Week 1: Infection Prevention and Control Flashcards
Definition: Antibiotic
Used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infections.
Definition: Antiseptic
A chemical agent that slows or stops the growth of microorganisms on external surfaces of the body and helps to prevent infection.
Definition: Asepsis (Medical)
Practices used to reduce the risk of infection by eliminating or reducing microorganisms.
- Clean technique used for all clinical patient care activities.
- Hand hygiene
- Disinfection
- Proper waste management
Definition: Asepsis (Surgical)
Practices used to reduce the risk of infection by eliminating or reducing microorganisms.
- Used for all surgical procedures
- Sterile instruments
- Sterile draping
- Gloved “no touch” technique
Definition: Bacteria
A living, cellular organism that can transmit an infectious agent.
Definition: Bactericidal Agent
A bactericidal agent is a substance that kills bacteria by disrupting their cell walls, cell membranes, or DNA.
- Often used in healthcare settings to maintain aseptic environments.
Definition: Bodily Fluids
Fluids from the body including urine, vomit, blood, saliva, sweat, CSF, and vaginal secretions.
Definition: Carrier
A living organism (human or animal) that carries the disease/virus but has little to no symptoms, capable of spreading it to others.
Definition: Clean
Free from dirt or contaminants, unsoiled, unstained.
Definition: Disinfectant
A chemical liquid that destroys bacteria on non-living surfaces.
Definition: Fungus
A fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms.
Definition: Host
A living organism that has a disease-causing agent (bacteria, virus, etc.) living within it and multiplying (they will likely have symptoms).
Definition: Immunity (Acquired)
The state of being insusceptible or resistant to a noxious agent or process such as a pathogen or infectious disease from introduction of a killed or weakened version of the pathogen (vaccines) to provide immunity.
Definition: Immunity (Natural)
The state of being insusceptible or resistant to a noxious agent or process such as a pathogen or infectious disease from exposure to the disease organism through infection with the actual disease.
Definition: Infection
The invasion and growth of germs in the body.
Definition: Infectious Disease
An illness caused by a germ (virus, bacteria, fungi, or parasite) that enters the body and multiplies.
Definition: Inflammation
The body’s response to an illness, injury, or something that does not belong in the body; often will result in redness, tenderness, pain, discomfort, or swelling.
Definition: Isolation
The act of isolating or being isolated, to be kept alone to prevent the spread of an illness or infection.
Definition: Microbes
Microscopic organisms that are too small to see with the naked eye; can be unicellular, multicellular, or acellular.
Definition: Nosocomial
An infection or illness that originates from a hospital setting.
Definition: Pathogen
A microorganism capable of causing disease.
Definition: Purulent
Consisting of, containing, or discharging pus.
Definition: Resident Bacteria (body flora)
Microorganisms that live on or in the body and are usually beneficial.
Definition: Sanguineous
Relating to bloodshed, relating to or involving blood.
Definition: Serous
Having to do with serum (clear, liquid part of blood); relating to, producing, or resembling serum.
Definition: Spores
A cell that certain fungi, plants (moss, ferns), and bacteria produce often as a form of reproduction or as a way to defend themselves; often what can cause infections and multiplying.
Definition: Sterile Field
A sterile surface of which to place sterile equipment that is considered free of all microorganisms; surgical field is considered a sterile field.
Definition: Sterilization
The destruction of ALL microorganisms including spores.
Definition: Susceptibility
The state or fact of being likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Definition: Virus
An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host.
What is the name of a microorganism that is capable of causing disease?
Pathogens
What does HAI stand for?
Hospital Acquired Infections
What are two other terms for HAI?
Nosocomial or Iatrogenic
What is a HAI?
Infection acquired after admission to a health care facility that was not present, or incubation, at the time of admission.
What are some examples of HAIs?
C-Diff, MRSA, VRE
What are some negative effects of HAIs?
Decrease quality of life, and increase of cost of health care
What are some influences of HAIs?
- High acuity of illness
- Transmission of antibiotic-resistant organisms: a large population of susceptible people who frequently receive antibiotics are in close proximity with each other.
- Number of health care workers having direct contact with the patient
- The number and type of invasive procedures, therapy received, length of hospitalization
What are the 6 Steps in the Chain of Transmission?
Infectious Agent
Reservoir
Portal of Exit
Mode of Transmission
Portal of Entry
Susceptible Host
What is an Infectious Agent?
The first component of the chain of transmission, also known as the germs.
Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa cause infection.
What does the spread of germs depend on?
