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Questions and Answers
Which of the following accurately describes medical asepsis?
Which of the following accurately describes medical asepsis?
Which of the following is NOT a form of the body's normal defense against infection?
Which of the following is NOT a form of the body's normal defense against infection?
What is the primary purpose of infection control precautions in healthcare settings?
What is the primary purpose of infection control precautions in healthcare settings?
Which of the following correctly defines the term 'disinfection'?
Which of the following correctly defines the term 'disinfection'?
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What is the role of the infection control nurse primarily focused on?
What is the role of the infection control nurse primarily focused on?
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Which statement is NOT a principle of surgical asepsis?
Which statement is NOT a principle of surgical asepsis?
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What is NOT considered a physical means of sterilization?
What is NOT considered a physical means of sterilization?
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Which of the following procedures does NOT fall under standard precautions?
Which of the following procedures does NOT fall under standard precautions?
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Which activity could lead to contamination of a sterile field?
Which activity could lead to contamination of a sterile field?
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What is the primary role of the infection control nurse?
What is the primary role of the infection control nurse?
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Study Notes
Infection Control Objectives
- Students should be able to discuss the body's normal defenses against infection
- Apply principles of medical and surgical asepsis
- Analyze the chain of infection
- Apply principles of infection control precautions
- Discuss the role of an infection control nurse
Infection Control Outlines
- Definitions
- Infection control: set of methods to control and prevent disease spread
- Infections: caused by pathogens (germs)
- Communicable disease: spreads from one person to another
- Infectious disease: caused by a pathogen (germ or bacteria)
- Contaminated: dirty, soiled, unclean
- Disinfection: cleaning to destroy germs (pathogens)
- Mode of transmission: way germs are passed
- The body's normal defenses against infection
- Nonspecific defenses
- Normal body flora (normal bacteria)
- Normal body system defenses
- Inflammation process
- Specific defenses
- Immune response
- Nonspecific defenses
- Asepsis
- Free from all living microorganisms
- Major process for controlling infection
- Aseptic technique: effort to keep patients free from exposure to infectious pathogens
- Forms of asepsis
- Medical asepsis (clean technique)
- Surgical asepsis
- Principles of Surgical Asepsis
- Sterile item touching non-sterile item becomes contaminated
- Partially unwrapped sterile packages are contaminated
- Sterile item in question is considered unsterile
- Commercially packaged sterile items are not sterile after expiration date
- Opened sterile item is contaminated
- Wet sterile item is unsterile
- Coughing, sneezing, excessive talking over sterile field causes contamination
- Reaching across sterile equipment contaminates
- Sterile items below waist level are contaminated
- The process of sterilization
- Physical sterilization methods:
- Radiation (e.g. ultraviolet)
- Boiling water
- Free-flowing steam
- Dry heat
- Steam under pressure (autoclave)
- Chemical sterilization: antiseptic chemical solutions
- Physical sterilization methods:
Chain of Infection
- Infectious agent
- Reservoir
- Portal of entry
- Mode of transmission
- Portal of exit
- Susceptible host
Infection Control Precautions
- Two major categories
- Standard precautions
- Transmission-based precautions (isolation precautions)
Standard Precautions
- Combined methods from universal precautions and body substance isolation
- Wash hands after touching blood, body fluids
- Wash hands after gloves are removed
- Wear clean, non-sterile gloves
- Wear mask and eye protection and gown
- Hand hygiene is key
Transmission-Based Precautions
- Measures to control spread of infection from patients known or suspected of being infected
Role of the Infection Control Nurse
- Providing staff education
- Reviewing infection control policies and procedures
- Reviewing patient records and laboratory reports
- Consulting with occupational health (e.g., TB testing)
- Gathering statistics on nosocomial infections (hospital-acquired)
- Notifying public health of communicable diseases
- Educating patients and families
- Identifying infection control problems with equipment
- Communicating with hospital and community health care personnel
Infection Control (Benefits)
- Reducing morbidity and mortality
- Reducing healthcare costs
- Improving healthcare service quality
- Based on risk assessment and risk management
- Easy application of principles
- Protecting healthcare workers
WHO Does Infection Control?
- Every healthcare facility needs a nominated person or team to ensure policies and procedures are in place
- All employees with patient contact must adhere to policies and procedures
Hand Hygiene
- Single most important practice to reduce transmission of infectious agents
- Includes:
- Handwashing with antiseptic soap and water
- Alcohol-based products (gels, rinses, foams) without water
Types of PPE
- Gloves
- Isolation gowns
- Face protection (masks, goggles, face shields)
- Respiratory protection (e.g., respirator with N95)
- Boots
Standard Precautions (Details)
- Prevent transmission of common infectious agents
- Handwashing is key
- Assume infectious agents could be present in patient's:
- Blood
- Body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat)
- Non-intact skin
- Mucous membranes
PPE for Standard Precautions
- Touching respiratory secretions, contaminated items, blood or body fluids
- Soiled clothes with patient fluids, secretions, or excretions
- Possible splashes/sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions
Transmission-Based Precautions (Types)
- Contact transmission
- Droplet transmission
- Airborne transmission
Airborne Transmission
- Very small particles of evaporated droplets or dusts with infectious agents
- Remain in air for long time
- Travel further than droplets
- Examples: Tuberculosis, Measles, Chickenpox
Airborne Precautions
- Preventing spread of infection through inhaled airborne particles
- Patient in isolation
- Patient in airborne isolation room
- Patient wears mask outside isolation room
Contact Transmission
- Direct contact (no intermediate)
- Host in contact with reservoir (e.g., MRSA)
- Skin-to-skin contact (e.g., scabies, herpes)
- Indirect contact (intermediate)
- Disease carried from reservoir to host (infected or colonized person or object)
- Contaminated surfaces (e.g., electronic thermometers, glucose monitors)
Contact Precautions
- Isolate or cohort patients
- Gown and gloves for patient contact (remove immediately)
- Don't touch eyes, nose, mouth with hands
- Avoid contaminating environmental surfaces
- Wash hands immediately after patient contact
- Clean and disinfect patient room daily, bed rails, bed side tables, toilet surfaces, and other equipment
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Description
This quiz covers essential infection control concepts, including the body's defenses against infection, principles of asepsis, and the chain of infection. Students will also explore the role of an infection control nurse and apply relevant precautionary measures. Test your understanding and enhance your infection control knowledge.
