Week 4 - Healthcare Infections Flashcards
What is a healthcare infection?
Infections arising as a consequence of providing healthcare, in patients, visitors and healthcare workers
How is it decided if its a healthcare infection or not?
Has to be neither present nor incubating at time of admission - onset at least 48 hours after admission
What are the most common types of healthcare aquired infections?
UTIs
Pneumonia
Surgical wound infections
Gastrointestinal
Give some examples of healthcare infection pathogens?
Viruses - blood borne e.g. Hep B, hep C, norovirus, influenze
Bacteria - staph aureus, clostridium difficile, E coli
Fungi - aspergillus species
Parasites - malaria
What patients are most at risk of healthcare acquired infections?
Extremities of age, obesity/malnourished, diabetes, cancer, immunosuppression, smokers, surgical patients, emergency admissions
What are the 4 P’s of infection prevention and control?
Patient, pathogen, practise, place
Name some examples of interventions that prevent patients spread of infection to themselves?
Optimise patients conditions, skin preparation, wash hands, disinfectant body wash, MRSA screens
How can you prevent infections being spread between patients?
Isolation of infected patients
Protection of susceptible patients
How can we prevent healthcare workers from spreading infections to patients?
Make sure they are healthy, disease free and vaxinated
Good clinical techniques
Hand hygine
How can infections spread by the environment be minimised?
Layout
wash hand basins
furniture and furnishings e.g. Materials used, cleaning - disinfectants, steam cleaning, hydrogen peroxide vapour
Medical equipment - single use, sterilisation, decontamination
Appropriate kitchen and ward food facilities
Good food hygine practise
Positive/negative pressure rooms
What are the 5 I’s when dealing with patients with infections?
Identify Isolate Investigate Inform Initiate
What do you consider when identifying the infection?
A - abroad B - blood borne C - colonised D - diarrhoea and vomiting E - expectorating (coughing up stuff) F - funny looking rash
