Preventing outbreak

Question 1

What is a Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI)?

Answer 1

an infection you might catch when getting healthcare in hospitals, care homes, doctors’ surgeries, health centres or receiving care at home.

Question 2

The most common types of infection in hospitals are? (3)

Answer 2

urine infections, infections after surgery (operations), skin infections, sickness and diarrhoea.

Question 3

Some facts about HAI’S? (3)

Answer 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

Question 4

Define what is meant by an outbreak of a infection

Answer 4

as 2 or more cases of a infection linked in time and place.

Question 5

1st Purpose of IPCT ?

Answer 5

PREVENT individual infections AND outbreaks!!

Question 6

Purpose of surveillance?

Answer 6

DETECT and IDENTIFY a possible outbreak at the earliest opportunity

Question 7

chain of infection? (6)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Give examples of infectious agents (4)

Answer 8

bacteria
virus
fungi
prion

Question 9

Give examples of Reservoir (5)

Answer 9

Humans
Equipment
Environment
Food
Animals

Question 10

Give examples of portal of exit (3)

Answer 10

Blood and body fluids
Skin scales/wound
Coughing and sneezing

Question 11

Give examples of Mode of transmission (3)

Answer 11

Direct or indirect contact
inhalation
ingestion of contaminated food

Question 12

Give examples of Portal of entry (5)

Answer 12

skin/surgical wounds
eyes or mouth
resp trat
intestinal tract 
tubes

Question 13

Give examples of susceptible hosts (4)

Answer 13

Underdeveloped immune system
Decreasing immune system
Drugs or diseases
Tubes

Question 14

What are the 5times when you would perform hand hygiene?

Answer 14

• before touching patient
• before a septic procedure
• after body fluid exposure
• after touching a patient
• after touching a patients surroundings

Question 15

Transmission based precautions (TBPs) (3)

Answer 15

Contact
Gloves
Apron

Question 16

Name some contact precautions for an isolated patient (5)

Answer 16

• report to nurse before entering room
• decontaminate hands before entering
• wear PPE
• keep door closed
• before leaving , decontaminate equipment

Question 17

Transmission based precautions (TBPs) (5)

Answer 17

Droplet
Gloves
Aprons
Masks
Eye protection

Question 18

Features of a droplet (3)

Answer 18

> 5µm
Spread assumed to be about 1m
Drop to ground

Question 19

Features of a aerosol (3)

Answer 19

<5µm
Much more widespread
Remain suspended in the air

Question 20

What type of infection spread is more trasmissable?

Answer 20

Airborne spread - require different precautions

Question 21

Cleaning, Disinfection, Sterilisation - describe what these mean?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

low, medium and high risk - what is required for each level?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

With cleaning, what must be followed?

what do you use?

Answer 23

Manufacturer’s instructions
Detergent and water
DRYING

Question 24

Give some Methods of Disinfection (2) and give examples of each

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Methods of Sterilisation (4)

Answer 25

Steam under pressure (autoclave)
Hot Air Oven
Gas (ethylene dioxide)
Ionising Radiation

Question 26

Surveillance types (3) and examples where appropriate

Answer 26

Local Surveillance: Laboratory Based.
Ward/Clinical Area Based

National Surveillance
All healthcare workers!

Question 27

National Surveillance:Mandatory surveillance reporting for Scotland(5)

Answer 27

MRSA bacteremia (July 2006)
MSSA bacteremia (July 2006)
Clostridium difficile (Sep 2006)
Surgical Site Infections (Jan 2007)
E coli bacteremia (2016)