Infection Control

• AMR


  antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi + parasites change over time + no longer respond to medicines

  =makes infections harder to treat
• HCAIs


  healthcare-associated infections can develop either as a direct result of healthcare interventions like medical/surgical tratment/from being in contact w a healthcare setting
• IPC


  infection prevention + control = practical, evidence-based approach preventing patients + health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections
• MRSA


  Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) = type of bacteria that's resistant to several antibiotics
• NSIs


  needle-stick injury

  occurs when a needle/other sharp instruments which has a patient's blood on it accidentally cuts someone else's skin
• PPE


  Personal Protective Equipment

  mask, face visors, gloves + gowns
• WHO


  World Health Organisation = specialised agency of the UN responsible for the international public healthWorld Health Organisation = specialised agency of the UN responsible for the international public health
• Clinical Waste Bins Colours - Yellow & Orange


  yellow = infectious waste for disposal by incineration

  orange - infectius waste for disposal by treatment/incineration
• Clinical Waste Bins Colours - Tiger


  yellow/black (tiger) = offensive/hygiene waste for disposal by deep landfill
• Clinical Waste Bins Colours - Blue & Purple


  blue = medicinal waste for disposal by incineration

  purple = containing cytotoxi/cytostatic waste for disposal by incineration
• Clinical Waste Bins Colours - Red


  anatomical waste for disposal by incineration
• Chain of Infection - Infectious Agent

  microorganism that can cause harmful infections + cause illness

  common infections in care homes = respiratory like colds + flu + stomach bugs like norovirus + C.diff
• Chain of Infection - Reservoir


  where the microorganisms live + grow

  this can be on a person e.g. in their respiratory tract/on equipment/enviro/food/water
• Chain of Infection - Portal of Exit 


  microorganisms needs to find a way out of the infected person so it can spread

  ways out can be from sickness + diarrhoea + thru the nose + mouth from sneezing + coughing
• Chain of Infection - Mode of Transmission


  once the microorganiss r out it can spread from one person to another by hands/on equipment/ by air via coughing/contact w bodily fluids
• Chain of Entry - Portal of Entry


  microorganisms need to find a way into another person

  this can be thru the eyes, mouth, hands, open wounds + any tubes put into the body like a catheter/feeding tube
• Chain of Entry - Susceptible Host


  the person who is at risk of infection cos they r unable to fight the infection

  = could be residents, staff or visitors

  elederly ppl can have decreased immune systems + catch infections easier

  infections also spread quickly in care homes due to many residents living closely together