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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT part of contact precautions?
Which of the following is NOT part of contact precautions?
What should a patient in airborne isolation wear when outside of their isolation room?
What should a patient in airborne isolation wear when outside of their isolation room?
Which infections can be transmitted through droplet precautions?
Which infections can be transmitted through droplet precautions?
What is the recommended distance to maintain for droplet precautions?
What is the recommended distance to maintain for droplet precautions?
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What is NOT advised after contact with a patient under contact precautions?
What is NOT advised after contact with a patient under contact precautions?
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What should be done with usable syringes and needles after use?
What should be done with usable syringes and needles after use?
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Which of the following statements about sterile items is true?
Which of the following statements about sterile items is true?
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What physical method cannot be used for sterilization?
What physical method cannot be used for sterilization?
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Coughing or sneezing over a sterile field is considered?
Coughing or sneezing over a sterile field is considered?
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Which of the following is NOT a principle of surgical asepsis?
Which of the following is NOT a principle of surgical asepsis?
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What is the primary role of an infection control nurse?
What is the primary role of an infection control nurse?
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What type of precautions combine universal precautions and body substance isolation?
What type of precautions combine universal precautions and body substance isolation?
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Which of the following is a chemical method of sterilization?
Which of the following is a chemical method of sterilization?
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Which of the following best describes the concept of asepsis?
Which of the following best describes the concept of asepsis?
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What are the body's nonspecific defenses against infection?
What are the body's nonspecific defenses against infection?
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Which principle is essential to minimize the risk of spreading infections in a healthcare facility?
Which principle is essential to minimize the risk of spreading infections in a healthcare facility?
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What is the primary goal of the infection control nurse?
What is the primary goal of the infection control nurse?
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Which practice is part of medical asepsis?
Which practice is part of medical asepsis?
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Which mode of transmission is represented when an infection spreads from a staff member to a patient?
Which mode of transmission is represented when an infection spreads from a staff member to a patient?
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What does disinfection mean in the context of infection control?
What does disinfection mean in the context of infection control?
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What is an essential component of the chain of infection?
What is an essential component of the chain of infection?
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What is considered the single most important practice to reduce the transmission of infectious agents?
What is considered the single most important practice to reduce the transmission of infectious agents?
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What is one of the roles of an infection control nurse?
What is one of the roles of an infection control nurse?
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Which type of transmission is NOT a standard precaution for infections?
Which type of transmission is NOT a standard precaution for infections?
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Which of the following body fluids is NOT considered a potential source for infectious agents?
Which of the following body fluids is NOT considered a potential source for infectious agents?
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What is the main goal of infection control measures in healthcare settings?
What is the main goal of infection control measures in healthcare settings?
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Which strategy is commonly used to gather information about nosocomial infections?
Which strategy is commonly used to gather information about nosocomial infections?
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Which infection control principle is essential for health care workers' protection?
Which infection control principle is essential for health care workers' protection?
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What does effective communication with hospital and community health care personnel improve?
What does effective communication with hospital and community health care personnel improve?
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Study Notes
Infection Control
- Programs designed to investigate, prevent and control infection spread
- Prevent the spread of microorganisms from patient to patient, patient to staff, or staff to patient
- Focuses on disease surveillance in healthcare facilities
- Minimize the risk of spreading nosocomial or community-acquired infections to patients or staff
Definitions
- Contaminated - dirty, soiled, or unclean
- Disinfection - cleaning that destroys germs or pathogens
- Mode of transmission - how germs are passed from one person to another
The Body's Normal Defenses Against Infection
- Divided into Nonspecific and Specific Defenses
- *Nonspecific Defenses: include normal body flora (bacteria), normal body system defenses, and the inflammation process
- *Specific Defenses: include the immune response
Asepsis
- Free from all living microorganisms
- Major process for controlling infection
- Aseptic technique aims to keep patients free from exposure to infectious pathogens. It is a vital part of infection control.
Medical and Surgical Asepsis
- Medical Asepsis (clean technique) aims to reduce the number of microorganisms and interfere with the chain of infection.
- Examples of medical asepsis include hand washing, barrier techniques like masks, gloves, gowns, and routine environmental cleaning.
- Surgical Asepsis (sterile technique) aims to eliminate all microorganisms from an area. It is used in procedures such as surgeries and dressing changes.
Principles of Medical Asepsis
- Avoid removing, recapping, bending, or breaking used needles
- Place usable syringes, needles, blades, and other sharp items in puncture-resistant containers.
