Test 2--Chapter 15 Preventing Infection Flashcards
Infection
An infection is a disease state resulting from the invasion and growth of microbes in the body
Infection control
Infection control protects residents, visitors, and staff from infection
Microorganism
Micro- means “small” and organism means “living plant or animal.”
Types of microorganisms (microbes)
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Protozoa
- Rickettsiae
- Viruses
Bacteria
Bacteria are plant life that multiply rapidly.
Fungi
Fungi are plants that live on other plants or animals.
Protozoa
Protozoa are one-celled animals that can infect the blood, brain, intestines, and other body areas.
Rickettsiae
Rickettsiae are found in fleas, lice, ticks, and other insects.
Requirement of microbes to survive
- reservoir (host) to live and grow.
- water and nourishment from the reservoir.
- oxygen
- A warm and dark environment
Normal flora
Normal flora are microbes that live and grow in a certain area.
MDRO
Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are microbes that can resist the effects of antibiotics
What causes MDROs?
- Doctors prescribing antibiotics when they are not needed.
- Not taking antibiotics for the length of time prescribed.
Two examples of MDROs
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
Infection
An infection is a disease state resulting from the invasion and growth of microbes in the body
Local infection
A local infection is within a body part.
Systemic infection
A systemic infection involves the whole body
Concerns with infected older people
- An infection can become________ before the older person has obvious signs and symptoms.
- During an infection, an older person may not show _____ or _______.
- The person may have only a _____ fever or __ fever at all.
- Redness and _________ may be very slight.
- The person may not complain of ____.
- ____________ and delirium may occur.
Concerns with infected old people
- An infection can become life-threatening before the older person has obvious signs and symptoms.
- During an infection, an older person may not show signs or symptoms.
- The person may have only a slight fever or no fever at all.
- Redness and swelling may be very slight.
- The person may not complain of pain.
- Confusion and delirium may occur.
Chain of Infection
Healthcare-associated infection
- healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is an infection acquired in a health care agency
- also called a nosocomial infection
What causes HAIs?
HAIs are caused by:
Normal flora
Microbes transmitted to the person from another source
How are HAIs prevented?
HAIs are prevented by:
- Medical asepsis—this includes hand hygiene
- Surgical asepsis
- Standard Precautions
- Transmission-Based Precautions
- Isolation Precautions
- The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
What is asepsis?
Asepsis is being free of disease-producing microbes.
When should you practice hand hygiene?
After urinating or having a bowel movement
After changing tampons or sanitary pads
After contact with your own or another person’s blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions
After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
Before and after handling, preparing, or eating food
Before and after giving care.
How do supplies and equipment help prevent HAIs?
- Most health care equipment is __________.
- Single-use items are _________ after use.
- A person uses multi-use items many times.
- Non-disposable items are cleaned, then __________, and then sterilized.
Cleaning
- Reduces the number of _________ present
- Removes organic ________
- Most health care equipment is disposable.
- Single-use items are discarded after use.
- A person uses multi-use items many times.
- Non-disposable items are cleaned, then disinfected, and then sterilized.
Cleaning
- Reduces the number of microbes present
- Removes organic matter
What is the process of destroying pathogens?
Disinfection
What are are disinfectants applied to skin, tissues, and non-living objects?
Germicides
What are chemical disinfectants used for?
Chemical disinfectants are used to clean surfaces and reusable items
•Reusable items that require chemical disinfectants include blood pressure cuffs, commodes and metal bedpans, wheelchairs and stretchers, and furniture.
What is a pressure steam sterilizer called?
An autoclave is a pressure steam sterilizer. Glass, surgical items, and metal objects are autoclaved
What are bacteria protected by a hard shell?
Spores are bacteria protected by a hard shell. Spores are killed by very high temperatures
Transmission Based Precautions
Precautions based on how a specific infection is spread
What do you do when practicing isolation precautions?
- Wear _________ __________ equipment (PPE)
- Using special measures for removing linens, trash, and equipment from the room
- Follow procedures when collecting and transporting __________
- _______ and other attire protect your clothes and body from contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions.
- Gowns must completely cover you from your neck to your _______.
- A ____ gown is contaminated.
- ____________ gowns are discarded after use.
Isolation Precautions involve:
- Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Using special measures for removing linens, trash, and equipment from the room
- Following procedures when collecting and transporting specimens
- Gowns and other attire protect your clothes and body from contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions.
- Gowns must completely cover you from your neck to your knees.
- A wet gown is contaminated.
- Disposable gowns are discarded after use.
What equipment is required to protect your face and eyes?
- Masks
- Respiratory protection
- Face and eye shields
Respiratory protection is to protect a person from getting tuberculosis
What do you do with personal protection garments after use?
- Discard disposable eyewear after use.
- Reusable eyewear is cleaned and disinfected before reuse.
- Contaminated items are bagged to remove them from the person’s room.
- Leak-proof plastic bags are used and have the BIOHAZARD symbol.
- Biohazardous waste is items contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions.
- Bag and transport linens, trash, equipment, and supplies following center policy.
- Double bagging is not needed unless the outside of the bag is soiled.
- Specimens are transported to the laboratory in biohazard specimen bags.
How do you meet the basic needs of a person with limited vision while still practicing isolation techniques?
- Let them see your face before you put on a mask or goggles or a face shield.
- State your name and explain what you are going to do.
- THEN put on personal protective equipment (PPE).
What are the basic needs?
- Love
- Belonging
- Self-esteem
What is the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?
- Intended to protect the health team from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)
- A regulation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
What are two examples of bloodborne pathogens?
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Hepatitis b virus (HBV)
What does an exposure control plan include?
- It identifies staff at risk for exposure to blood or OPIM.
- The plan includes actions to take for an exposure incident.
What special measures are required when disposing of regulated waste?
•Containers used for discarding regulated waste are:
- closable,
- puncture-resistant,
- leak-proof, and
- color-coded in red and
- have the BIOHAZARD symbol.
Parenteral
• piercing the mucous membranes or the skin barrier.
Piercing occurs through needle-sticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions.
Exposure incident
An exposure incident is any eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or OPIM
OPIM
Other
Potentially
Infectious
Material
What do you do if you have an exposure incident?
- Report is immediately
- Medical evaluation, follow-up, and required tests are free after an exposure. Your blood is tested for HIV and HBV.
Surgical Asepsis
the practices that keep equipment and supplies free of all microbes.
Also known as sterile technique
When is surgical asepsis required?
any time the skin or sterile tissues are entered
