Review Flashcards
Introduction
Infection is a serious safety and health hazard
Infection control
Policies and procedures to prevent the spread of infection within the health care setting
Who’s at risk?
Older persons
People with health challenges
People with disabilities
Microorganisms
A Microorganisms sometime called a germ or bug is a small plant or animal seen only with a microscope
- microbes are everywhere
- some are harmful and cause infections
Bacteria
Are single called microbes
Viruses
Invade living cells in order to grown and multiply
Fungi
Are microbes that live on organic matter
Parasites
Are microbes that derive nourishment and protection from living organisms
Requirements of microbes
- need a host to live and grow
- need heater and nourishment from host
- need oxygen to survive
- a warm dark environment
- destroyed by heat and light
Normal flora
Microbes that live and grow naturally in a certain area of the body
Multi drug
Restraint organisms
Sometimes called superbugs
Microbes that can resist the effects of antibiotic
MROs are caused by
Doctors prescribing antibiotics when they are notneeded
Patients not taking antibiotics for the full length of time
Infections
A disease state resulting from the invasion and growth of pathogens in the body
3 outcomes of exposure to pathogens
- immune system destroyes pathogens
- immune system does not destroy pathogen but no infection develops
- an infection develops sometime later
Health care associated infections
An infection that develops in a certain client who is cared for in any setting that health care is given
HAIs are caused by
Normal flora
Microbes transmitted to the client
Common HAI infections
UTI
Respiratory system infection
Gastrointestinal system infections
Medical asepsis
Reduce the number of pathogens
Surgical asepsis
Keep equipment and supplies from from all microbes
Pandemics
Occurred when a communicable infection or illness spreads quickly country wide
The chain of infection
Pathogen Reservoir Portal of exit Mode of transportation Portal of entry Susceptible host
Vaccinations
Has been proven to prevent serious communicable Illness
Sterile
Being free from all microbes
Sterilization
Destroying all microbes
Contamination
Exposer to pathogens
Hand hygiene
Easiest and most important way to prevent the spread of infection
Cleaning
Reduces the number of microbes present
Disinfection
Destroying all pathogens spores are not destroyed
Sterilization
Destroyed all nonpathogens and pathogens including spores
Very high temperatures are used
Isolation precautions
Guidelines to prevent the spread of pathogens
Standard practices
Practiced all the time in all settings
Reduce the risk of spreading infections
Prevent the spread of infection from
Blood
All body fluids
Non-contact skin
Mucous membranes
Disposing of sharps
Used needles are not bent or broken
Never ignore a sharps injury
Place sharps in a container that is
Tightly capped
Puncture resident
Leave proof
