Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of applying aseptic/clean technique?

To handle sharps safely

To prevent airborne transmission of infections

To prevent droplet transmission of infections

Prior to invasive procedures, or medication administration (correct)

When should hospital-grade disinfectant be used?

Only for contact precaution patients

Only for invasive procedures

Only for airborne precaution patients

Following every patient care event (correct)

What should be done with stretcher linen after every patient care event?

Change (correct)

Leave as is

Clean and disinfect

Dispose of

What should be included in pre-arrival communication and documentation?

Any of the following: cough, febrile, travel within the last 3 months, any rash, any Additional Precautions taken Signup and view all the answers

When should PPE be removed?

Before entering the healthcare facility, unless there is a continued risk of exposure Signup and view all the answers

What should be used for airborne precaution patients?

N-95 respirator Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Modified Respiratory precautions?

For respiratory symptoms and aerosol-generating medical procedures Signup and view all the answers

What is the proper way to handle sharps?

Activate safety engineered device and dispose of at point of care Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of infection prevention and control (IP&C) in healthcare settings?

To prevent the transmission of health-care-associated infections to patients and EMS practitioners Signup and view all the answers

What is the single most effective infection prevention and control procedure to control infections in the workplace and reduce the spread of infections?

Hand hygiene (HH) Signup and view all the answers

When is it necessary to perform an Infection Prevention and Control Risk Assessment (IPC-RA)?

When a patient shows signs and symptoms of infection Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an Infection Prevention and Control Risk Assessment (IPC-RA)?

To identify hazards and apply additional precautions when necessary Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct sequence of hand hygiene (HH) practices?

Before entering or touching a patient, before an aseptic procedure, and after exposure to body fluids Signup and view all the answers

When is it necessary to use personal protective equipment (PPE)?

When an Infection Prevention and Control Risk Assessment (IPC-RA) indicates a hazard exists Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of gloves in infection prevention and control?

To be task-specific and used for single use, changing between procedures and patients Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between routine practices and additional precautions in infection prevention and control?

Routine practices are used in every patient encounter, while additional precautions are used only when an IPC-RA indicates a hazard exists Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C)

The main goal of IP&C is to prevent the transmission of health-care-associated infections to patients and EMS practitioners.

Routine Practices

Routine practices do not include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Hand hygiene (HH) is the single most effective IP&C procedure to control infections in the workplace and reduce the spread of infections.

Infection Prevention and Control Risk Assessment (IPC-RA)

Perform an IPC-RA for any of the following:
- Presence of blood or body fluid
- Assess for signs and symptoms of infections (respiratory tract infection, gastrointestinal tract infection, septic shock, specific site infections)
- Performing an aerosol generating medical procedure

Hand Hygiene (HH)

Perform HH:
- Before entering or touching a patient or their environment (except during emergent events)
- Before any aseptic procedure
- After exposure to body fluids
- After leaving the patient or their environment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Isolation Procedures

PPE is used only if IPC-RA indicates (Additional Precautions)
Types of isolation procedures and corresponding PPE:
- Contact precautions (e.g., antibiotic resistant organisms)
  - Hand hygiene, gown, and gloves
- Contact and Droplet precautions (e.g., respiratory infections, sepsis, diarrheal or vomiting patients)
  - Hand hygiene, gown, simple mask, safety glasses/face shield, and gloves
- Modified Respiratory precautions (e.g., respiratory symptoms and aerosol-generating medical procedures)
  - Hand hygiene, gown, N-95 respirator, safety glasses/face shield, and gloves
- Droplet precautions (e.g., mumps, pertussis)
  - Hand hygiene, gown, simple mask, safety glasses/face shield, and gloves
- Airborne precautions (e.g., tuberculosis, measles)
  - Hand hygiene, N-95 respirator
- Airborne and Contact precautions (e.g., chicken pox, disseminated shingles)
  - Hand hygiene, N-95 respirator, gown, gloves

Additional Precautions and Guidelines

Aseptic/clean technique:
- Applied prior to invasive procedures, or medication administration
Sharps handling:
- Activate safety engineered device
- Dispose of at point of care
PPE removal:
- Remove before entering the healthcare facility unless there is a continued risk of exposure
Cleaning and disinfection:
- Must be performed following every patient care event
- Hospital-grade disinfectant requires firm pressure and adequate wet time to remove pathogens
Stretcher linen:
- Must be changed following every patient care event
Pre-arrival communication and documentation:
- Alert receiving facility if the patient is suspected to have an infection risk in the IPC-RA
- Document level of Additional Precautions, PPE use, and exposure, if applicable

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Description

This quiz assesses knowledge of infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings, including routine practices and additional precautions. It covers the importance of risk assessment and personal protective equipment in preventing healthcare-associated infections.