Safe, Effective Care Environment Flashcards
What is Medical Asepsis?
Use of practice that REDUCES micro-organisms.
Think “clean technique”
In the MEDICAL field we are CLEAN to limit the spread of infection.
What is Surgical Asepsis?
Use of practice that ELIMINATES ALL micro-organisms.
Think “sterile technique”
In SURGERY everything is STERILE.
Yessenia opened a sterile kit above her sterile field while wearing sterile gloves. She begins to move supplies within the kit around the field. Is she maintaining sterility?
Yes, Yessenia is perfect and understand that she is allowed to move things around within the sterile field as long as she is within the 1 inch border.
Toni is performing a procedure that requires sterile technique. Pam enters the room and asks Toni a question. Toni turns around and tells Pam to go away because she is busy being a good nurse. Is Toni being a good nurse?
No. Toni turned her back to address Pam, therefore turning her back to the sterile field. The field is no longer considered sterile.
Eddie is demonstrating to Esme how to perform a sterile procedure. He pours sterile water over a pair of sterile swabs that are laying on his sterile field within the 1 inch border. Is Eddie properly demonstrating sterile technique?
No. Any non-waterproof sterile wrapper or field becomes unsterile when it comes in contact with moisture.
In addition Eddie talking too much over his sterile field can also compromise sterility.
True or False. Pam properly sets up a sterile field but notices her patient is no longer in the room. She removes her sterile gloves, disposes them properly, and locks the door so no one enters the room to disrupt her sterile set up. She returns with her patient and ensures they aren’t anywhere near her sterile set up. Is it still sterile?
False. Prolonged exposure to open air compromises sterility.
True or False. Pathogens are bacteria that can cause infections.
FALSE. Pathogens are micro-organisms that can cause infection.
Pathogens can be a fungi, virus, parasite, or a bacteria.
What is the difference between Non-Specific and Specific Immunity?
Specific immunity is in response to something specific.
Ex: antibodies for a specific antigen
Non-Specific immunity is protection in place for anything.
Ex: Skin that is intact is a protective barrier against random germs we come across everyday.
What is Native Immunity?
A non-specific immunity in which the body responds to any foreign organism.
Ex: Inflammatory response
Think NATIVE Americans fight against any Foreigner.
What is Passive Immunity?
A nonspecific immunity in which antibodies are produced by an external source.
Ex: Skin is your first line of defense, Mucous membranes trap any bacteria, breastmilk has antibodies.
Think my PASSIVE immunity was PASSED down by my Mom to protect me from germs PASSING through. Your skin, your mucous membranes were made in your mom and she breast fed you.
What is Adaptive Immunity?
A specific adaptive immunity in which the body makes antibodies IN RESPONSE to foreign organisms. The foreign organism is identified and now the body can react when it recognizes it again.
Think the body is ADAPTing to the germ.
What is Active Immunity?
A specific immunity in which antibodies are produced in response to an antigen.
Think my body is ACTIVEly producing specific antibodies for this specific antigen.
What is an Antigen?
An antigen is a foreign substance/organism that causes your body to have an immune response and make antibodies against it.
What is a Causative Agent?
A bacteria, fungus, virus, parasite, etc, that results in infection.
Think what agent CAUSEd the infection.
What is a Reservoir?
Ex: human, animal, food, organic matter, water, soil, insects, inanimate surfaces.
Think RESERVATION. The Fungus (causative agent) from Esme’s foot had a RESERVATION for him and all his friends to hang out in Esme’s shoe. Toni borrowed Esme’s shoes which were the Reservoir to the toe fungus she got.