Principles of Surgical Asepsis
- A sterile item that touches a non-sterile item becomes contaminated
- Partially unwrapped sterile packages are considered contaminated
- If there is any doubt about the sterility of an item, it is considered non-sterile
- Commercially packaged sterile items are not considered sterile past their expiration date
- Once a sterile item is opened, it becomes contaminated
- Wet sterile items are considered unsterile
- Coughing, sneezing, or excessive talking over a sterile field causes contamination
- Reaching across a sterile area causes contamination
- Sterile items located or lowered below waist level are considered contaminated
Process of Sterilization
- Sterilization destroys all microorganisms, including spores
- Physical Sterilization: Includes radiation (ultraviolet), boiling water, free-flowing steam, dry heat (oven), and steam under pressure (autoclave)
- Chemical Sterilization: Involves using antiseptic chemical solutions
Chain of Infection
- This is a cyclical process that outlines the steps for spreading infection. It includes the following elements:
- Infectious agent
- Reservoir
- Portal of exit
- Mode of transmission
- Portal of entry
- Susceptible host
- Understanding the chain helps us break the cycle and prevent infection.
Infection Control Precautions
- Two main categories: Standard Precautions and Transmission-based Precautions (Isolation Precautions)
Standard Precautions
- Combine methods previously known as Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation.
- Universal Precautions include:
- Hand washing after touching blood, body fluids, non-intact skin and mucous membranes
- Washing hands immediately after removing gloves
- Wearing clean non-sterile gloves
- Wearing a mask, eye protection, and gown when appropriate
Transmission-based Precautions (Isolation Precautions)
- Measures for controlling the spread of infections from patients who are known or suspected of being infected with highly transmissible pathogens.
Role of the Infection Control Nurse
- Providing staff education on infection control
- Reviewing infection control policies and procedures
- Reviewing patient records and laboratory reports to recommend appropriate isolation procedures
- Consulting with occupational health departments concerning recommendations to prevent and control infection among personnel (e.g., TB testing)
- Gathering statistics related to nosocomial infections (healthcare-associated or hospital-acquired infections)
- Notifying public health departments of incidence of communicable diseases
- Educating patients and families
- Identifying infection-control problems with equipment
- Communicating with hospital and community healthcare personnel
Benefits of Infection Control
- Reduces morbidity and mortality
- Reduces healthcare costs
- Improves the quality of healthcare services
- Based on risk assessment and risk management
- Easy to apply when principles are understood
- Protects healthcare workers
Hand Hygiene
- Most important practice to reduce transmission of infectious agents
- Includes hand washing with antiseptic soap and water and alcohol-based products (gels, rinses, foams) when water is not available.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Standard Precautions
- Gloves
- Gown
- Mask
- Eye protection
Types of Transmission-based Precautions
- Contact Transmission
- Droplet Transmission
- Airborne Transmission
Contact Transmission
- Spread through direct contact with an infected person or contaminated objects.
- Examples:
- MRSA
- VRE
- C. difficile
Droplet Transmission
- Spread through large droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
- Examples:
- Influenza
- Pertussis
- Meningitis
Airborne Transmission
- Spread through small particles that can remain suspended in the air for a long time. These particles can be inhaled and cause infection.
- Examples:
- Tuberculosis
- Measles
- Chickenpox
Airborne Precautions
- Prevents the spread of infection through inhaled airborne particles
- Patients are placed in isolation rooms with special airflow.
- Patients wear masks when outside of isolation rooms.
Contact Precautions
- Isolate or cohort patients
- Wear gown and gloves for patient or room contact; remove immediately after contact
- Do not touch eyes, nose, or mouth with hands
- Avoid contaminating environmental surfaces
- Wash hands immediately after patient contact
- Clean and disinfect patient rooms, bed rails, bedside tables, toilet surfaces, and other equipment daily.
Droplet Precautions
- Place patients in single rooms or cohort 3 feet apart.
- Wear a mask when within 3 feet of the patient.
- Wear face shield or goggles when within 3 feet of patient.
- Patient wears a mask when outside of the room.
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Description
This quiz covers essential concepts of infection control including definitions, the body's defenses against infection, and aseptic techniques. Participants will learn about the importance of preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings and the methodologies implemented to ensure patient safety. Review the critical terms and processes that form the foundation of infection prevention.