- Number
- Virulence (ability to cause disease)
- Entry and survival in host
- Susceptibility of host
What are Reservoirs?
They are where germs live, grow, and multiply.
Reservoirs may not always appear to be sick.
What are some examples of Reservoirs?
- People
- Animals
- Water
- Food
- Surfaces
** Living reservoirs may not always appear to be sick.
What does it mean to be Colonized?
Pathogen is present, does not cause disease
What are Carriers?
Animals or persons who show no symptoms, but disease may be transferable
What are the 6 Factors that a pathogen may require to be appropriate in order to survive?
Temperature
pH levels
Food
Oxygen
Water
Minimal light
What is the Portal of Exit?
It is a pathway from the reservoir and is required to enter another host.
Can be natural openings such as the mouth or nostrils, of artificial openings such as endotracheal tubes or catheters.
What are some natural examples of Portal of Exit?
Coughing
Sneezing
Bleeding
Urinating
Defecating
Vomiting
Touching
Draining Wounds
Other body secretions
What are Modes of Transmission?
How pathogens get around
What are examples of Modes of Transmissions?
Contact (direct, indirect)
Droplet
Airborne
Vehicle
Vectorborne
What is the Portal of Entry?
How a germ enters the host in order to make them sick
What are some examples of Portals of Entry?
Eyes
Mouth
Nose
Wounds
T or F: The Portal of Exit and the Portal of Entry can be the same.
TRUE
What is a Susceptible Host?
Hosts that are more susceptible to disease/illness due to contributing factors.
What are some factors that impact Susceptibility to disease?
- Age (old or young)
- Immune system
- Stress
- Underlying illness
- Lack of sleep
- Poor nutrition
- Lack of vaccination
- Open wounds
What are ways of controlling Infectious Agents?
Antimicrobial therapy
Disinfection
Sterilization
What are ways of controlling Reservoirs and Portals of Exit?
- Control/eliminate places that would harbour infections.
- Discard contaminated objects when possible.
- Change dressings that become wet or soiled.
- Keep patient clean and dry of drainage, perspiration, and secretions.
- Keep bedside area clean and dry.
What are ways of controlling Transmission?
- No sharing of bedpans, bath basins, or eating utensils.
- Sheath over thermometer probe.
- Hold soiled linens and equipment away from your body.
- Hand hygiene (hand sanitizer when not soiled, washing hands when visibly soiled).
How long does it take to wash your hands with soap and water according to IPAC Canada?
40-60 seconds
What are ways of controlling Portals of Entry?
- Masks
- Don’t talk/sneeze/cough into patient’s face or over wounds or sterile field
- Handle blood/bodily fluids with gloves and other forms of PPE.
- Dispose of contaminated objects safely.
What are ways to protect a Susceptible Host?
- Routine precautions when the healthcare worker is potentially exposed to blood/bodily fluids/nonintact skin/mucous membranes.
- Isolation precautions to contain pathogens to one room and prevent spread.
- Protecting normal defence mechanisms (encourage vaccinations/regular bathing/fluid intake).
- Maintaining healing processes such as assist with stress relief and a well-balanced diet.
What does breaking the chain expect the healthcare worker to wear/do when needed to stop the spread of infection?
- Professional Dress Code
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Risk assessment to determine type of PPE required
What does Asepsis mean?
Practices designed to keep areas/objects as free from microorganisms as possible
What are the 2 types of Asepsis?
Medical and Surgical
What is Medical Asepsis?
Clean technique that aims to reduce and prevent spread of microorganisms; includes steps such as hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting
What is Surgical Asepsis?
Sterile technique uses procedures to eliminate all microorganisms.
What is the #1 way to break the chain of infection?
Handwashing
What is Cleaning?
Physical removing of material (ex. dirt, blood, secretions) via use of water and soap
What is Disinfecting?
Strong cleaning agents and processes used to eliminate all microorganisms (except spores) on objects and surfaces
What are Antiseptics?
Used on living tissues (ex. hand sanitizer)
What is Sterilization?
The destruction of ALL microorganisms including spores
What are the 4 moments of Hand Hygiene?
- When you walk in the room.
- Before you perform a procedure.
- After you perform a procedure or come into contact with bodily fluids.
- Before you leave the room.
Why do we use Routine Practices?
We don’t always know if someone has an infection so we use the same precautions for all patients regardless of their diagnosis.
We treat ALL body substances as possibly infectious.
What are some examples of Routine Practices?
- Hand hygiene
- Use of PPE
- Promoting cleanliness
