Infection Flashcards
(232 cards)
what is infection prevention?
Infection prevention and control (IPC) prevents patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infection and as a result of antimicrobial resistance.
Infection prevention also includes vaccination against preventable diseases and antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical procedures and recurrent infections
what are the 3 things neccessary for infections to spread?
Source: Places where micro-organisms live (e.g., sinks, surfaces, human skin)
Susceptible Person with a way for micro-organisms to enter the body
Transmission: a way microorganism are moved to the susceptible person
what are the 2 tiers of reccommended precautions to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings?
Standard Precautions are used for all patient care. They protect healthcare providers from infection and prevent the spread of infection from patient to patient
Transmission-Based Precautions are the second tier of basic infection control and are to be used in addition to Standard Precautions for patients who may be infected or colonized with certain infectious agents. The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) recommended will be dependent on the mode of transmission
healthcare associated infections?
Healthcare associated infection (HCAI) is defined as any infection acquired in relation to the delivery of healthcare in its widest sense. This includes care in hospitals and in the community via General Practitioners and health centres
clostridium difficile
Bacteria that causes infection when the guts normal flora is disrupted or if immunocompromised
Prior treatment with antibiotics (especially broad-spectrum) is one of the main risk factors for C.difficile infection
Produce toxins that damage the lining of the colon
Symptoms range from mild, self‑limiting diarrhoea to perforation of the colon, sepsis and death
Infection can commonly reoccur in patients
Can be spread between patients on hospital wards via contact transmission from infected faeces
Spores survive in the environment for a long time
Spores are not killed by alcohol gel, hands must be washed with soap and water
screening for resistant organisms?
High-risk patients are screened for resistant organisms when they are admitted into hospital or before any operation
This is to ensure that any patient colonised with a resistant organism is managed with appropriate infection control measures to avoid passing the resistant organisms to other patients
Antibiotic therapy may also need to be adjusted to ensure that treatment given cover this additional resistance
Patients can be screened for:
MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections)
Nose, throat, groin + any wounds
GRE (Glycopeptide resistant enterococci)
Rectal swab
CPO (Carbapenemase-producing organisms)
Rectal swab
pneumococcal vaccinations?
Pneumococcal vaccines protect against Streptococcus pneumoniae a
pathogen which can cause severe infections like meningitis, sepsis and
pneumonia
* The vaccine is now given as part of routine childhood immunisations
* Additional doses are recommended for all patients over the age of 65 and in
the “at risk groups” detailed in the green book
* The vaccination programme has been highly successful in reducing the
frequency of invasive pneumococcal infections caused by strains covered by
the vaccine including near elimination of some strains
causes of resisitance?
over prescribing of antibiotics
patient non compliance
poor quality of antibiotics
use of antibiotics in domestic animals
poor hygeine and sanitation
lack of new antibiotics being developed
consequences of antimicrobial resistance at patient level
delay in appropriate antibiotic therapy
increased hospital length of stay
alternative antibiotics need to be used
what is antimicrobial stewardiship?
An organisational or
healthcare-system-wide
approach to promoting and
monitoring judicious use of
antimicrobials to preserve
their future effectiveness
what is prudent prescribing?
Prudent prescribing is not to
prescribe as few antibiotics as
possible but to identify that small
group of patients who really need
antibiotic treatment and then
explain, reassure and educate the
large group of patients who don’t
evedience gathering of bacterial infection
- drug allergy history
antibiotic treatment
local antimicrobial prescribing guidance
clinical indication
cultures
empirical antibiotics
When is empirical treatment indicated?
* When pathogen and/or antibiotic sensitivities are uncertain (best guess)
* What two main factors determine how effective empirical treatment will be?
* Local pathogen epidemiology data
* Local antibiotic sensitivity data
* How should empirical therapy evolve when following best practice?
* Streamline to narrow-spectrum antibiotic when sensitivities are available
narrow spectrum antibiotics
more specific and are only active against certain groups or strains of bacteria
broad spectrum antibiotics
inhibit a wider
range of bacteria and are
more likely to drive
resistance and have
increased likely hood of
causing C.difficile infection
antibiotic classes
access, Watch and Reserve,
taking into account the impact of different antibiotics and antibiotic classes
on antimicrobial resistance, to emphasize the importance of their
appropriate use.
access antibiotics
First or second choice
antibiotics
offer the best
therapeutic value, while
minimizing the
potential for resistance
watch antibiotics
First or second choice
antibiotics only
indicated for specific,
limited number of
infective syndromes
More prone to be a
target of antibiotic
resistance and therefore
prioritised as targets of
stewardship programs
and monitoring
reserve antibiotics
Highly selected patients
(life-threatening
infections due to multi-
drug resistant bacteria)
Closely monitored and
prioritised as targets of
stewardship programs
to ensure their
continued effectiveness
infection
Invasion of the body or a body part by a pathogenic organism, which multiplies and
produces harmful effects on the body’s tissues
colonisation
the presence and multiplication of microorganisms without tissue invasion or damage
carriage
the condition of harbouring a pathogen within the body e.g. nasal carriage of MRSA
benefits of iv to Po switch
Remove lines quicker – reduce risk of line related infections and phlebitis /
thrombophlebitis
* Reduced nursing work load
* increased patient satisfaction and comfort
* Facilitate earlier discharge
* Decreased costs
* Most sustainable – less plastic needed
* Narrow spectrum agents – reduce AMR and other consequence of broad
spectrum agents such as C.difficile
Why is there so much inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics?
lack of awareness
time constraints
decision fatigue
uncertain diagnosis
assuming that other prescribers are the problem
patient satisfaction and pressure