Safety / Infection Control Flashcards
What are ways to describe infections?
Inherent/Contagious
Localized/Systemic
Primary/Secondary
Exogenous/Endogenous
Infection
pathogen invades tissues and multiplies in host
Colonization
presence and multiplication of micros within a host without tissue damage/invasion
Communicable
transfered from one to another
Symptomatic
shows signs and symptoms
Asymptomatic
multiply without signs
Virulence
ability to produce disease
Prevention of infections
hand hygiene, barrier techniques, antiseptic/disinfectants, immunizations/meds, conscientious patient care
What is the most important prevention of infection?
hand hygiene
Hand hygiene’s essential action
friction
Longer duration of care (with absence of hand hygiene) =
higher contamination on hands
Nosocomial
healthcare-related infection
Nosocomial effects
increase in mobidity and mortality of patients
increase in cost to organizations
decrease in trust
VRE
vancomycin-resistant enterobacterium (GI-resistant)
5 moments of hand hygiene is needed
-before touching a patient
-before cleaning/aseptic procedures
-after body fluid exposure risk
-after touching a patient
-after touching patient surroundings
Natural defense against infections
skin, mouth, eyes, respiratory tract, urinary tract, gi tract, vagina pH
Chain of infection
infectious agent - reservoir - portal of exit - transmission - portal of entry - susceptible host
Reservoir types
people, equipment, food, insects, water, animals
portal of exits
blood, secretions, excretions, skin
modes of transmission
physical, contact, droplets, airborne (inanimated objects)
portals of entry
mouth, lungs, digestion, skin lesions
susceptible host
immunocompromised, diabetes, burns, surgery, age, stress
Streptococcus, TB, and UTI are examples of what type of infectious agent?
bacterial
cold, flu, COVID, Hepatitis are examples of what type of infectious agent
viral
Ringworm and yeast infection are examples of what type of infectious agent
fungal
Hookworms and pinworms are examples of what type of infectious agent
parasitic
Prions are an example of what infectious agent
transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
Do TSEs (prions) have a treatment plan?
no
secretions
solutions made by body and moved around (hormones)
excretions
come out of living things (urine, semen, stool)
Fomite
inanimate objects that transmit germs with indirect contact
Exudate
massive cells or fluid out of a patient (direct contact)
Medical asepsis
reduce the number of pathogens, “clean technique”, used in administering meds , tubes
Hand wash is #1
Surgical asepsis
eliminates all pathogens
“sterile technique”
used in dress changes, catheters, surgeries
Normal flora
resides in the skin and digestive tract
helps digest food and keep away pathogen
Disinfectant
alone or a combination that includes alcohols, chlorine, or formaldehyde
-commercially
-not interchangeable
-germicide, UV radiation, pasteurization
Sterilization
heat/steam destroys all microorganisms on surface/fluid to prevent disease transmissions
What wipes do you use to prevent C. diff? And how long do you use it?
Bleach wipes; 3 minutes
isolation
intentional separation and restriction of ill with confirmed contagious, transmissible disease
Basic Principles of Isolation
understand disease-transmitted PPE usage
hand hygiene before and after
contaminated disposed
protect all people at risk
PPE
gowns, gloves, mask, eye protection
Tier 1 Isolation
standard precautions
-all patients in all settings
-gloves and hand hygiene
Tier 2 Isolation
expanded
-suspected of colonized with contagious, transmissible pathogen
-orders to isolation cart (ppe) to disposable equipment to door sign to restrictions to notify units
What color is the contact precaution?
green
What are the diseases or precautions for Contact isolation?
MDRO, VRE, RSV, Shingles, Rotavirus, Lice, Scabies, wounds without dressing or containment of drainage
Contact Precautions
Supplies and procedure to enter rooms
Before entering hand hygiene
Gown and gloves - dispose of inside the room
Hand hygiene after
What color is special contact precaution?
Yellow
What color is droplet precaution?
Orange
What color is airborne precaution?
Pink
What are the diseases or precautions for special contact isolation?
C. diff, Norovirus, diarrhea on admission
What are the diseases or precautions for droplet isolation?
flu, pertussis-whooping cough, bacterial meningitis until ruled out Neisseria meningitis(larger than 5 microns)
What are the diseases or precautions for Airbone (negative air) isolation?
TB, measles, disseminated shingles, varicella (chicken pox), smallpox
Special Contact Precautions
Supplies and procedure to enter rooms
Hand hygiene before
gown and gloves required to leave in there
Soap and water at exit
Cleanlinens and BLEACH wipes for 3 minutes on surfaces
Droplet Precautions
Supplies and procedure to enter rooms
Before entering hand hygiene
Mask
Hand hygiene leaving
Airborne Precautions
Supplies and procedure to enter rooms
Hand hygiene
N95 for a nurse (leave on till anteroom)
The patient needs a surgical mask and clean linens if leaves the room
Negative air pressure room (keep the door closed)
Hand hygiene
COVID isolation procedures (without aerosolized)
no aerosolized procedures
Contact and Droplet Precautions (mask, gown, gloves)
COVID with aerosolized procedures isolation (breathing treatment and ventilator)
Special Respiratory Precautions
-hand hygiene
-N95 respirator, face shield
-Negative pressure room with door closed
-surgical mask/clean linens if leaving
Protective Precaution for immunocompromised
screen all visitors, no one below 14, mask outside of isolation, no fruits or flowers
Posistive Pressure Room
PPE sequence donning
Gown
Mask
Goggles
Gloves
PPE sequence doffing
Gloves
Goggles
Gown
Mask
What is the scientific name for lice?
Pediculus capitis
