UNIT 10 INFECTION CONTROL Flashcards
What is Airborne Precaution
Airborne Precautions are used for patients known or suspected to have infections transmi ed by the airborne transmission route. These infections are caused by organisms that can be suspended in air for prolonged periods. Negative-airflow rooms are required to prevent airborne spread of microbes. Enclosed booths with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration or ultraviolet light may be used for sputum induction procedures. Tuberculosis (TB), measles (rubeola), and chickenpox (varicella) are examples of airborne diseases. N95 MASK FOR NURSE NO VISISTORS, DOOR IS CLOSED
. It does recommend that private rooms always be used for patients on Airborne Precautions and those in a protective environment (PE). A PE is architecturally designed and structured to prevent infection from occurring in patients who are at extremely high risk, such as those undergoing stem cell therapy.
What is Droplet Precaution
Droplet Precautions are used for patients known or suspected to have infections transmi ed by the droplet transmission route. Such infections are caused by organisms in droplets that may travel 3 to 6 feet and can be suspended for long periods. Examples of infectious conditions requiring Droplet Precautions include influenza, COVID-19, pertussis, and meningitis caused by either Neisseria meningitidis or Haemophilus influenzae type B.
What is Contact Precaution
Contact Precautions are used for patients known or suspected to have infections transmi ed by direct contact or contact with items in the environment. Patients with significant multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infection or colonization, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), are placed on Contact Precautions. Other infections requiring Contact Precautions include pediculosis (lice), scabies, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and C. difficile. C. difficile infection causes moderate-to-severe diarrhea and is discussed later in this chapter in the section Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism.
Should gloves be worn for standard precaution?
Remember that gloves are an essential part of infection control and should always be worn as part of Standard Precautions. Either handwashing or use of alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) should be done before donning (pu ing on) and after removing gloves. The combination of hand hygiene and wearing gloves is the most effective strategy for preventing infection transmission!
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
personal protective equipment (PPE) is used. PPE refers to gloves, isolation gowns, face protection (masks, goggles, face shields), and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) or N95 respirators (
Hand Hygiene
- When hands are visibly soiled or contaminated with proteinaceous material or visibly soiled with blood or other body fluids, wash hands with soap and water.
- If hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) for decontaminating hands or wash hands with soap and water.
- Use either ABHR or wash with soap and water (decontaminate hands) before having direct contact with patients.
- Decontaminate hands before donning (pu ing on) sterile gloves to perform a procedure such as inserting an invasive device (e.g., indwelling urinary catheter).
- Decontaminate hands after contact with a patient’s intact skin (e.g., taking a pulse) or with body fluids or excretions or secretions.
- Decontaminate hands after removing gloves.
- Decontaminate hands after contact with inanimate objects (including medical equipment) in the immediate vicinity of the patient.
Effective handwashing includes we ing, soaping, lathering, applying friction under running water for at least 15 seconds, rinsing, and adequate drying. Friction is essential to remove skin oils and disperse transient bacteria and soil from hand surfaces. Performing adequate handwashing takes time that HCWs may not think they have. Handwashing can also cause dry skin; therefore hand moisturizers are essential to maintain good hand health and hygiene.
Recommended Immunizations for Elderly adults
- Yearly influenza vaccine (trivalent or quadrivalent) to prevent influenza (flu)
- Zoster vaccine recombinant to prevent shingles (herpes zoster)
- Adult Tdap vaccine to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) (and Tdap booster every 10 years)
- Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine to prevent pneumonia
- Pneumococcal vaccine polyvalent vaccine to prevent pneumonia
What Drug is most effective when treating a patient with MRSA
A. Aspirin
B. Azithromycin
C. Ampicillin
D. Delafloxacin
Delafloxacin is the first fluoroquinolone demonstrated to be effective against MRSA infections. Delafloxacin is available as an oral and IV drug and tends to bind to other drugs containing metal cations, making it less effective. If prescribed orally, therefore, be sure to administer the drug at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after antacids and vitamin or mineral supplements. When giving the drug as an IV preparation, avoid administering it with any solution containing metal cations, such as magnesium.
Patient teaching to prevent MRSA
Community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA, causes infections in healthy, nonhospitalized people, especially those living in college housing and prisons. It is easily transmi ed among family members and can cause serious skin and soft-tissue infections, including abscesses, boils, and blisters. The best way to decrease the incidence of this growing problem is health teaching, including:
- Performing frequent hand hygiene, including using hand sanitizers
- Avoiding close contact with people who have infectious wounds * Avoiding large crowds
- Avoiding contaminated surfaces
- Using good overall hygiene
