Prevention of Cross Infection Flashcards
What are some risk factors associated with a higher chance of acquiring an infection?
- Age
- Compromised immunity
- Misuse of antibiotics
- Poor infection prevention practice
- Medical conditions
What is the chain of infection?
Infectious agent > Reservoir > site of exit > transmission > site of entry > susceptible host
What are the 4 causes of disease?
Bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites
What are some examples of ‘reservoirs’?
People, water, equipment, animals, food, soil
What are some forms of direct contact infection transmission?
Touching, kissing, sexual intercourse or from a pregnant woman to her foetus through the placenta.
What are some forms of indirect contact infection transmission?
Air-borne (coughing/sneezing)
Vector-borne (animals)
Dirty equipment
What are some sites of entry?
Medical equipment, breaks in the skin, ingestion, inhalation, sexual contact
What are the standard precautions to prevent cross infection?
Hand hygiene, safe disposal of clinical waste, cleaning/decontamination, management of bodily fluid spillages, laundry management, PPE
What are some examples of sharps?
Needles, scalpels, blades, stitch cutters
How would you manage a sharps injury?
- Encourage the wound to gently bleed, ideally holding it under running water
- Wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap
- Dry the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing
- Seek urgent medical advice
- Report the injury to your employer
Don’t: suck the wound or scrub it while washing
What are the ‘5 moments for hand hygiene’? (as per e-learning)
- Before touching a patient
- Before clean/aseptic procedures
- After body fluid exposure/risk
- After touching a patient
- After touching patient’s surroundings
What are some things to avoid wearing (below the elbows) to help combat infection spread?
Long nails/nail varnish
Jewellery
Watches
Bobbles
