60 Questions
What is the minimum time recommended for washing hands for effective medical aseptic handwashing?
20 seconds
What is the primary goal of surgical asepsis?
To prevent the spread of micro-organisms
What is the proper procedure for disposing of tissues after coughing or sneezing?
Use the nearest waste receptacle
Why is it important to maintain a distance of 0.9 m (3 feet) from anyone who is coughing or sneezing?
To reduce the chances of pathogen transmission
What is the recommended action to take after contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects or materials?
Perform hand hygiene
What is the purpose of antiseptic skin preparation prior to puncturing a patient's skin?
To eliminate micro-organisms
What is the primary purpose of wearing gloves during phlebotomy procedures?
To prevent the spread of micro-organisms
What is the primary focus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's cough etiquette?
Reducing the spread of diseases that spread via airborne and droplet transmission
What is the primary goal of medical asepsis?
To reduce the number of micro-organisms and prevent transmission
What is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in phlebotomy?
Washing or sanitizing hands prior to and after each patient encounter
What type of infection is characterized by periods of remission and relapse?
Latent infection
What is an example of an opportunistic infection?
Oral candidiasis
What is the most important component of handwashing in medical asepsis?
Warm water and friction
What type of infection is characterized by sudden appearance of symptoms that worsen quickly?
Acute infection
What is the role of medical asepsis in preventing the transmission of infections?
To reduce the number of micro-organisms and prevent transmission
What type of infection can be transmitted to others even when symptoms are not present?
Chronic infection
What is the initial step in the cycle of infection?
Infectious agent
What is the purpose of identifying the portal of exit?
To prevent the pathogen from exiting the reservoir
What is an example of a reservoir in a clinical setting?
Patient
What is the role of fomites in indirect transmission?
They carry infectious agents
What is the goal of infection control?
To break the cycle of infection
What type of transmission occurs when there is contact with the infected person or body fluid carrying the pathogen?
Direct transmission
What is the term for objects that can harbor infectious agents?
Fomites
What is the susceptible host in the cycle of infection?
The human body
What is the most effective way to break the chain of infection?
Practicing effective hand hygiene
What is the primary purpose of standard precautions?
To apply to every patient, regardless of their diagnosis
Which type of precautions requires wearing a respiratory protection (mask, N95 respirator)?
Airborne precautions
What type of precautions are required for patients who have infections that spread via droplets larger than 5 microns in diameter?
Droplet precautions
What is the primary purpose of contact precautions?
To prevent direct contact or contact with the environment
When is the use of gloves and gowns required?
When interacting with patients who have contact infections
What is the first step in the infection cycle?
The presence of a susceptible host
What is the body's reaction to an injury or exposure to a pathogen?
The inflammatory response
What is the first response of the body when pathogens invade?
Releasing histamine, kinins, and prostaglandins
What is the result of increased permeability of blood vessels during inflammation?
Edema and pain
What is the purpose of chemotaxis during the inflammatory response?
To bring WBCs to the infected site
What is the worst scenario if the infection is not contained locally?
The infection spreads to the bloodstream
What is the result of phagocytosis during the inflammatory response?
The formation of pus
What is the role of plasma in the inflammatory response?
To enter the site, causing edema
What is the purpose of the blood bringing clotting factors to the infected site?
To stop bleeding
What is the result of the inflammatory response if the infection is contained locally?
The infection heals locally
Phlebotomists typically use surgical asepsis techniques.
False
Covering the nose and mouth during a sneeze can help reduce the chances of pathogen transmission.
True
The primary goal of medical asepsis is to eliminate micro-organisms.
False
Rinsing hands with fingers pointed upward is an effective medical aseptic handwashing technique.
False
Alcohol-based rubs are acceptable for rapid sanitation when there is obvious soil on the skin.
False
Cough etiquette involves keeping anyone who is coughing or sneezing 1.8 m (6 feet) away from others.
False
An opportunistic infection can only occur in people with a fully functional immune system.
False
Warm water and soap are the most important components of handwashing in medical asepsis.
False
Latent infections always show symptoms and cannot be transmitted to others.
False
Medical asepsis eliminates all pathogens from the hands.
False
Acute infections are characterized by symptoms that last for long periods of time.
False
Medical asepsis is only used in surgical procedures.
False
Standard precautions are required for patients who have infections that spread via direct contact or contact with the environment.
True
The primary way to break the chain of infection is through effective hand hygiene.
True
Airborne precautions are required for patients who have infections that spread via droplets larger than 5 microns in diameter.
False
The inflammatory response is the body's reaction to an injury or exposure to a pathogen.
True
Droplet precautions are required for patients who have infections that spread via direct contact or contact with the environment.
False
If one of the links in the infection cycle is broken, the transmission continues.
False
Contact precautions are required for patients who have infections that spread via airborne transmission.
False
The presence of a susceptible host is the first step in the infection cycle.
False
Study Notes
Handwashing and Medical Asepsis
- Wash hands for at least 20 seconds, rinse with fingers pointed downward, and turn off the faucet with a paper towel for effective medical aseptic handwashing.
