Nosocomial Infections

Question 1

What is a nosocomial infection?

Answer 1

Infection caused by staying in a healthcare environment

Question 2

Risk factors for nosocomial diseases

Answer 2

• Age of patient
• Immunocompromised patients
• Burns/exposed wounds
• Prolonged exposure to antibiotics

Question 3

Routes of contamination for nosocomial infections

Answer 3

• Central line catheter (sepsis)
• Surgical site infection
• Ventilator associated pneumonia

Question 4

Staphylococcus aureus

Answer 4

Gram positive cocci
Catalase +
Coagulase +
Oxidase -
Facultative anaerobe
Methicillin and vancomycin resistant
Found on skin & nares
Can cause skin infections, pneumonia, sepsis

Question 5

Clostridium difficile

Answer 5

Gram positive bacilli
Obligate anaerobe
Occurs when natural gut bacteria are disturbed by antibiotics or surgery
Causes diarrhoea

Question 6

Prevention of nosocomial infections

Answer 6

Hand washing
Sterile techniques 
Keep wounds clean with silver gauze
Isolation of infected patients
Rapid diagnosis
Vaccines

Question 7

What are zoonotic infections?

Answer 7

Infections transmitted from animals to humans

Question 8

Zoonotic direct and indirect transmission diseases

Answer 8

Direct: Anthrax, influenza, Mycobacterium, rabies

Indirect: Brucella, Salmonella, Trichenalla, vCJD

Question 9

Anthrax - Bacillus anthracis

Answer 9

Gram positive bacillus
Facultative anaerobe

1. Forms spores which spread to lymph nodes
2. Some spores are destroyed by the immune system but some get through. Infects and replicated within macrophages
3. Toxins cause internal bleeding and tissue
4. damage

Spores highly resistant to heat, UV, disinfectants