Infection Control Flashcards
(140 cards)
1
Q
What are infections?
A
Diseases caused by microbiological agents
2
Q
What are microbiological agents?
A
Organism that are too small to be seen with the naked eye
3
Q
What are the other names for microbiological agents?
A
Microorganisms, microbes or germs
4
Q
How do most infections occur?
A
As the result of microorganism entering the body through a wound or the respiratory systems
5
Q
Do all microorganism cause disease?
A
No, some are essential to human life
6
Q
What microorganisms are essential to human life?
A
Microbes that aid in digestion
7
Q
What are pathogens?
A
Infectious microorganisms that cause disease
8
Q
What is idiopathic?
A
A disease where the cause or origin is unknown
9
Q
What is iatrogenic?
A
Diseases that result from contact from a healthcare provider
10
Q
What are 4 types of microorganisms?
A
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Protozoan parasites
11
Q
What type of microorganisms are bacteria?
A
Microscopic, single celled microorganisms
12
Q
What are types of bacteria?
A
TB, Strep throat, bacterial pneumonia, salmonella and Lyme disease
13
Q
How are bacteria classified?
A
By their rod shaped, spiral and spherical appearance under a microscope
14
Q
Where do bacteria reside?
A
In a host as a group or cluster called a colony
15
Q
What can be used to fight bacterial infections?
A
Antibiotics
16
Q
What are antibiotics?
A
Man-made or naturally occurring substances which are used to destroy microorganism within the body
17
Q
How do antibiotics work?
A
With the patient’s immune system to fight the infection and control the spread of illness
18
Q
What are viruses?
A
The smallest microorganism that are known to produce disease in human
19
Q
Where can viruses live?
A
Only inside a living cell and need a host to survive and replicate
20
Q
What are examples of viruses?
A
HIV, AIDS, Mumps, Measles, mononucleosis, Herpes, Hepatitis, common cold and influenza
21
Q
What are used to fight viruses?
A
Only a few antivirals exist, antibiotics will not work
22
Q
What does multiplication of the virus depend on?
A
The health of the host
23
Q
How long can viruses live?
A
May lie formant for extended periods of time and then manifest in illness
24
Q
What are the two forms of fungi?
A
Yeast and molds
25
What regions of the body are usually affected by fungi?
In moist-covered regions of the body
26
What are examples of fungi?
Ringworm, mold, athlete's foot and tinea nigra
27
What are protozoon parasites?
An organism that spends part of its existence on or in another organism
28
What are examples of Protozoan parasites?
Malaria, pinworms, tapeworms, malaria and trichomonas vaginalis
29
What are features of protozoan parasites?
They are neither plant nor animal, are larger than bacteria and can ingest food particles
30
Where do protozoan parasites live?
On or in other organism at expense of the host
31
What solutions do the EPA recommend that areas of patient surface contact be cleaned with?
Sodium hypochlorite + water and prepared commercial solutions
32
What is the sodium hypochlorite + water ratio?
1:10 (1 part bleach to 10 parts water)
33
What is encounter?
The contact of the organism with the host
34
What is entry?
The entrance of a microbe into the body
35
How does a microbe enter the body?
Through the respiratory or digestive systems
36
What is spread?
The propagation of infectious organisms
37
How are diseases spread?
Through sneezing or coughing
38
What is multiplication?
The increase in the number of microbes
39
During what period does multiplication occur?
Incubation period
40
What is damage?
Destruction that the microbe causes to the host
41
What is an outcome?
A result of the infectious agent's encounter with the host
42
What are the 3 outcomes of a disease?
- the host eliminates the infectious agent
- the infectious agent overcomes the host and causes disease
- the host and the infectious agent live in harmony
43
What is the chain of infection?
Pathogens -> Reservoir -> Portal of Exit ->Source -> Fomite
44
What are pathogens?
Infectious agents including bacteria, viruses and fungi
45
What is a reservoir?
A habitat of organisms (where they grow and reproduce)
46
What is a portal of exit?
The primary route of escape for the organism
47
What is the source?
Person with or incubating the disease
48
What is a fomite?
An inanimate object, such as clothing, or table that harbors pathogenic microrganisms
49
What are examples of fomites?
