Week 1: Isolation Flashcards
What is asepsis?
Process for keeping away disease-producing microorganisms.
2 types of asepsis:
Medical asepsis + Surgical asepsis
What is the main difference between disinfection and sterilization?
Disinfection - elimination of pathogens except for bacterial spores.
Sterilization - including spores.
What is the key difference between critical items, semicritical items, and noncritical items when it comes to disinfecting/sterilization? Give examples of each:
Critical - instruments enter sterile tissue or the vascular system. Example: surgical instruments, an intravascular catheter (IV line), urinary catheters, needles.
Semi-critical - devices that come in contact with mucous membranes or nonintact skin but do not penetrate them. Example: thermometers, resp therapy equipment, endotracheal tubes, GI endoscopes, vaginal and nasal specula.
Non-critical - items that touch only skin (not mucous membranes) or do not directly touch the patient. Example: bedpans, urinals, commodes, BP cuffs, linens, stethoscopes, eating utensils.
What are the 3 categories of additional (isolation) precautions (tier two)?
Contact
Airborne
Droplet
What are the 2 tiers of precations
1st tier - routine practices
2nd tier - additional precautions (isolation - 3 categories)
What distinguishes a contact precaution from a droplet or airborne precaution?
Contact: direct/indirect
Droplet: > 5 microns
Airborne: < 5 or equal to microns
Droplet precautions are used for which infectious agents? Give examples of diseases that are transmitted by droplets.
Infectious agents: > 5 microns (transmitted by droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or talking)
Eg. influenza, covid19, diphtheria (pharyngeal), rubella, pertussis, mumps, meningococcal pneumonia, sepsis
Airborne precautions are used for which infectious agents? Give examples of diseases that are transmitted airborne.
Infectious agents: < 5 or equal to microns.
Ex. measles, chickenpox (varicella), disseminated zoster, TB
Contact precautions are used for which infectious agents? Give examples of diseases that are transmitted by contact.
Infectious agents transmitted via direct or in-direct contact.
Ex. MRSA, VRE, bed bugs, wound infections, clostridium difficile, norovirus, CPO & CPE (drug-resistant organisms)
For an airborne precaution, what barrier protections are implemented?
- single room: negative pressure, the DOOR CLOSED, vented to the outside or special filter.
- everyone wears an N95 mask (taken ff outside the room)
- pt only our for essential procedures (wears a mask)
For a droplet precaution, what barrier protections are implemented?
- single room or cohort patients; DOOR CAN BE OPEN.
- cohort patients 2 M apart, the door only open if bed 2 M apart from the door
- gloves, gown, MASKS, and EYEWEAR must be worn
- pt only our for essential procedures (wears a mask)
For a contact precaution, what barrier protections are implemented?
- single room or cohort pts.
- DOOR MAY BE OPEN
- gown/glove if direct contact
- dedicated equipment or disinfect after use
For a contact plus precaution, what barrier protections are implemented?
- single room or cohort pts.
- DOOR MAY BE OPEN
- gown/glove if direct contact
- dedicated equipment or disinfect after use
- must wear mask/eye-protection if pt vomiting, coughing, etc.
- enhanced housekeeping procedures
For an enhanced contact precaution, what barrier protections are implemented?
- SINGLE ROOM
- gloves/gown for ALL entries
- dedicated equipment, limited transport of pt
- dedicated nursing required
- enhanced housekeeping procedures
List the 3 different contact precaution types and diseases for each:
Contact precautions (MRSA, VRE, bed bugs, wound infections)
Plus contact precautions (Cdiff, norovirus)
Enhanced contact precautions (CPO & CPE (drug-resistant organisms))
What purpose do isolation precautions serve and when are they intended?
They are designed to contain pathogens in one area (usually pt’s room), and they are only for those with highly transmissible or epidemiologically significant pathogens.
Good to know:
List the adverse effects of isolation (from isolation precautions)?
- psychological consequences (depression, anxiety, anger, hostility, loneliness, neglect, and low self-esteem).
- physiological decline (falls, malnutrition, pressure injuries, fluid/electrolyte imbalances).
- inattention from health care (longer to answer the call bell, lack of explanations, and less time being spent with the pts, RESULTING in increased incontinence).
- decreased physio/OT/recreational therapy
What entails PPE?
Gloves (non-sterile)
Facial protection (mask (procedural/N95)
Gown
Shoe & hair covers prn
Briefly explain the purpose of each PPE item:
Gloves
Mask
N95 mask
Gown
Gloves: prevent transmission of pathogens by direct and indirect contact. Must be changed between tasks. Hand hygiene is a MUST after removal.
Mask: Pathogens cannot enter the mouth or nose. Must be snug. Keep talking to a minimum when transporting pts to reduce respiratory airflow.
N95 masks: Airborne diseases (TB, measles, herpes zoster)
Gown: Prevents contamination of clothes and protects health care workers and visitors from coming in contact with infected material, blood, or body fluid.
Define infection:
physiological ATTACK from microorganisms on body tissues and systems.