PPE

Question 1

what is an HAI?

Answer 1

infections acquired by patients during their care in healthcare settings

Question 2

risks of acquiring HAI is greater when:

Answer 2

higher frequency of contact with providers
more intense and invasive care
higher comorbid burden
older age
compromised nutritional status
poor immunity

Question 3

what are the three types of HAI?

Answer 3

iatrogenic
endogenous
exogenous

Question 4

what is iatrogenic HAI?

Answer 4

infection occurs during a procedure

Question 5

what is endogenous HAI?

Answer 5

results from an alteration/overgrowth of a patint’s flora

Question 6

what is an exogenous HAI?

Answer 6

results from organisms outside the patient

Question 7

what is an infection?

Answer 7

invasion of a susceptible host tissue by pathogens or microorganisms, which results in disease

Question 8

what is colonization?

Answer 8

presence and growth of microorganisms within a host without tissue invasion or damage

Question 9

what is a communicable disease?

Answer 9

the infectious process can readily transmit from one person to another

Question 10

what are some defense systems we have in place to protect against infections?

Answer 10

intact skin
intact mucosa of nose/mouth
limited use of broad-spectrum antibiotics
intact blinking mechanism
normal urine acidity/flow
maintain normal acidity of gastric flora

Question 11

what are some common modes of infection transmission?

Answer 11

droplets
blood/bodily fluids (direct)
feces/urine (direct)
vectors (mosquitoes)
equipment/medical devices (indirect)
healthcare providers hands (direct)

Question 12

how do you perform hand hygiene with hand sanitizer or soap and water?

Answer 12

sanitizer - rub hands for 20 seconds
soap/water - wet hands, apply soap and rub for 20 seconds, rinse and dry with disposable towel

Question 13

when would you use soap and water over hand sanitizer?

Answer 13

hands are visibly soiled
some conditions such as working with patients with c diff

Question 14

what are the 5 moments of hand hygiene?

Answer 14

before touching patient
before cleaning/aseptic procedure
after body fluid exposure risk
after touching a patient
after touching patient surroundings

Question 15

what is isolation?

Answer 15

separation and restriction of movement of ill persons with contagious diseases

Question 16

what are some standard precautions that are applicable to all patients?

Answer 16

hand hygiene before/after seeing a patient
use gloves in physical contact with patient is anticipated
isolation gown if possibility of risk of body fluids splashing
wear surgical mask if provider is unwell with a respiratory infection
no artificial nails

Question 17

what precaution is used when droplet nuclei are smaller than 5 microns?

Answer 17

airborne precaution

Question 18

what should be utilized during airborne precaution?

Answer 18

patients placed in private rooms equipped with negative-pressure air flow (AIIR)
respiratory protection device may be required (N-95)
isolation gown and gloves

Question 19

what precaution is used when droplet nuclei are larger than 5 microns?

Answer 19

droplet precaution

Question 20

what are some characteristics of droplet precaution?

Answer 20

can be spread within 5 feet of patient
minimal patient transport
preferably in a private room, but can share with another patient if:
with curtain: 3 feet, without curtain: 6 feet

Question 21

what are some common diagnoses that require droplet precaution?

Answer 21

ebola
pertussis (whooping cough)
flu
rhinovirus
pneumonia
strep
rubella
COVID

Question 22

what precaution would you utilize when preventing infections that spread via direct or indirect contact with patient/belongings?

Answer 22

contact precautions

Question 23

what are some diagnoses that require contact precautions?

Answer 23

MDROs
MRSA
Staph
VRE
CRE
ebola
norovirus
RSV
rotavirus
herpes
scabies
covid

Question 24

what must be worn during droplet precaution?

Answer 24

mask
goggles/face shield
gown
gloves

Question 25

what must be worn during contact precautions?

Answer 25

gloves
maybe gown

Question 26

what are the steps to DON PPE?

Answer 26

Identify and gather proper PPE to don
Perform hand hygiene
Put on isolation gown (S,M,Lrg) and tie
Don N95 respirator or face mask, covering nose, mouth, chin
Put on face shield or goggles
Perform hand hygiene
Don disposable gloves, covering the wrist of gown
May now enter patient room

Question 27

what are the steps to DOFF PPE?

Answer 27

Remove gloves: via glove-in-glove or beaking method and dispose
Remove gown: untie or break gown, rolling down & away from body, then dispose of gown
May now exit patient room
Perform hand hygiene
Remove face shield or goggles & dispose
Remove and discard respirator or face mask
Perform hand hygiene

Question 28

what must be worn during airborne precautions?

Answer 28

isolation gown and gloves
respiratory protection (usually N-95)