Infection Control Flashcards
(35 cards)
What are three goals of infection control?
Reduce risk of health care workers acquiring infection; Reduce incident of transmitting health care worker flora to patients; Reduce transmission of infectious pathogens from patient to patient
What are the three types of infections?
Nosocomial infection; Iatrogenic infection (type of nosocomial); Community-acquired infection
What are nosocomial infections?
Originates from hospital
What are common nosocomial infection sites?
Blood stream (venous access devices) & urinary tract (catheters); wounds after surgery or respiratory tract infections
What are major microorganism groups?
Bacteria, fungi, viruses & parasites
What is bacteria? Example?
Microscopic, single-celled organisms; endospores; TB/Strep throat
What is fungi? Example?
Macroscopic or microscopic; Yeasts: source of vitamins & minerals/ produce beer/wine; Molds: primary source of material for production of antibiotic drugs & flavor for cheeses; Thrush from yeast
What are parasites? Example?
Organisms that live on or in other organisms at expense of host organ; can be plant or animal
What are viruses? Example?
Smallest microorganism to produce disease; genetic material either DNA OR RNA; requires host cell; Influenza, cold, mumps, measles, hepatitis
What are the five elements needed to transmit infections?
Infectious agents > Reservoir/environment > Portal of exit > means of transmission > Portal of entry
What are two main means of transmission?
Indirect: touching objects (fomites) that have been contaminated by infectious person; Direct: Contact w/infectious secretions that come from eyes, nose or mouth of host as they cough, sneeze or talk
What are some types of transmission?
Vehicles: transport infection (food, water, drugs, contaminated blood); Airborne: residue from evaporated droplets suspended in air for long periods of time; Vectors: Insect or animal carriers of disease
What makes the disease process?
Incubation stage > Prodromal stage > Full Disease stage > Convalescent stage
What is HIV/AIDS?
Retrovirus; Destroys host cell & replicates while infecting other cells; HIV results in AIDS; 5 phases
What is viral hepatitis (Definition & types)?
Inflammation of liver cells; 5 RNA viruses: Fecal route (A & E) & Blood/body fluid (B, C, D, G); B & C through needle stick w/ C most common
What is TB?
Tuberculosis; recurrent/chronic disease caused by myobacterium tuberculosis; in lungs
What is Pulmonary TB?
Asymptomatic; onset & early stages go unnoticed
What is MRSA (definition & common pts)?
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (Super bug); nursing home pts, dialysis patients, aged & debilitated, ICU pts, any pt hospitalized for long periods of time
What is C-diff?
Clostridium difficle; spore-forming bacteria that releases toxins into bowal (resistant to disinfectants; spread by hands)
What is medical asepsis?
Microorganisms eliminated through water, soap, friction & various chemical disinfectants
What is surgical asepsis?
Microorganisms & spores completely destroyed by means of heat or chemical process
What is disinfection? What is antiseptic?
Disinfection: Removal of pathogenic microorganisms from objects; Antiseptic: removal on body surfaces
What are the 5 moments for hand hygiene?
Before & after touching pt; Before & after procedure; After touching pts surroundings
How long should hands be washed?
At least 15 seconds
