Infection Prevention & Control Quiz

Study Notes

Antimicrobials

Antimicrobials include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics.
These medications are used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

AMR occurs when pathogens evolve and no longer respond to antimicrobial treatments, complicating infection control.
Drug resistance increases the severity and spread of infections, leading to more severe illness and higher mortality rates.

Importance of Antibiotics

Approximately half of hospitalized patients receive antimicrobials, particularly in ICUs and NICUs.
Antibiotics are critical for life-saving treatments in serious infections, such as sepsis.

Issues with Antibiotic Use

Patients often misuse antibiotics without understanding proper therapy principles.
Medical practitioners may feel pressured to prescribe antibiotics for immediate relief, leading to inappropriate use.
Prolonged antibiotic use post-surgery and unnecessary treatment of viral infections are common practices.

Role of Microbiology Lab

Responsible for correct specimen testing and species identification.
Conducts antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and interprets AST reports accurately.
Provides guidance on appropriate antimicrobial choice based on results.

Strategies to Prevent AMR

Stop antimicrobial treatment when infections are cured or cultures are negative.
Isolate pathogens to prevent patient-to-patient transmission using standard infection control measures.
Break the chain of infection by maintaining hand hygiene and containing contagions.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP)

ASP teams include diverse professionals: infectious disease physicians, infection control practitioners, microbiologists, clinical pharmacists, and hospital epidemiologists.
Focus on education and intervention to improve prescribing practices and utilize local resistance patterns.

Supplemental Stewardship Strategies

Develop guidelines incorporating local microbiological data.
Implement automatic stop functions for antibiotic orders and optimize dosing based on patient-specific factors.
Encourage switching from intravenous to oral therapy when appropriate to reduce hospital stays.

Process and Outcome Measure Indicators

Compliance with treatment guidelines is monitored by comparing the number of patients receiving appropriate empirical treatments.
The effectiveness of stewardship is evaluated by tracking days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient-days.

Antibiotic Awareness Week

Established by WHO in 2015 to promote responsible use of antibiotics and raise awareness about antibiotic resistance.
Encourages health professionals to analyze prescribing patterns and engage in education to change behaviors regarding antibiotic use.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and other penicillin-related antibiotics.
Historically, penicillin was initially effective, but resistance grew due to the production of β-lactamase.

Types of MRSA Infections

Hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) are the two primary types.

Prevention of HA-MRSA

Implement contact isolation for patients with MRSA infections.
Use proper hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and visitors.
Regular environmental cleaning is essential to mitigate MRSA survival on surfaces and objects.

Description

Test your knowledge on infection prevention, control practices, and the implications of antimicrobial resistance. This quiz covers various aspects of antimicrobials, their use in healthcare, and the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance. Ideal for students and professionals in the health sector.