RLE 2

• Bacteremia: When a culture of the person's blood reveals microorganisms
• Acute infection: Generally appear suddenly or last a short time (typically < 6 months)
• Systemic Infection: When microorganisms spread and damage different parts of the body
• Local Infection: Limited to specific part of the body where the microorganisms remain
• Chronic Infection: Occur slowly, over a very long period, and may last months or years
• Microorganisms in our skin and GI tract do not cause infection but if the client's body is suppressed infection may occur
• Portal of Exit: Mouth (vomit, saliva), cuts in the skin (blood), diapering and toileting (stool)
• Septicemia: When bacteremia results in systemic infection
• Reservoir: This is where germs live, including people, wild animals, animals, reptiles, food, soil, water
• These are types of infection: Systemic Infection, Local Infection, Acute Infection, Chronic Infection
• Susceptible Host: Babies, children, elderly, immunized people, immunocompromised individuals
• Portal of Entry: Eyes, mouth, cut in the skin
• Mode of Transmission: Contact (hands, toys, sand), droplets (when you speak, sneeze, or cough)
• Pathogen: Microorganisms such as virus, bacteria, and parasite
• Seven categories of isolation: Strict isolation, Contact isolation, Respiratory isolation, Tuberculosis isolation, Enteric precautions, Drainage/secretions precautions, Blood/body fluid precautions
• Infection Control: Prevents or stops the spread of infections in healthcare
• Disease Specific Isolation Precaution: Provide precautions for specific diseases, delineating the use of private rooms with special ventilation
• Isolation: Measures designed to prevent the spread of infections or potentially infectious microorganisms to health personnel, clients, and visitors
• Standard Precaution

  1. Hand hygiene

  2. Use of PPE whenever there is an expectation of possible exposure to infectious material

  3. Follow respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette principles

  4. Ensure appropriate patient placement

  5. Properly handle and properly clean and disinfect patient care equipment and instruments/devices

  6. Clean and disinfect the environment appropriately

  7. Handle textiles and laundry carefully

  8. Follow safe injection practices

  9. Wear surgical mask when performing lumbar punctures
• Standard Precaution: Hand Hygiene


  Transmission Based Precaution: Wearing of PPE
• Standard Precaution


  Designed for the care of all patients to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms from both recognized and unrecognized sources of infection
• 3 Transmission Based Precaution Categories

  • Contact precautions
  • Droplet precautions
  • Airborne precautions
• Transmission Based Precautions


  Designed for patients with documented or suspected infection or colonization with highly transmissible or epidemiologically important pathogens
• Standard Precaution


  Synthesizes the major features of universal (blood and body fluid) precautions and body substance isolation
• Droplet Precaution


  For patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by respiratory droplets
• Contact Precaution


  For patients with known or suspected infections that represent an increased risk for contact transmission
• Airborne Precautions


  For patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by the airborne route
• Contact Precautions

  1. Ensures appropriate patient placement

  2. Use PPE appropriately

  3. Limit transport and movement of patient

  4. Use disposable or dedicated patient-care equipment

  5. Prioritize cleaning and disinfection of the rooms
• Airborne Precautions

  1. Source control

  2. Ensure appropriate patient placement in an airborne infection isolation room

  3. Restrict susceptible healthcare personnel
• Droplet Precautions

  1. Source control (put a mask on the patient)

  2. Ensure appropriate patient placement

  3. Use PPE appropriately

  4. Limit transport and movement of patient
• Handwashing


  Rubbing together of all surfaces and crevices of the hands using soap or chemical and water
• Hand Hygiene


  It includes both handwashing with either plain or antiseptic-containing soap and water, and use of alcohol-based products that do not require the use of water
• Hand Hygiene is cited as the single most important practice to reduce the transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings and an essential element of Standard Precautions
• Essentials of handwashing

  • Water
  • Soap
  • Friction
• Common types of Faucet Control

  • Hand-operated handles
  • Knee-lever faucet control
  • Foot-pedal faucet control
  • Elbow controls
  • Infrared control
• Airborne Precautions

  1. Source control

  2. Ensure appropriate patient placement in an airborne infection isolation room

  3. Restrict susceptible healthcare personnel from entering the room

  4. Use PPE appropriately (including a fit-tested NIOSH approved N95 or higher level respirator for health personnel)

  5. Limit transport and movement of patient
• Handwashing is a component of all types of isolation precautions and is the most basic and effective infection control measure that prevents and controls the transmission of infectious agents
• Purposes of Handwashing: To reduce the number of microorganisms on the hands, to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms to clients, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination among clients, to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious organisms to oneself
• Personal Protective Equipment refers to a variety of barriers and respirators used alone or in combination to protect mucous membranes, airways, skin, and clothing from contact with infectious agents
• When to wash hands

  • Before, during and after food preparation
  • After eating
  • Before using the bathroom
  • Before blowing the nose, or using tissue to wipe the nose
  • After handling animals and/or animal waste
  • After changing diapers
  • Whenever hands are dirty
  • Often if someone in the home is sick
  • Before and after contact with each patient