Sporadic
Scattered or isolated cases of a disease.
Epidemic:
Rapid spread of an infectious disease.
Pandemic:
Epidemic which spreads to a large area or world wide.
Endemic:
Disease that is always present in certain areas.
Contacts
Anyone who has been in contact with the person and may now be infected
Quarantine
Time necessary to keep contacts isolated to prevent the spread of infection
Fomites
an article that has become contaminated with a biological agent
Immunity
The body is able to destroy the agent before onset of symptoms
Incubation period
The time between the entry of the biological agent and the onset of symptoms
Vector
A carrier, human or animal, especially one which transmits disease
Alimentary canal
gastrointestinal tract - things can be absorbed this way
Respiratory tract
air way - things can be breathed in this way
Skin & mucosa
things can be absorbed this way
Placenta
things can be passed form mother to baby this way
Routes of Entry
Inhalation Ingestion Inoculation Fomite Vectors Human Carriers (hands)
Basic microbiology
Micro-organisms Bacteria Viruses Pathogenic fungi Protozoa Worms
Chain of infection
Infectious agent Reservoirs Portal of exit Means of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host
Communicable diseases
Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pulmonary Tuberculosis Meningitis Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Meningoccocal Septicaemia
LAS Infectious and Verminous procedure
If there is an outbreak of an infectious disease, a specialist in environmental medicine, the medical officer for environmental health will become involved.
They can use wide-ranging powers to help bring the outbreak under control.
Notification of certain infectious disease
The M.O.E.H (medical officer for environmental health) of the area where the patient is living must be notified by the doctor in charge of the patient.
Category 4/hazardous group 4
An organism that causes severe human disease and is a serious hazard to laboratory workers. it may present a high risk of spread to the community and there is usually no effective prophylaxis or treatment.
Category 4 infectious diseases
Rabies
Plague
Smallpox
Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHF) including: Lasa, Ebola, Marburg and Crimean/Congo fevers.
There are 18 VHF’s but only the four listed (Lasa, Ebola, Marburg and Crimean/Congo fevers.) are included because
They are readily capable of person-to-person spread so pose a serious public health risk
They have a high case fatality rate
There are difficulties in their recognition and treatment
Category 4 diseases are…
Rare in the UK.
More likely to be suspected then confirmed.
Category 4 patients get transported to?
High Security Infectious Disease Units (HSIDU) by the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART)
What can patients be infested with?
Scabies
Lice
Fleas
Universal precautions basics are?
Personal hygiene
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Cleaning & disinfection
Influenza precautions PPE
FFP2 (basic face mask) non-reuseable
FFP3 (Filtering face piece level 3) re-useable but requires new filters
Bare below the elbows means…
No wrist watch
Only one wedding band
How and when to clean your hands
Wear alcohol gel to disinfect hands at the 5 moments of patient care pathway
Wash your hands with soap and water after patient handover at hospital
Remove fleece/coat (or roll up sleeves) to perform adequate hand hygiene
The 5 moments for hand hygiene
- before patient contact
- before a clean/aseptic procedure
- after body fluid exposure risk
- after patient contact
- after contact with patient surroundings
Personal Protective Equipment (for touching patients)
disposable gloves disposable plastic apron disposable face mask safety eye-wear pocket mask
Gloves should not be worn…
unnecessarily
driving to or from a scene
longer then necessary
Gloves should be worn for contact with…
blood and body fluids
non-intact skin and mucous membranes
sharps or contaminated instruments
Gloves should also:
only be put on before patient contact
be changed between each patient task
be changed between caring for different patients
be changed as soon as they are contaminated
be discarded as clinical waste
contaminated gloves are a risk to…
the patient
How to minimise transmission of respiratory tract infections
respiratory hygiene & cough etiquette face mask good hand hygiene decontaminate equipment ensure you have had your flu vaccination Catch it, Bin it, Kill it
peripheral intravenous cannula insertion is a commonly performed procedure and has an associated risk of infection because…
of direct microbial entry to the blood stream
A minimum of 95% of all patient carrying vehicles will be deep cleaned…
every 6 weeks
A minimum of 95% of all available vehicles will be…
cleaned and re-stocked in a 24 hour period
All equipment used for patient treatment should be cleaned using?
detergent wipes
How often should the trolley bed be wiped over with detergent wipes then air-dryed?
after every patient use
Cleaning your ambulance
wipe everything the patient has been in contact with, equipment/surfaces, using Clinell wipes.
Use Bacticlean spray with blue roll for hard surfaces
cleaning your ambulance of small blood and fluid spillage
use Clinell Sporicidal Wipes. These are dry wipes activated by contact with body fluid or water and are stored in the ‘infection control kit’. use gloves.
cleaning your ambulance of large blood and fluid spillage or if a patient with a possible infective diarrhoea such as norovirus or clostridum difficile.
Antibak Powder - wear appropriate PPE, put one tub in a bucket of water. Wipe down surface and mop floor of infected area and allow to dry. THEN use clean water to remove residue.
How to use Clinell Spill Wipes (large absorbent pad)
They can soak up 1 litre of body fluid.
peracetic acid neutralises harmful pathogens.
THEN 2 Clinell detergent wipes remove and spill stains or residue to complete the clean.