Nursing Exam #1 - Infection Control

Front 1

Define Infection.

Back 1

When microorganisms capable of producing disease (pathogens) invade the body

Front 2

An infection acquired in a health-care facility.

Back 2

Nosocomial Infection

Front 3

Name the components of the Chain of Infection.

Back 3

1) Infectious Agents
2) Reservoir
3) Portal of Exit
4) Mode of Transmission
5) Portal of Entry
6) Susceptible Host

Front 4

Pathogens and Normal flora that become pathogenic identify this link of the Chain of Infection.

Back 4

Infectious Agents

Front 5

Where pathogens live and multiply identify this link of the Chain of Infection.

Back 5

Reservoir

Front 6

Provide examples of reservoirs.

Back 6

Living: humans, animals, insects

Non-living: Food, floors, equipment, contaminated water

Front 7

Bodily fluids; Coughing, sneezing, diarrhea; Seeping wounds; and Tubes and IV lines are examples of this link of the Chain of Infection.

Back 7

Portal of Exit

Front 8

Direct contact (touching, kissing, sexual contact); indirect contact (with a fomite); a droplet (from cough or sneeze) and airborne routes (air conditioning and sweeping)
are examples of this link of the Chain of Infection.

Back 8

Mode of Transmission

Front 9

Eye, nares, mouth, vagina, cuts, scrapes; Wounds, surgical sites, IV or drainage tube sites; Bite from a vector are examples of this link of the Chain of Infection.

Back 9

Portal of Entry

Front 10

A person with inadequate defense (fatigue, stress, nutritional status, physical fitness, lack of sleep) identifies with this link of the Chain of Infection.

Back 10

Susceptible Host

Front 11

Name the modes of transmission for micro-organisms from the reservoir to the host.

Back 11

Micro-organisms can reside on both living and non-living things. They can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact, by a droplet or via air and can enter a susceptible host via the eye, nares, mouth, vagina, cuts, scrapes; wounds, surgical sites, IV or drainage tube sites or a bite from a vector

Front 12

Name the factors that influence a client's susceptibility to infection.

Back 12

1) Virulence
2) Number of organisms
3) Host’s defenses

Front 13

Name the stages of infection.

Back 13

1) Incubation
2) Prodromal
3) Illnes
4) Decline
5) Covalesence

Front 14

Describe the characteristics of the Incubation stage of infection.

Back 14

From time of infection until manifestation of symptoms; can infect others

Front 15

Describe the characteristics of the Prodromal stage of infection.

Back 15

Appearance of vague symptoms; not all diseases have this stage (3 days coming on with cold)

Front 16

Describe the characteristics of the Illness stage of infection.

Back 16

Signs and symptoms present (3 days with cold)

Front 17

Describe the characteristics of the Decline stage of infection.

Back 17

Number of pathogens decline (3 days getting rid of cold)

Front 18

Describe the characteristics of the Covalescence stage of infection.

Back 18

Tissue repair, return to health

Front 19

Stage of infection from time of infection until manifestation of symptoms; can infect others.

Back 19

Incubation

Front 20

Stage of infection that includes appearance of vague symptoms; not all diseases have this stage

Back 20

Prodromal

Front 21

Stage of infection where signs and symptoms are present (3 days with cold)

Back 21

Illness

Front 22

Stage of infection where number of pathogens decline (3 days getting rid of cold)

Back 22

Decline

Front 23

Stage of infection when tissue repairs and health returns

Back 23

Covalescence

Front 24

Describe the inflammatory process.

Back 24

1) Assessment: Fever, Increased pulse and respiratory rate, nausea/vomiting, enlarged lymph nodes

2) Laboratory Values: Leukocytosis (WBCs > 11,000/uL); Presence of micro-organism on culture

Front 25

Describe how the nurse would assess for inflammation.

Back 25

The nurse will identify the classic signs and symptoms of:

1) localized heat
2) erythema (redness)

Front 26

Explain the purpose of leukocytosis.

Back 26

Leukocytosis indicates illness as white blood cells exceed the normal range

Front 27

State the normal WBC range.

Back 27

5,000 - 10,000/cu mm

Front 28

Describe nursing interventions that interrupt the chain of infection

Back 28

1) Frequent and effective handwashing

2) Educating the patient on required and recommended immunizations

3) Educating patient on good oral hygiene

4) Encourage patient to consume adequate amounts of fluids

5) Use of aseptic technique and proper personal protective equipment

Front 29

Describe the most common causes for nosocomial infections.

Back 29

1) E. Coli

2) Staphylococcus aureus

Front 30

Describe the most common sites for nosocomial infections.

Back 30

1) Urinary tract

Front 31

Differentiate between medical and surgical asepsis.

