Medical Asepsis, Infection Control And Transmission-Based Precautions

Front 1

Define non-pathogens

Back 1

Non-pathogens are harmless and beneficial microorganisms

Front 2

Define Pathogens

Back 2

Pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease.
Pathogens can cause commuicable diseases, contagious diseases, Community-acquired diseases

Front 3

Governing agencies

Back 3

center for disease control (cdc)
occupational safety and health administration (osha)
local and state health departments
world health organizations (who)

Front 4

What are the 6 steps in the chain of an infection and define each term

Back 4

1.Infectious agent-
2.A reservior- a place for the growth and reproduction
3.An exit route-a means by which the microorganisms escape the reservior and move about.
4.A mode of transportation-How the infections move from one location to another.
5.A port of entry-Where the microorganisms find their way onto or into a new host.
a susceptible host- the ones who biologis defense mechanisms are weakeed in some way.

Front 5

Infectious agents

Back 5

bacteria
protozoa
fungus
rickettsiae
viruses
helminths

Front 6

What is bacteria and how is it categorized?

Back 6

most significant and most commonly observed organism in healthcare.
categorized by shape:
spherical(cocci)
rod shaped (bacilla)
corkscrew shape (spirochetes)
diplo- tow
strepto-chains
staphylo-clusters

Front 7

How do you know what antibiotic to give for an infection?

Back 7

look at source of infection
look at the organism thats growing
look at culture sensitivity

Front 8

What is anaerobic or aerobic bacteria?

Back 8

anaerobic bacteria does not need oxygen to live and grow
aerobic bacteria does need oxygen to live and grow

Front 9

What is gram positive bacteria?

Back 9

gram positive bacteria have a thick wall that resists decolorization and are stained violet

Front 10

What is gram negative bacteria?

Back 10

gram negative bacteria have more chemically complex cell walls and be decolorized by alcohol, thus do not stain. are deadly

Front 11

What is streptococcus hemolyticus?

Back 11

circular chains that cause sore throats (strep)

Front 12

What is staphylococcus aureus?

Back 12

circular clusters which cause wound infections, boils, and toxic shock

Front 13

What is pus made out of?

Back 13

white blood cells

Front 14

Diseases caused by bacteria?

Back 14

pneumonia
TB
strep

Front 15

What are protozoa?

Back 15

are considered to be animals
usually parasites (something that lives off another)
common diseases include amoebic, dysentery, malaria

Front 16

What are the two types of fungus that cause infection in humans?

Back 16

yeast- thrush, monilial vaginitis
mold- ring worm, athlete's foot

Front 17

What is rickettsiae?

Back 17

microorganisms that like a virus require the human cell to live and proliferate
common diseases include rocky mountain spotted fever, lymes disease

Front 18

What are viruses?

Back 18

are the smallest of organisms
depends on host cell for reproduction b/c it isn't alive until it enters the cell
it is essentially DNA that uses the cell to complete itself
no treatment for viruses
common disease include shingles, HIV, chicken pox (merusela)

Front 19

What are helminths?

Back 19

worms- pinworms, flatworms, roundworms
treated with specific anit-helminth agents

Front 20

What does an organisms potential to produce disease depend on?

Back 20

number of organisms (dose)
virulence of the organism (its ability to cause disease)
competence of the persons immune system
length and intimacy of the contact between the person and the microorganism

Front 21

What is the reservoir?

Back 21

the natural habitat of the organism

Front 22

What are some possible reservoirs that support organisms pathogenic to humans?

Back 22

other humans, animals, soil, food, water, milk, inanimate objects

Front 23

Who is considered to be a carrier of disease?

Back 23

although asymptomatic, can transmit disease

Front 24

Why are nurses often carriers of disease?

Back 24

because of ineffective handwashing, artificial nails, improper glove use

Front 25

What is the portal of exit?

Back 25

is the point of escape for the organism from the reservoir
in humans- respiratory, GI and GU tracts, breaks in the skin, blood, tissue

Front 26

What is the means of transmission?

Back 26

how the organism is transmitted from its reservoir to its host
direct or indirect contact
blood, food, water, or inanimate objects
vectors
airborne
droplet

Front 27

What is the portal of entry?

Back 27

the point at which organisms enter a new hose
often the same as the exit route from the prior reservoir

Front 28

What is a susceptible host?

Back 28

microorganisms can onkly continue to exist in a source that is acceptable and only if they overcome any resistance mounted by the hosts defenses

Front 29

What is the first stage of infection?

Back 29

the incubation period
is the interval between the pathogen's invasion of the body and the appearance of symptoms of infection
organisms are growing and multiplying
length of incubation varies

Front 30

What is the second stage of infection?

Back 30

prodromal stage
when the person is most infectious
early signs and symptoms are present though often vague and non-specific
lasts several hrs to several days
often unaware of being contagious

Front 31

What is the third stage of infection?

Back 31

full stage of illness
presence of signs and symptoms indicates the full stage of illness
types of infection determines length and severity of illness
can have localized symptoms (occur in only one area of the body or systemic (manifest throughout the body)

Front 32

What is the fourth stage of infection?

Back 32

convalescent period
the recovery period; signs and symptoms disappear, allowing person to return to previous health state
varies according to severity of illness and patient
infectious diseases may result in temporary or permanent change in health

Front 33

How do our bodies defend themselves against infection?

