Standard Precautions in Healthcare

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of aseptic techniques?

To introduce microorganisms to a sterile area

To eliminate all microorganisms from a given area

To break the chain of infection (correct)

To reduce the number of microorganisms to minimize their spread

What is the typical air pressure range in the Decontamination Zone?

Negative pressure (-5 Pascal) ± 5% (correct)

Positive pressure (+5 Pascal) ± 5%

No specific air pressure range is required

Negative pressure (-10 Pascal) ± 5%

What is the minimum number of air changes per hour required in the Sterilization Zone?

4 air changes per hour (correct)

6 air changes per hour

10 air changes per hour

8 air changes per hour

What is the primary difference between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis?

Medical asepsis reduces the number of microorganisms, while surgical asepsis eliminates all microorganisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the ideal relative humidity range in the Preparation & Packaging Zone?

30% to 70% Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of asepsis?

The absence of microorganisms that cause disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical temperature range in the Sterilization Zone?

20 °C to 24 °C Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of clean technique procedures?

To reduce the number of microorganisms to minimize their spread Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary assumption behind the standard precautions approach?

All blood and body substances should be considered potentially infectious. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of standard precautions?

Psychological counseling Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the spread of microbial infection requiring three factors?

Chain of infection Signup and view all the answers

How many steps are involved in the transmission of infection?

Variable, can involve one or many steps Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a susceptible host in the chain of infection?

To be infected by the microorganisms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a way to spread infection?

Air Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of aseptic technique in standard precautions?

To prevent the spread of infection Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of standard precautions?

To minimize the risk of infection Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of cleaning and disinfecting the CSSD environment?

To break the infection chain Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of hospital staff in minimizing the reservoir of microbes?

To clean and disinfect the environment and equipment Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended practice for cleaning equipment in the CSSD?

Labeling or color coding equipment to identify the correct zone Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the patients who become infected by microbes while in hospital?

Health-acquired infection (HAI) Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct way to handle waste generated in the decon zone?

Sealing and disinfecting the exterior of the waste container before taking it out to the waste collection point Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mode of transmission of microbial infection in CSSD?

Contact with contaminated objects Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of controlling traffic in the CSSD?

To control the risk of infection transmission Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the deliberate or accidental penetration of the skin or mucous membrane?

Injection Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct way to handle liquids in the CSSD?

Operating an ultrasonic path Signup and view all the answers

What determines how long an aerosol will remain in the air?

Initial velocity and environmental conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of maintaining the HVAC systems in the CSSD?

To maintain the environment and reduce the risk of infection transmission Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a CDC Top HAI Causing Pathogen?

Tuberculosis (TB) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary risk associated with accidental needle stick or sharps injury?

Bloodborne viruses Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct way to handle contaminated RMD?

Manual brushing of contaminated RMD should be carried out while the device is submerged in the sink Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the collection of microbes that can cause infection?

Reservoir Signup and view all the answers

How can hospital staff break the chain of infection?

By decontaminating potentially infected RMD Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Standard Precautions and Infectious Agent Transmission

Standard precautions are operating procedures that apply in healthcare to minimize the risk of infection regardless of the perceived infectious risk.
The approach of standard precautions is based on the understanding that all blood and body substances should be considered potentially infectious and all surgical instruments could be potentially contaminated with microorganisms.
Standard precautions include:
- Hand washing
- Use of PPE
- Safe systems for handling blood and body fluid contamination
- Sharps awareness and implementation of environmental controls
- Appropriate processing of RMD
- Medical condition management
- Education and training
- Aseptic technique
- Vaccination

Chain of Infection

The spread of microbial infection requires three factors:
- A source of infecting microorganisms at a sufficient level to cause infection
- Susceptible host or hosts
- A means for transmitting the infectious agent to the susceptible host or hosts
The means of transmission may involve one or many steps and is often referred to as the chain of infection.
Ways to spread infection:
- Air
- Contact
- Ingestion
- Injection
- Inhalation
Chain of infection consists of:
- Infectious agent
- Susceptible host
- Reservoir
- Portal of entry
- Portal of exit
- Mode of transmission

Reservoir and Hospital Staff

Reservoir refers to a collection of microbes.
Hospital staff can constantly try to minimize the reservoir by:
- Cleaning and disinfecting the environment and equipment
- Treating patients with antimicrobial drugs
- Applying various hygienic measures

Immune Condition and HAI

Patients in hospital are often immunocompromised, having poor health and their immune system may not be functioning well.
HAI refers to patients who become infected by microbes while in hospital.

Breaking the Chain of Infection

Breaking the chain of infection can be achieved by decontaminating potentially infected RMD and ensuring that only properly decontaminated RMD are used on patients.

Housekeeping and Infection Control

Cleaning and disinfecting the CSSD itself and properly managing waste streams are important parts of breaking the infection chain.
Best practices for cleaning equipment include:
- Labeling or color-coding equipment
- Storing cleaning equipment in a dedicated storage room
- Cleaning and inspecting equipment regularly
- Training staff responsible for cleaning
- Recording cleaning activities and monitoring quality
Waste management involves:
- Using bins or containers to receive waste and segregate it into appropriate waste streams
- Placing waste from the decon zone in appropriate bags or bins with sharps waste in a dedicated sharps bin
- Sealing and disinfecting the exterior of the waste container before taking it out to the waste collection point

CDC Top HAI Causing Pathogens

Coagulase-negative staphylococci
Staphylococcus aureus
Enterococcus species
Candida species
Escherichia coli
Clostridium difficile
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Enterobacter species
Acinetobacter baumannii
Klebsiella oxytoca
Vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus
Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus
Tuberculosis (TB)

Managing the Central Sterile Supply Department' Environment

The important step to maintain the CSSD environment is to control the traffic through the main three zones and to strictly maintain the proper heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
The three zones are:
- Decontamination zone (negative pressure, 10 air changes per hour, 18°C to 20°C temperature, and 30% to 70% humidity)
- Preparation & Packaging zone (positive pressure, 10 air changes per hour, 20°C to 23°C temperature, and 30% to 70% humidity)
- Sterilization zone (positive pressure, 4 air changes per hour, 20°C to 24°C temperature, and up to 70% humidity)

Asepsis

Asepsis can be defined as the absence of microorganisms that cause disease.
Aseptic technique includes any activity or procedure that prevents infection or breaks the chain of infection.
Types of aseptic techniques:
- Medical asepsis (clean technique to reduce the number of microorganisms and minimize their spread)
- Surgical asepsis (sterile technique to eliminate the presence of all microorganisms or prevent their introduction to an area)

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Description

This quiz tests your knowledge on standard precautions and infectious agent transmission in healthcare settings. It covers the operating procedures and approaches to minimizing the risk of infection.