Back 31

Medical Asepsis: "Clean Technique." State of cleanliness that decreases the potential for the spread of infections promoted through maintaining a clean environment, clean hands and following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines

Surgical Asepsis: "Sterile Technique." Creation of a sterile environment by use of sterile equipment/supplies, sterilization of reusable supplies, surgical hand scrub and attire, sterile gloves, sterile field, and use of sterile technique

Front 32

Below are examples of which type of asepsis?

1) Maintaining a clean environment
2) Maintaining clean hands
3) Following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines

Back 32

Medical asepsis

Front 33

Below are examples of which type of asepsis?

1) Creation of a sterile environment
2) Use of sterile equipment/supplies
3) Sterilization of reusable supplies
4) Surgical hand scrub
5) Surgical attire
6) Sterile gloves
7) Sterile field
8) Use of sterile technique

Back 33

Surgical asepsis

Front 34

Describe practices for promoting good medical asepsis

Back 34

- Clean spills and dirty surfaces promptly
- Remove pathogens through chemical means (disinfect)
- Remove clutter
- Consider supplies brought to the client room as contaminated
- Consider items from the client’s home as contaminated
- Wash hands under warm water for at least 15 seconds using friction and cleaning beneath fingernails and jewelry
- Following standard precautions

Front 35

Describe best practices for handwashing to prevent nosocomial infections in health care agencies.

Back 35

- Wash for at least 15 seconds in nonsurgical setting; 2-6 minutes in surgical setting
- Use warm water, not hot
- Apply soap to wet hands
- Use friction
- Clean beneath fingernails and jewelry
- Rinse soap
- Towel or hand dry

Front 36

Describe 3 prevalent organisms causing nosocomial infections in healthcare settings today and how to prevent their spread.

Back 36

1) MRSA - a staph infection resistant to beta-lactim antibiotics; prevalent pathogen in healthcare facilities in those with weakened immune systems

2) VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci) - Origin is intestinal; significant threat to high risk clients

3) C. Diff - causes diarrhea and other more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis; most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea

WASH HANDS!!!

Front 37

A pathogen acquired from a health-care environment is what type of infection?

Back 37

Exogenous Nosocomial Infection

Front 38

Normal flora multiplying and causing infection as a result of treatment is what type of infection?

Back 38

Endogenous Nosocomial Infection

Front 39

Name the lines of defense against infection.

Back 39

1) Primary Defense

2) Secondary Defense

3) Tertiary Defense

Front 40

List the Primary Defenses.

Back 40

Anatomical features, limit pathogen entry:

- Intact skin
- Mucous membranes (respiratory tree)
- Tears (Eyes)
- The mouth
- Normal flora in GI tract
- Normal flora in urinary tract

Front 41

List the Secondary Defenses.

Back 41

Biochemical processes activated by chemicals released by pathogens:

- Phagocytosis
- Complement cascade
- Inflammation
- Fever

Front 42

List the Tertiary Defenses.

Back 42

- Humoral immunity: B-cell (Lymphocytes) production of antibodies in response to an antigen; acts directly against antigenic cells

- Cell-mediated immunity: Direct destruction of infected cells by T cells; acts to destroy body cells that have become infected, in most cases by viruses

Front 43

The skin, respiratory tree (mucous membranes), tears (eyes), mouth, normal flora in GI and urinary tracts are examples of which line of defense?

Back 43

Primary Defense

Front 44

Phagocytosis, complement cascade, inflammation and fever are examples of which line of defense?

Back 44

Secondary Defense

Front 45

Humoral Immunity (B-cell production of antibodies in response to an antigens) and Cell-Mediated Immunity (T-cells destroying infected body cells) are examples of which line of defense?

Back 45

Tertiary Defense

Front 46

Name and describe the transmission-based precautions.

Back 46

1) Contact precaution - Pathogen is spread by direct contact

2) Droplet precaution - Pathogen is spread via moist droplets

3) Airborne precaution - Pathogen is spread via air currents

Front 47

Identify the transmission-based precaution below:

Pathogen is spread by direct contact. Sources of infection are draining wounds, secretions and supplies

Back 47

Contact precaution

Front 48

Identify the transmission-based precaution below:

Pathogen is spread via moist droplets. Sources include coughing, sneezing and touching contaminated objects; Addition of mask and eye protection within 3 ft of client

Back 48

Droplet precaution

Front 49

Identify the transmission-based precaution below:

Pathogen is spread via air currents; Transmission via ventilation systems, shaking sheets, sweeping; Addition of special mask

Back 49

Airborne precaution

Front 50

List examples of contact precautions.

Back 50

- Possible private room

- Clean gown and glove use

- Disposal of contaminated
items in room

- Double-bag linen and mark