Module 10: Infection Control

Question 1

OSHA

Answer 1

• occupational safety and health administration
• oversees and regulates worker safety

Question 2

when did the CDC introduce universal precautions

Answer 2

• 1980s
• response to HIV and HBV cases growing

Question 3

standard precautions

Answer 3

• combines universal precautions and body substance isolation
• requires barriers for all body substances except sweat

Question 4

chain of infection

Answer 4

• infectious agent
• reservoir
• portal of exit
• mode of transmission
• portal of entry
• susceptible host

Question 5

what is a reservoir

Answer 5

• conducive to pathogen survival
• can be the pt or inanimate object

Question 6

direct transmission

Answer 6

• contact with infected person or body fluid carrying a pathogen

Question 7

indirect transmission

Answer 7

• intermediate step between portal of exit and portal of entry
• fomites or vectors

Question 8

asepsis

Answer 8

being free from infection or infectious material

Question 9

ways to stop spread of infectious agents

Answer 9

• clean office daily
• make sick and contagious pts wait in a different area than well-check pts
• do not allow eating or drinking in pt areas
• hang reminders on hand hygiene and other prevention methods

Question 10

medical asepsis

Answer 10

• used daily in every clinical setting
• removing microorganisms after they leave the body
• does not eliminate possibility of all pathogen presence

Question 11

what is the goal of medical asepsis

Answer 11

• reduce number of microorganisms after they leave the body
• prohibit their growth
• protect healthcare worker more than pt

Question 12

examples of medical asepsis

Answer 12

• hand washing
• using gloves when in contact with body fluids
• proper cleaning of supplies and work area

Question 13

surgical asepsis

Answer 13

• removal of all microorganisms
• must be used during invasive procedures when pt skin or mucous membranes are penetrated

Question 14

what is the goal of surgical asepsis

Answer 14

• eliminate microorganisms from entering body
• protects pt more than healthcare worker

Question 15

examples of surgical asepsis

Answer 15

• sterile gloves
• antiseptic skin preparation

Question 16

when should you perform hand hygiene

Answer 16

• before and after pt contact
• after contact with contaminated surfaces
• after contact with blood or body fluids
• before performing an aseptic procedure (blood draw, medication administration)
• before and after contact with supplies or equipment near pts
• after contact with contaminated body site
• after glove removal

Question 17

temp of water for hand washing

Answer 17

warm

Question 18

how long should you rub hands together with soap during hand washing

Answer 18

20 seconds

Question 19

minimum alcohol content in hand sanitizer you can use

Answer 19

60%

Question 20

how long should you rub in hand sanitizer

Answer 20

until solution has dried

Question 21

what hand hygiene task should you do if you have visible debris on your hands

Answer 21

hand washing

Question 22

sanitization

Answer 22

• first step in assuring equipment is clean
• reduces number of microbes
• removing debris with soap and water
• wear gloves during this

Question 23

ultrasonic sanitization

Answer 23

• delicate instruments
• sound waves loosen debris
• reduces risk of sharps exposure

Question 24

disinfection

Answer 24

• destroying pathogens on a surface
• doesn’t destroy all spores
• submissions in chemicals

Question 25

common disinfectants

Answer 25

- glutaraldehyde: requires long submersion time - 1:10 bleach solution

Question 26

can chemical disinfectants be used on pts

Answer 26

- no

Question 27

sterilization

Answer 27

- destroying pathogens and their spores on inanimate objects - dry heat, chemicals, ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, steam under pressure - necessary for surgical asepsis

Question 28

autoclave

Answer 28

- sterilizes equipment - high-pressure saturated steam

Question 29

which piece of equipment has specific techniques to sterilize

Answer 29

- endoscopes - normal sterilization will damage the endoscope

Question 30

steps for cleaning endoscopes

Answer 30

- pre-cleaning: wiping with wet cloth and soaking in cleaning solution - leak testing: air/pressure/water determines if damage has occurred - manual cleaning: manually remove debris with cleaning solution - rinse: with clear water - high-level disinfection: disinfectant for immersion and flushing of endoscope pieces - rinse: no residual chemical disinfectant remains - drying: rinse with alcohol and dry with forced air

Question 31

how should you store a clean endoscope

Answer 31

- vertically - in clean, dry, dust-free environment

Question 32

SDSs

Answer 32

- safety data sheets - documents containing necessary info regarding chemicals in work environment

Question 33

sharps container

Answer 33

- puncture-proof and leak-proof - labeled with biohazard symbol - disposal of needles, scalpels, other sharp medical instruments

Question 34

biohazard bag

Answer 34

- leak-proof - made of impermeable polyethylene or polypropylene material - labeled with biohazard symbol - for gloves, gauze, bandages, other items without sharp edges

Question 35

when should you dispose of a sharps container

Answer 35

when it is 2/3 full

Question 36

when should you use PPE

Answer 36

when there is potential exposure to blood or body fluids

Question 37

info on safety data sheet

Answer 37

- identification - hazard identification - composition/ingredients - first-aid measures - fire-fighting measures - accidental release measures - handling and storage - exposure controls/personal protection - physical and chemical properties - stability and reactivity - toxicological information