Maintaining a Safe Environment & Infection Control – Review Flashcards

These flashcards cover the major concepts from the lecture notes: chain of infection, hand hygiene moments and techniques, standard and transmission-based precautions, PPE use, waste management, needle-stick protocols, and reflective practice.

What are the six links in the chain of infection?

Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.

Give two medical-asepsis actions that break the chain at the infectious-agent link.

Cleaning contaminated objects and proper disinfection/sterilisation.

Name three reservoir-control measures used to break the chain of infection.

Perform hand hygiene, bathe patient with soap and water, change soiled dressings promptly (others include disposing of soiled linens in moisture-resistant bags).

How can a nurse reduce respiratory portal-of-exit transmission when the nurse has a cold?

Wear a mask and avoid talking, sneezing or coughing over wounds or sterile fields; cover nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing.

List two practices that reduce microorganism spread along the transmission link.

Perform hand hygiene and use a personal set of care items for each patient (others: damp-dust linens, discard items touching the floor, follow standard or isolation precautions).

State two methods to protect the skin as a portal of entry for microorganisms.

Maintain skin integrity with lubrication and hygiene, and cover wounds appropriately; dispose used needles in puncture-proof containers.

Give three ways to reduce host susceptibility to infection.

Provide adequate nutrition, ensure adequate rest, and keep immunisations up to date (others: promote body defences).

According to WHO, when is Moment 1 of hand hygiene and why is it performed?

Before touching a patient, to protect the patient from germs carried on the healthcare worker’s hands.

What is Moment 3 of hand hygiene?

Immediately after a body-fluid exposure risk (and after glove removal) to protect healthcare workers and the environment.

How long should the entire medical hand-wash procedure take and how many strokes per surface?

40–60 seconds with about 5 friction strokes on each surface (palm, dorsum, fingers, thumb, fingertips, wrists).

When hands are not visibly soiled, what product should be used for hand hygiene?

An alcohol-based hand rub.

Standard Precautions must be applied to which patient materials?

Blood, blood products, all body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin and mucous membranes.

Name two key elements of respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette under Standard Precautions.

Cover nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing and perform hand hygiene after contact with respiratory secretions.

What room engineering control is required for airborne precautions?

Private negative-pressure room with 6–12 air exchanges per hour via HEPA filtration and use of an N95 respirator.

Which infections commonly require droplet precautions?

Diphtheria (pharyngeal), rubella, streptococcal pharyngitis, pertussis, mumps, Mycoplasma pneumonia, pneumonic plague.

List the barrier protections for contact precautions.

Private or cohort room, gloves and gowns for all interactions that may involve contact with the patient or contaminated surfaces.

What special environment is provided for an allogeneic stem-cell transplant patient?

Protective environment room with positive airflow ≥12 air exchanges/hour and HEPA-filtered incoming air; patient wears mask when out of room.

State two indications for changing gloves during patient care.

After contact with a contaminated body site and before moving to a clean body site; or between patients.

When should a gown be removed when leaving an isolation room?

Before leaving the patient’s environment, followed immediately by hand hygiene.

Which PPE protects mucous membranes during splash-prone procedures?

Face shield, mask with shield, or mask plus goggles.

What colour bag is used for biohazardous waste that contains sharps?

Yellow bag placed into a puncture-resistant container.

Cytotoxic waste without sharps must be discarded in which colour container?

Purple container/bag.

Radioactive waste containing sharps is first placed in which coloured container(s)?

Red, then yellow after radioactivity decays to a safe level.

What colour is used for general (non-hazardous) waste?

Black.

List the immediate steps after sustaining a needle-stick injury.

Wash the site with soap and water, flush splashes, irrigate eyes, report to supervisor, and seek medical treatment immediately.

What is the correct sequence for donning PPE before entering an isolation room?

Cap (if required), mask or respirator, goggles/face shield, gown, then gloves over gown cuffs.

What is the correct sequence for removing PPE on exit?

Gloves, hand rub, gown, eyewear/face shield, hand rub, mask, cap (if used), then final hand hygiene.

During a hand-rub, how long should you rub until the alcohol dries?

Approximately 20–30 seconds; hands must be fully dry before donning gloves.

Why must respirators be fit-tested annually?

To ensure a proper mask-to-face seal that provides true airborne protection; an untested respirator only offers droplet protection.

Give two elements of Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle that students should apply after a clinical activity.

Description of the event and analysis/feelings (others include evaluation, conclusion, action plan).