- Alcohol-based rubs are acceptable for rapid sanitation if there is no obvious soil on the skin and handwashing sinks are not readily available.
- Use gloves when there is any possibility of contact with body fluids.
- Clean and disinfect supplies to prevent the spread of micro-organisms.
Surgical Asepsis
- Surgical asepsis involves sterile gloves, supplies, and equipment; gowns; and drapes.
- Antiseptic skin preparation is mandatory with surgical aseptic technique prior to puncturing a patient's skin.
- Phlebotomists do not typically use surgical asepsis but need to know when to use medical vs. surgical aseptic techniques.
Cough Etiquette
- Cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Use facial tissues to contain respiratory secretions and dispose of them in the nearest waste receptacle.
- Perform hand hygiene after contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects or materials.
- Offer masks to anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Keep anyone who is coughing or sneezing 0.9 m (3 feet) away from others.
Types of Infections
- Acute infections: symptoms appear suddenly, and the body recovers within a few weeks with a well-functioning immune system and sometimes medical treatment. (Example: common cold)
- Chronic infections: linger, sometimes forever, and the person can transmit it to others. (Example: Hepatitis B)
- Latent infections: the person has periods of remission and relapse. (Example: herpes simplex)
- Opportunistic infections: occur when the person has a weak immune system, and micro-organisms that might not easily cause disease in a person with a fully functional immune system can result in serious infections. (Example: oral candidiasis in patients with AIDS)
Infection Cycle
- The infection cycle consists of six links: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
- Breaking any of these links can stop the transmission of infection.
Infection Control
- Standard precautions: apply to every patient, including using personal protective equipment (such as gloves) when handling body fluids, nonintact skin, or mucous membranes; practicing meticulous hand hygiene; and safely disposing of used equipment, needles, and other sharps.
- Airborne precautions: required for patients who have infections that spread via droplets that are smaller than 5 microns in diameter (e.g., varicella, tuberculosis, measles).
- Droplet precautions: required for patients who have infections that spread via droplets that are larger than 5 microns in diameter (e.g., rubella, meningitis, some respiratory infections).
- Contact precautions: required for patients who have infections that spread via direct contact or contact with the environment (e.g., herpes simplex, wound infections, some bacterial infections, scabies).
Stages of Infection
- Inflammatory response: the body's defense mechanism against infection, characterized by erythema, edema, pain, and heat.
- Inflammation: a series of protective mechanisms that defend the body against the invasion, involving histamine, kinins, and prostaglandins.
- Possible outcomes of infection: healing, spread to lymph nodes, or spread to the bloodstream, leading to septicemia.
Handwashing and Medical Asepsis
- Effective handwashing involves washing hands for at least 20 seconds, rinsing with fingers pointed downward, and turning off the faucet with a paper towel.
- Alcohol-based rubs are acceptable for rapid sanitation if there is no obvious soil on the skin and handwashing sinks are not readily available.
- Medical asepsis involves removing micro-organisms after they leave the body, with the goal of reducing their numbers and preventing transmission.
Surgical Asepsis
- Surgical asepsis is mandatory for invasive procedures and when there is a penetration of the patient's skin or mucous membranes.
- It involves the use of sterile gloves, supplies, and equipment; gowns; and drapes.
- Antiseptic skin preparation is mandatory with surgical aseptic technique prior to puncturing a patient's skin.
Cough Etiquette
- Cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Use facial tissues to contain respiratory secretions and dispose of them in the nearest waste receptacle.
- Perform hand hygiene after contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects or materials.
- Offer masks to anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Keep anyone who is coughing or sneezing 0.9 m (3 feet) away from others.
Types of Infections
- Acute infections: symptoms appear suddenly, begin with initial cell damage, and worsen quickly.
- Chronic infections: linger, sometimes forever, and can be transmitted to others.
- Latent infections: periods of remission and relapse, with an example being herpes simplex.
- Opportunistic infections: occur in people with a weak immune system, with an example being oral candidiasis in patients with AIDS.
Infection Cycle
- The cycle of infection involves a pathogen, a reservoir, a portal of exit, a mode of transmission, a portal of entry, and a susceptible host.
- Breaking the cycle of infection can occur through effective hand hygiene.
Isolation Precautions
- Standard precautions apply to every patient and involve using personal protective equipment, practicing meticulous hand hygiene, and safely disposing of used equipment.
- Airborne precautions are required for patients with infections that spread via droplets smaller than 5 microns in diameter.
- Droplet precautions are required for patients with infections that spread via droplets larger than 5 microns in diameter.
- Contact precautions are required for patients with infections that spread via direct contact or contact with the environment.
Stages of Infection
- When a person has an injury or exposure to a pathogen, the body reacts by activating the inflammatory response.
Learn about the proper techniques for washing hands in a medical setting, including the use of alcohol-based rubs and proper sanitation methods. Quiz yourself on the importance of cleanliness and proper handwashing in preventing the spread of micro-organisms.
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