbreaks!!
Purpose of surveillance?
DETECT and IDENTIFY a possible outbreak at the earliest opportunity
chain of infection? (6)
infectious agent - reservoir - portal of exit - mode of transmission - portal of entry - susceptible host
Give examples of infectious agents (4)
bacteria
virus
fungi
prion
Give examples of Reservoir (5)
Humans Equipment Environment Food Animals
Give examples of portal of exit (3)
Blood and body fluids
Skin scales/wound
Coughing and sneezing
Give examples of Mode of transmission (3)
Direct or indirect contact
inhalation
ingestion of contaminated food
Give examples of Portal of entry (5)
skin/surgical wounds eyes or mouth resp trat intestinal tract tubes
Give examples of susceptible hosts (4)
Underdeveloped immune system
Decreasing immune system
Drugs or diseases
Tubes
What are the 5times when you would perform hand hygiene?
- before touching patient
- before a septic procedure
- after body fluid exposure
- after touching a patient
- after touching a patients surroundings
Transmission based precautions (TBPs) (3)
Contact
Gloves
Apron
Name some contact precautions for an isolated patient (5)
- report to nurse before entering room
- decontaminate hands before entering
- wear PPE
- keep door closed
- before leaving , decontaminate equipment
Transmission based precautions (TBPs) (5)
Droplet Gloves Aprons Masks Eye protection
Features of a droplet (3)
> 5µm
Spread assumed to be about 1m
Drop to ground
Features of a aerosol (3)
<5µm
Much more widespread
Remain suspended in the air
What type of infection spread is more trasmissable?
Airborne spread - require different precautions
Cleaning, Disinfection, Sterilisation - describe what these mean?
cleaning - Physical removal of organic material and decrease in microbial load
Disinfection - Large reduction in microbe numbers - spores may remain
Sterilisation - Removal/Destruction of ALL microbes and spores
low, medium and high risk - what is required for each level?
Low risk - Intact skin contact e.g. stethoscopes, cots, Mattresses - CLEANING
Medium risk - Mucous membrane contact e.g. bedpans, vaginal specula, Endoscopes - DISINFECTION
High Risk- e.g. surgical instruments - STERILISATION
With cleaning, what must be followed?
what do you use?
Manufacturer’s instructions
Detergent and water
DRYING
Give some Methods of Disinfection (2) and give examples of each
Heat - Pasteurisation (e.g. bedpans, linen, dishwashers) Boiling (vaginal specula, ear syringes)
Chemical- Chemicals vary in their organism activity range, Needs to be equipment compatible
Examples: Alcohol, chlorhexidine, hypochlorites, hydrogen peroxide
