Medical & Surgical Asepsis & Infection Control Flashcards

This set of flashcards is designed to help you review and master the key concepts related to Medical & Surgical Asepsis & Infection Control. Each flashcard presents a question that tests your understanding of definitions, processes, and best practices in infection prevention. Use these flashcards to prepare for your exam and improve your knowledge.

What is the Chain of Infection?

A sequence of necessary pieces for an infection to occur, including an infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

What are the types of infectious agents?

Bacteria, fungi, virus, parasite, or prion

What factors influence the etiology of an infectious agent?

Number of microorganisms present, virulence & potency (pathogenicity), ability to enter the body, susceptibility of the host, ability to live in the host's body

Give an example of a portal of exit that emphasizes the importance of cough hygiene

Coughing

What variables can make an individual more likely to acquire an infection, making them a susceptible host?

Age (very young or very old), Clients receiving immune suppression treatment, Clients with immune deficiency conditions, Client has any break in skin

What subtle sign/symptom may older adults have of a subclinical infection?

May have change in their Level of Consciousness (LOC)

What are the various modes of transmission for infectious agents?

Contact, Droplet, Vehicle-borne, Vector-borne, Airborne

Give examples of Anatomic physiological barriers.

Intact skin & mucous membranes, Moist mucous membranes & cilia of the nasal passages, Alveolar macrophages, Saliva, Tears, High acidity of the stomach, Resident flora of the large intestine, Peristalsis, Low pH of the vagina, Urine flow through the urethra

Specific immunity refers to the work of what?

Antibodies and lymphocytes

Define Antigen

Substance that induces a state of sensitivity or immune responsiveness

Define Local Infection

Limited to a specific body part

Define Systemic infection

Spreads & damages different body parts

What are the two components of the Reparative phase of the inflammatory response?

Regeneration and Granulation tissue

What are the stages of Infection?

Incubation, Prodromal, Acute illness, Decline, Convalescence

What are the three origins of Health Care-Associated Infections (HAIs)?

Endogenous, Exogenous, and Iatrogenic infections

What is #1 Skill to Break the Chain of Infection?!

Improper hand hygiene

What are Standard Precautions?

Standard precautions is a term used to describe the infection prevention practices applied to all clients, whether or not they are known to have an infectious agent.

List some sample Problem Statements related to infection

Risk for Infection, Inadequate primary defenses, Inadequate secondary defenses, Potential Complication of Infection: Fever, Imbalanced Nutrition: Less than Body Requirements, Acute Pain, Impaired Social Interaction or Social Isolation, Anxiety

List some Goals related to infection

Maintain or restore defenses, Avoid spread of infectious organisms, Reduce or alleviate problems associated with infection

What MUST all healthcare professionals do before performing ANY care?

Before ANY Care- ALL health care professionals MUST perform Hand Hygiene –including UAPs.

What are examples of Transmission-based precautions?

Airborne, Droplet, Contact

What is the purpose of isolation?

Designed to prevent spread of infections

Define Medical Asepsis

Clean Technique, Elimination of disease-causing microorganisms

Define Surgical Asepsis

Sterile Technique, Practices that keep area or object free of all microorganisms- absence of disease-causing microorganisms.

List the necessary components of surgical asepsis

Knowing what is sterile, Knowing what is not sterile, How to keep the first two conditions separate, How to remedy contamination immediately

Give examples of Common Procedures using Surgical/Sterile Techniques

Creating a sterile field, Adding to the sterile item to sterile field, Instruments & supplies, Pouring sterile solutions, Care of Surgical wounds, Catheter insertion, Invasive procedures – ex. Nasopharyngeal suctioning

Give examples of Practices that Maintain a Sterile-Field

Avoid coughing, sneezing & talking over sterile field; Advise clients to avoid sudden movements, refrain from touching supplies, drapes, nurse

What are the Steps to follow after exposure to bloodborne pathogens?

Report incident immediately, Complete injury report, Seek appropriate evaluation and follow-up, Identify & document the source individual when feasible & legal