Lecture 5.2 - Infection Prevention

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of infection prevention?

Reducing the risk of transmission of microorganisms to healthcare providers, patients, and visitors (correct)

Treating nosocomial infections

Developing new antibiotics

Improving patient outcomes

What does Ro represent in the context of infection prevention?

The reproduction rate of microorganisms

The transmission rate of a disease

The number of cases one case generates over the course of its infectious period (correct)

The number of people infected by a single individual

What is the goal of infection prevention in terms of patient outcomes?

To increase antibiotic usage

To improve patient satisfaction

To reduce the spread of infections, resulting in improved survival rates and reduced morbidity (correct)

To reduce the length of hospital stay

What is the 'Practice' aspect of the 4 P's of infection prevention and control focused on?

Behavioural change and protective equipment Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of antimicrobial prophylaxis in infection prevention?

To prevent infections in high-risk patients Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'Place' aspect of the 4 P's of infection prevention and control focused on?

Ensuring all premises delivering healthcare are infection control compliant Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) in infection prevention?

To reduce the transmission of microorganisms to healthcare providers, patients, and visitors Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of distancing, separation, and restriction of movement and of visitors in infection prevention?

To reduce the transmission of microorganisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of decontamination and sterilisation in infection prevention?

To reduce the spread of pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of infection prevention in relation to patients?

Improving patient immunity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in healthcare settings?

To reduce the risk of transmitting micro-organisms from healthcare workers to patients Signup and view all the answers

Who may use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in addition to healthcare workers?

Visitors who are assisting patients with toileting or visiting patients with contagious infections Signup and view all the answers

What should the choice of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) be based on?

A risk assessment of potential exposure to blood/bodily fluids/infectious agents Signup and view all the answers

What can happen if Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used inappropriately?

It can increase the risk of transmitting infections and put people at risk of acquiring an infection Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a physical barrier used to prevent patient-to-patient transmission of infection?

Isolation of infected patients Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential aspect of good practice for healthcare workers?

Good clinical techniques Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a healthy healthcare worker?

Disease-free Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential for visitors to be fully inducted in the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

To reduce the risk of transmitting infections Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Infection Prevention

Infection prevention is the discipline concerned with preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infections, focusing on evidence-based practices and procedures to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms to healthcare providers, patients, and visitors.

Sources of Infection

No specific information provided in the text.

Route of Transmission

No specific information provided in the text.

Basic Reproduction Number (Ro)

Ro is the average number of cases one case generates over the course of its infectious period in an otherwise uninfected, non-immune population.
If Ro > 1, there will be an increase in cases.
If Ro = 1, the number of cases will remain stable.
If Ro < 1, there will be a decrease in cases.

Factors Determining Transmissibility

Infectious dose is the number of microorganisms needed to cause infection, which varies by microorganism and immunity of the potential host.

Preventing Infections in Healthcare

Key principles include:
- Distancing/separation/restriction of movement and of visitors
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection
- Hand hygiene
- Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
- Waste management
- Staff health management: exposure prophylaxis, health monitoring (occupational health)
- Discharge of patients
- Care of the deceased

Goals of Infection Prevention

Prevent the spread of infections from:
- Patient-to-patient
- Patients to healthcare providers
- Healthcare providers to patients
- Healthcare providers to healthcare providers and to visitors and others in the healthcare environment
Consequently, this will:
- Protect patients from HAIs, resulting in:
  - Improved survival rates
  - Reduced morbidity associated with infections
  - Shorter length of hospital stay
  - A quicker return to good health

The 4 P's of Infection Prevention and Control

Patient: improved health/immunity
Pathogens (and/or vector): reduction or eradication
Practice: behavioural change; protective equipment
Place: environment

Infection Control Considerations

Patient:
- Improved health/immunity
- Specific measures: MRSA screens, disinfectant body wash
Pathogens (and/or vector):
- Reduce/eradicate pathogen: antibacterials, disinfectants, decontamination, sterilization
- Reduce/eradicate vector: eliminate vector breeding sites
Practice:
- Infection control at all levels: awareness, policies, training, leadership, engagement
Place:
- Ensuring all premises delivering healthcare are infection control compliant
- Building, wards, consulting rooms, communal areas, toilets, furnishing, flooring, air conditioning/heating system

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is a barrier between healthcare workers and an infectious agent from the patient, reducing the risk of transmitting micro-organisms from healthcare workers to patient(s) or vice versa.
Examples of PPE: gloves, aprons, long sleeved gowns, surgical masks, eye goggles, face visors, and respirator masks.
PPE may be used by patients' family/visitors in certain situations.

Prevention of Transmission of Microorganisms

No specific information provided in the text.

Inoculation Accidents

No specific information provided in the text.

Handwashing Technique

No specific information provided in the text.

Preventing Patient to Patient Transmission of Infection

Halting patient to patient transmission:
- Physical barriers
- Isolation of infected patients
- Protection of susceptible patients

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Description

This quiz covers the principles and practices of preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infections, including sources of infection, routes of transmission, and the basic reproduction number.