Xray table, soiled linen, needles, clothing
50
What are the stages of the infectious process?
1. Incubation or Latent period
2. Prodromal stage
3. Active or full phase
4. Convalescence phase
51
What is the latent period?
Pathogens enter the host but there are no apparent signs of the illness or clinical symptoms
52
What is the prodromal stage?
Early signs and symptoms of the disease are present
53
What is the active phase?
Complete symptoms are manifested in the patient
54
What is the convalescence phase?
Period of recovery
55
How long can the convalescence stage last?
A few days to months depending on the illness
56
What are the methods of transmission of infection?
Direct and indirect
57
What is direct transmission?
Direct contact with the infected person or animal with disease
58
What are methods of direct contact?
Touching, contact with blood or bodily fluids
59
What are droplets?
Infectious secretions such as coughing, sneezing or talking
60
What is indirect transmission of infection?
Touching objects that have been contaminated
61
What are vehicles?
Any medium that transports microorganisms
62
What are airborne transmissions of infections?
Diseased microorganisms suspended in the air
63
What are vectors?
Insects or animals that carry a disease
64
What are types of healthcare associated infections?
- Nosocomial infections
- Iatrogenic infections
- Compromised patients
- Medical personnel
- Patient flora
- Blood-borne pathogens
65
What are nosocomial infections?
Infections that originate in the hospital
66
When do nosocomial infections occur?
After an initial incubation period of 72 hours
67
What do nosocomial infections take advantage of?
Compromised patients in the hospital
68
What is an immuno-suppressed condition?
A person whose body cannot adequately defend itself against disease
69
What are other terms for patient's with immunosuppressed conditions?
Immune deficient or compromised patients
70
What are common nosocomial acquired infections?
- UTI
- respiratory infections
- wound infection secondary to surgical procedure
71
What are the 3 sources of nosocomial infections?
- medical personnel
- patient flora
- contaminated hospital environment
72
What ways are medical personnel sources of nosocomial infections?
- Direct skin to skin contact with hospital staff
- Contact by ingestion or inhalation
73
What is patient flora?
Microorganisms that are routinely found in areas of the body exposed to the external environment
74
What is a contaminated hospital environment?
Infections introduced through hospital environment
75
What are ways contaminated hospital environments infect patients?
Through contaminated food, air and instruments
76
What is contaminated?
Any object, article of clothing or medical equipment/devices which has been exposed to pathogenic microorganisms
77
What are blood borne pathogens?
Disease causing microorganisms that may be present in blood
78
What are examples of blood borne pathogens?
Hepatitis Virus (HVB), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
79
What are invasive procedures?
Procedures which include the insertion of needles, vascular catheters, ET tubes and endoscope into the body which allows microbes to gain entrance
80
What is asepsis?
Freedom from infections
81
What are the types of asepsis?
- Medical
- Surgical
- Sterilization
82
What is medical asepsis?
The limiting of the number of microbes, keeping them as low as possible
83
What is the single most important component of medical asepsis?
Frequent hand washing
84
When is medical asepsis practiced?
All the time
85
What is surgical asepsis?
Sterilization applied before, during and after surgery to completely remove or destroy microbes
86
When is surgical asepsis practiced?
Required for invasive procedures
87
What are the ways in which microorganisms are removed during surgical asepsis?
By heating or chemical processes
88
What is sterilization?
The process of complete destruction or elimination of all microorganisms
89
What are the methods of sterilization?
- autoclaving
- gas sterilization
- chemical sterilization
- dry heat
- ionizing radiation
- microwaves/non-ionizing radiation
90
What is the most convenient method of sterilization?
Autoclaving
91
What is autoclaving?
Steam under pressure
92
What is chemical sterilization?
Germicidal solutions
93
What are temperatures for dry heat?
Greater than 300 degrees
94
What are chemical methods of asepsis?
Disinfectants used to kill microorganisms
95
What are physical methods of asepsis?
- Heat
- Freezing
- UV light
96
What are barrier methods?
Physical shields health care workers wear to prevent the spread of infection
97
What are examples of barrier methods?
Gloves, gowns, protective eye wear, face shields
98
What is does PPE stand for?
Personal protective equiptment
99
What is PPE?