Back 33

nomral flora (nose, mouth, skin, stomach, colon, urinary vaginal tracts, rectum, small intestine), inflammatory response (releases histamine), immune response

Front 34

What are some factors that affect the risk of infection?

Back 34

skin and mucous membrane integrity
GI and GU pH levels
integrity and number of WBCs
age, sex, race, hereditary factors
immunizations
level of fatigue, general health, preexisting illness, current treatment or meds
stress
indwelling/invasive lines or catheters

Front 35

What is asepsis?

Back 35

all activities to prevent infection or break the chain of infection

Front 36

What is medical asepsis?

Back 36

clean technique, measures that interfere with the chain of infection
include barriers like handwashing, wearing gloves and other PPE
transmission based precautions

Front 37

What is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection?

Back 37

handwashing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Front 38

According to the CDC handwashing includes what?

Back 38

handwashing with plain soap, though in an area where antimicrobial growth is high an antimicrobial soap is recommended and water
antiseptic hand rubs
surgical hand antisepsis

Front 39

When is handwashing required?

Back 39

when hands are visibly soiled or contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM)
before and after doning gloves
before eating
after using the restroom

Front 40

What are some important points when washing hands?

Back 40

avoid wearing any jewerly except a wedding band
keep nails short and no artificial nails
no chipped nail polish, with clear as the preferable type

Front 41

What is disinfection?

Back 41

destroys all pathogenic organisms except spores

Front 42

What is sterilization?

Back 42

destroys all organisms including spores

Front 43

When can hand gels be used?

Back 43

if hands are not visibly soiled:
before and after direct pt contact
before and after using gloves
if moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site during patient care
after coming in contact with patient objects

Front 44

Are gloves a substitute for good hand hygiene?

Back 44

no! gloves should only be worn once and discarded
do not leave the pts room wearing contaminated gloves!

Front 45

Are gloves impenetrable??

Back 45

no! double glove if you anticipate exposure to blood or OPIM.

in operative procedures lasting more than 3 hrs, gloves fail more than 50% of the time

app. 8 - 12% of healthcare workers have latex sensitivity

Front 46

What do masks do?

Back 46

prevent the wearer from inhaling large particles that travel short distances ( about 3 ft)

Front 47

What are particulate respirators used for?

Back 47

air borne illnesses
filter inspired air
95% efficient
require fit testing

Front 48

When are protective eyewear worn?

Back 48

when there is the potential for contamination of the mucous membrane of the eye

Front 49

What is seroconversion?

Back 49

the person has developed antibodies in response to exposure

Front 50

How do you report accidential exposure?

Back 50

must always be reported!
not reporting can result in personal jeopardy and loss of compensation
every facility must have an exposure control plan

Front 51

What is the common exposure control plan?

Back 51

wash the exposed area immediately
report the injury and complete incident report
inform the agency of the sources and nature of exposure
consent to initial blood test

Front 52

What are nosocomial infections?

Back 52

healthcare associated infections that develop during the course of treatment for other conditions

Front 53

What is endogenous?

Back 53

infection occurs when the causative organism comes from microbial life harbored in the person

Front 54

What is exogenous?

Back 54

when the causative organism is acquired from other people

Front 55

What is iatrogenic?

Back 55

when an infection results from a treatment or diagnostic procedure, but not all nosocomial infections are iatrogenic

Front 56

What are hospitals doing to prevent HAIs?

Back 56

surveillance by IC nurses and committees
adequate staffing
written infection control policies
public reporting of HAIs
practices to promote best possible physical condition

Front 57

What are the three types of transmission based precautions?

Back 57

ariborne, droplet and contact

Front 58

What are standard precautions?

Back 58

follow hand hygiene
wear clean nonsterile gloves when touching blood, body fluids, excretions or secretions, contaminated items, mucous membranes, and nonintact skin
change gloves between tasks on the same patient as necessary and remove gloves promptly after use
wear PPE
acoid recapping used needles
handle used patient care equipment that is soiled with blood or identified body fluids, secretions and excretions carefully to prevent transfer of microorganisms
use adequate environmental controls to ensure that routine care, cleaning and disinfection procedures are followed
review room assignments carefeully

Front 59

What are airborne precautions and examples of airborne diseases.

Back 59

TB, varicell (chicken pox), rubeola (measles)

place patient in private room that has monitored negative air pressure relation to surrounding areas, 6 to 12 air changes per hour, and appropriate discharge of air outside or monitored filtration if air is recirculated. keep door closed and patient in room
use respiratory protection when entering room of pt with known or supsected TB. if pt has known or suspected rubeola, or caricell respiratory protection should be worn unless person entering room is immune to these disease
transport pt out of room only when necessary and place a surgical mask on the pt if possible

Front 60

What are droplet precautions and examples of droplet diseases.

Back 60

rubella, mumps, diphtheria

use private room if available. door may remain open
wear a mask when working within 3 feet of pt
transport pt out of room only when necessary and place a surgical mask on the pt if possible
keep visitors 3 feet from the infected person

Front 61

What are contact precautions and examples of contact diseases?

Back 61

MRSA, VRE or VISA

place the pt in a private room if available
wear gloves whenever you enter the room. change gloves after having tontact with infective material. remove gloves before leaving the pt environment and wash hadns with an antimicrobial or waterless antiseptic agent
wear a gown if contact with infectious agent is likely or pt has diarrhea, an ileostomy, colosomy, or wound drainage not contained by a dressing
limit movement of the pt out of the room
avoid sharing pt care equipment