Test 2 Flashcards
What is a Health Care Associated Infection?
An infection acquired during a patient’s stay in a healthcare environment, that was not present at the time of admission
what can health care associated infection (nosocomial infection) lead to?
- Increased length of stay
- Increased wait times
- Increased morbidity and mortality
- Increased number of antibiotic resistant organisms
- Decreased confidence in the healthcare system
What are Routine Practices?
Infection control measures that are to be used with EVERY patient during ANY/EVERY type of care
what is used to prevent and control the transmission of infections
- Screening
- Assessing the risk of infection before EVERY patient encounter
- Performing hand hygiene at the correct times
- Wearing appropriate PPE
- Environmental and administrative controls
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Equipment that you wear to help prevent the transmission of infections agents between staff and patient
how do you decide what PPE is required?
The choice of PPE to use is decided based on the risk assessment that is to be done before EVERY patient interaction.
when are gloves used?
possibility of coming into contact with:
- Tissue, blood or body fluids
- Non-intact skin
- Mucous membranes
- Soiled equipment or surfaces
- Using cleaning chemicals
when do you wear a gown?
Used when you anticipate that your care activity may contaminate your clothing
yellow gowns
most commonly used
blue gowns
used for chemotherapy
when are masks and eye protection worn?
- activities may generate splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids
- within 2 meters of a coughing patient
- high risk respiratory procedure
when MUST masks and eye protection be worn?
Must wear during high risk (aerosol generating) respiratory procedures regardless of whether or not the patient has symptoms of infection
what are examples of high risk respiratory procedure?
- Use of bag-valve mask
- Endotracheal intubation
- Thoracostomy
- Bronchoscopy/endoscopy
- Tracheostomy suctioning/replacement
what are N95 masks worn?
specifically fit to the bone structure of your face. They have a tight seal that prevents any sort of droplets entering your respiratory system.
when are N95 masks worn?
airborne diseases
what is the paramount importance in health care to reduce the spread of germs and diseases?
hand hygiene
what is the single most important factor in preventing the spread of infection in healthcare?
HAND HYGIENE
Alcohol-based hand rub
- more effective
- faster (15 seconds)
- easier on skin
soap and water
- less effective
- longer (20-25 seconds)
- dries out skin
when would you use alcohol-based hand rub?
when hands are not visibly soiled
when would you use soap and water?
- visibly soiled hands (blood, dirt)
- exposure to spore forming bacteria
- after using restroom
what is the first line of defence against organisms?
intact skin
how do you reduce skin dryness and irritation?
- use warm (not hot) water
- rinse thoroughly and pat hands dry instead of rubbing them
- use facility provided lotion frequently
- always protect your hands from chemicals and extreme conditions
why is using lotion at work required rather than your own lotion?
hospital lotion doesn’t break down the ABHR