Specialized clothing or equipment worn to prevent skin or mucous membrane exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material
100
What is the most important mean of preventing infection?
Hand washing
101
What type of asepsis is hand washing?
Medical Asepsis
102
When should radiographers wash their hands?
Before and after each patient
103
What are the benefits of alcohol based hand rubs?
- Require less time
- Convenient
- More effective for standard hand washing than soap
- More accessible than sinks
- Reduce bacterial counts on hands
- Improve skin condition
104
When x-raying a patient in isolation what must the radiographer do?
- Wash hands before entering the room and immediately after leaving
- Wear gloves, masks as indicated on the isolation notice posted outside the room
- Cover the cassette with plastic sterile bag
- Dispose of all contaminated laundry in biohazard bags
105
What is isolation?
Physical separation of the infected person and non-infected persons as a way of breaking the cycle of infection
106
What type of asepsis is isolation?
Medical asepsis
107
What is another term for isolation precautions?
Barrier precautions
108
What is contact isolation?
A type of isolation that is used to prevent the spread of disease acquired from close contact with an infected individual
109
What is respiratory isolation?
Type of isolation used to prevent the spread of infection acquired through respiratory droplets
110
Where are patients placed in respiratory isolation?
In a private room where all visitors and healthcare workers must wear masks
111
What is disease specific isolation?
Patients with the same diseases are roomed together
112
What is strict or complete isolation?
A private room with a closed door where patients that are highly contagious stay
113
What must be used in strict or complete isolation?
Use of gloves, masks and gowns when in contact with the patient
114
What is protective isolation or reverse isolation?
A modified form of strict isolation where patient who are high risk of infection stay
115
What types of patients follow protective isolation?
Burn victims, organ transplant patients, patients with severely compromised immune systems
116
What are standard precautions?
Type of infection control that should be used for all patients with BBP
117
What fluids that require standard precautions?
Blood, semen, Synovial fluid, saliva and CSF
118
What should be used in standard precautions?
- Hand washing
- Gloves
- PPE
- Needle recapping
- Bio spills
119
What do standard precautions primarily control?
The spread of Hepatitis B and HIV
120
What do standard precautions assume?
That all blood and bodily fluids from any person may be a source of infection
121
What do standard precautions not apply to?
Feces, urine, mucus, sweat, tears and vomit unless they contain blood
122
What body fluids have been proven to spread HIV?
Blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk and other bodily fluids containing blood
123
What are additional body fluids that may transmit HIV?
- Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord
- Fluid surrounding the bone joints (synovial fluid)
- Fluid surrounding unborn babies
124
What standard precautions should be taken for all patients?
- Wash hands often
- Wear disposable gloves whenever you touch bodily fluids
- Eye protection when there is a chance of fluid splattering
- Wear plastic gowns when clothing is likely to be soiled
- Never recap needles
- Disposal of all contaminated material
125
What is Hepatitis?
A collection of viral diseases that affect the liver
126
How many types of hepatitis are there?
7 types (A-G)
127
What disease are healthcare workers more likely to contract?
Hepatitis over HIV
128
Should needles be recapped?
No
129
If needles need to be recapped what method should be used?
One-hand technique
130
What are the 3 steps of the one-hand technique?
1. Place the cap on a flat surface, then remove your hand from the cap
2. With one hand, hold the syringe and use the needle to scoop up the cap
3. When the cap covers the needle completely use the other hand to secure the cap and dispose in the Sharps bin
131
What are the ways blood exposures should be managed?
- Provide immediate care to the exposed site
- Wash wounds and skin with soap and water
- Flush mucous membranes with water
- Seek help at employee health service
132
What is a biohazard kit?
Kit that includes supplies for a quick and cost-effective clean-up of a bio-hazardous spill or situation
133
What do biohazard kits include?
- Absorbent powder pack
- Scoop & scraper
- Disinfectant surface wipe
- Red biohazard waste bag
- Pair of latex free exam gloves
- Antimicrobial hand wipes
- Exposure incident form
134
What is AIDS?
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
135
What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus
136
What is CDC?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
137
What is CSF?
Cerebral Spinal Fluid
138
What is HBV?
Hepatitis B Virus
139
What is OI?
Opportunistic infections
140
What is STD?
Sexually transmitted disease
