Infection Control: Precautions and PPE

Questions and Answers

What are contact precautions?

Precautions to prevent infections spread by contact with skin or body fluids. (correct)

Precautions taken during surgery.

Precautions for handling food.

Precautions involving only hand hygiene.

List infections that require contact precautions.

Salmonella, scabies, shigella, pressure ulcers.

What additional actions should nurses take for patients on contact precautions?

No additional actions are necessary.

Wear a gown and gloves upon room entry. (correct)

Wear a surgical mask.

Only use disposable equipment.

When are special contact precautions needed?

When organisms likely to have spores, like Clostridium difficile, are present. Signup and view all the answers

What are droplet precautions used for?

To prevent infections spread through close respiratory contact. Signup and view all the answers

Name some infections that require droplet precautions.

Influenza, N. Meningitidis, pertussis, rhinovirus. Signup and view all the answers

What must be done when entering the room of a patient on droplet precautions?

Wear a mask. Signup and view all the answers

What are airborne precautions used for?

Infections that can be spread over long distances through the air. Signup and view all the answers

List infections that require airborne precautions.

Chickenpox, measles, tuberculosis. Signup and view all the answers

What should be worn prior to entering the room of a patient on airborne precautions?

A mask or respirator. Signup and view all the answers

What is the proper order for donning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Gown, mask, goggles, gloves. Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct order for removing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Gloves, goggles, gown, mask. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Contact Precautions

Implemented for infections spread by direct contact with skin, mucous membranes, or bodily fluids.
Requires isolation of patients with infections like salmonella, scabies, shigella, and pressure ulcers.
Measures include wearing gowns and gloves upon patient entry and using dedicated noncritical care equipment.

Special Contact Precautions

Necessary for organisms with spores (e.g., Clostridium difficile) and ongoing transmission diseases (e.g., Norovirus).
Emphasize thorough hand hygiene with soap and water and environmental cleaning using bleach solutions.

Droplet Precautions

Used for infections transmitted through respiratory or mucous membrane contact with respiratory secretions.
Conditions include influenza, Neisseria meningitidis (a meningitis causative agent), pertussis (whooping cough), and rhinovirus (common cold).
Masks should be worn prior to entering the patient's room, preferably in single patient rooms to avoid cross-contamination.

Airborne Precautions

Required for diseases that can travel long distances when airborne, necessitating special respiratory protection and ventilation.
Infections include chickenpox, measles, and tuberculosis.
Patients should be placed in airborne infection isolation rooms (AII), designed with specific ventilation to prevent cross-contamination.

Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AII)

Features negative pressure ventilation; shares no air with general hospital systems.
Must vent air outside at least three to six feet above the highest roofline to dilute pathogens.
Air exchange rate should be 6-12 times per hour for effective ventilation.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donning and Doffing

Don PPE before entering the patient’s room: gown, mask, goggles, and gloves.
Doffing should occur inside the room, except for the mask, to prevent inhaling pathogens.
Sequence for removing PPE: gloves, goggles, gown, mask.

Description

Explore the essential precautions necessary to prevent the spread of infections through contact, droplet, and airborne transmission. This quiz focuses on understanding different types of infections and the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to ensure safety in healthcare settings.