A10: Infection prevention and control in health specific settings

Question 1

techniques for infection control

Answer 1

1. Use of personal protective equipment PPE
2. Use of cleaning and disinfecting agents
3. Effective handwashing technique
4. Good personal hygiene and uniform requirements
5. Safe disposal of sharps/appropriate waste segregation and disposal

Question 2

define ‘residential care setting’

Answer 2

where long-term care is given to adults or children who live in a residential setting rather than their own home

Question 3

define ‘domiciliary care’

Answer 3

care offered to any individuals living in their own homes to help them stay there rather than go into residential care.

Question 4

define ‘infection’

Answer 4

the process of bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms invading the body, making someone ill or diseased

Question 5

define ‘sputum’

Answer 5

mucus or coughed up material from lower airways

Question 6

when using any cleaning or disinfecting agent you must be sure of:

Answer 6

1. follow manufacturer’s instructions
2. never guess how much to dilute a disinfectant
3. wear PPE
4. ensure adequate ventilation
5. never use 2 disinfectants together
6. not add anything
7. discard disinfectant solution after use
8. do not ‘top up’ solutions of disinfectant with anything but dispose of any unused solution

Question 7

define ‘detergent’

Answer 7

purifying or cleansing agent which increases the ability of water to break down grease or dirt. act like a soap but they are derived from organic acids rather than fatty acids.

Question 8

define ‘disinfectant’

Answer 8

a substance that destorys, inactivates or significantly reduces the concentration of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses or fungi

Question 9

importance of stopping the spread of infection

Answer 9

1. prevent harm caused to both individuals and healthcare workers

Question 10

define ‘norovirus’

Answer 10

very infectious virus common in the winter which causes diarrhoea and vomiting

Question 11

define ‘healthcare-associated infections’ HCAIs

Answer 11

Infections which can occur as a result of having treatment in hospital or after surgical or medical treatment

Question 12

importance of good handwashing techniques and personal hygiene

Answer 12

1. help prevent the control of disease, infection and as a result, illness
2. reduce the risk of disease, infection and illness being passed on through cross-contamination
3. legal requirements

Question 13

examples of reportable infectious diseases

Answer 13

1. smallpox
2. plague
3. anthrax
4. food poisoning
5. tuberculosis

Question 14

define ‘cross infection’

Answer 14

the process by which bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one person to another, with harmful effect

Question 15

how to practice good personal hygiene

Answer 15

1. washing body and hair regularly
2. wearing clean uniform
3. cleaning teeth
4. covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
5. maintaining short, neat and clean nails

Question 16

scientific principles of cleaning, disinfecting and sterilisation

Answer 16

cleaning reduces presence of microorganisms on surfaces and instruments by removing visible foreign matter

disinfecting reduces the number of microorganisms on surfaces to a level that is considered safe

sterilisation is used for food, medicine and surgical instruments

decontamination is the process or combination of these processes

Question 17

define ‘irradiation’

Answer 17

when objects are exposed to different types of radiation. it may be used to penetrate various materials and can be used to sterilise surgical instruments

Question 18

different procedures for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilisation

Answer 18

1. cleaning procedures
   - cleaning tools/cloths and floor scrubbers
   - vacuum cleaners
   - the use of cleaning agents
2. disinfecting
   - use of disinfectant agent
3. sterilisation
   - application of chemical
   - application of high pressure
   - application of heat
   - application of irradiation and filtration

Question 19

define ‘HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter’

Answer 19

a type of filter that can trap tiny particles that other vacuum cleaners would simply recirculate back into the air

Question 20

define ‘denaturing’

Answer 20

protein structures are disrupted and changed so that they are no longer able to cause infection

Question 21

define ‘ultraviolet light’

Answer 21

a form of radiation not visible to the human eye but present in sunlight

Question 22

define ‘X-ray’

Answer 22

an electromagnetic wave of high energy and very short wavelength, which is able to pass through many materials, opaque to light

Question 23

define ‘Gamma radiation’

Answer 23

a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei

Question 24

the meaning of microbial resistance

Answer 24

the ability of micro-organism to survive exposure to antimicrobial agents

Question 25

impact of antimicrobial resistance

Answer 25

1. overuse of antibiotics has reduced the overall effectiveness 2. increase in super bugers

Question 26

what is the reducing antimicrobial resistance?

Answer 26

antimicrobial stewardship coordinated program in the healthcare sector to promote appropriate use of antimicrobials

Question 27

define 'antimicrobial or antibiotic stewardship'

Answer 27

the effort to measure and improve how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients. improving antibiotic prescribing and use is critical in continuing to effectively treat infections