HST Microbiology & Infection Control

Nucleus

Located near the center of the cell, contains nuclear pores and chromosomes, etc DNA

Cell Wall

Structural layer in some cells that provides the cell with structural support and protection, as well as filtering

Cell Membrane

Outer limit of a cell, selectively permeable, composed of phospholipids, proteins, cholesterol, and a few carbohydrates

Cytoplasm

Made of water, proteins, ions, and nutrients, houses the organelles

Ribosomes

Responsible for photosynthesis

Mitochondria

the center for respiration, provide energy for the cell

Lysosomes

digestive function

Nucleolus

Produce and assemble the cell’s ribosomes

Reservoir

Ex: People, animals, food, soil, water

Portal of exit

Ex: mouth, cuts, diapering

Mode of transportation

Ex: contact, droplets, airborne

Portal of entry

Ex: mouth, cuts, eyes

Susceptable host

Ex: babies, children, elderly, unimmunized, anyone

Fomite

inanimate reservoir of pathogenic organisms, Ex: Clothing, bedding

Vector

living organism that carries microorganisms from infected to noninfected Ex: Mosquitoes, ticks

Carrier

Host that is unaware of pathogen prescense and spreads the disease

Nosocomial Infection (Healthcare-Associated Infection)

pathogens found in a healthcare environment

Biohazardous waste examples

Blood products, body fluids, human tissues, vaccines, table papers, used medical tools, specula, inoculating loops, used gloves

Requirements an employer must follow under the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

A written OSHA exposure control plan, training, and Hepatitis B vaccine

Exposure Control Plan requirements

1) When an incident occuts, the physician must be notified stat
2) after exposure, patient receives free medical evaluation
3) employee be tested for HBV

After persorming a leak test, what are the five steps to disinfecting an endoscope

1) Clean
2) Disinfect
3) Rinse
4) Dry
5) Store

When should biological indicators be used

1) If a new type of packaging material is used
2) If you have a new autoclave
3) After autoclave maintenance or repair
4) On a weekly basis as a general quality control measure

Medical asepsis

Any practice that reduces the number and spread of microorganisms.

Surgical asepsis

The process that eliminates completely all microorganisms and their spores from the surface of an object

What color are biohazard bags

Red

At how full should a sharps container be replaced

2/3

For how long are double layer autoclaved packages considered sterile

30 days

For patients with TB (tuberculosis) what type of precautions should be used

airborne precautions

How would you classify a stethoscope: noncritical, semicritical, or critical

noncritical

How would you classify an endoscope: noncritical, semicritical, or critical

semicritical

Physical act of cleaning instruments

Sanitization

The complete destruction of all microorganisms

Sterilization

Destruction of most pathogens, but not some spores and viruses

Disinfection

How often should you use a biological indicator as a quality control measure

weekly

Sterilization indicator that contains bacterial spores

Biological indicator

What needs to be on a label on an autoclaved pack

Items included in pack, date, initials/name of person

Special tags, tapes, strips, or inserts that confirm if items in an autoclave have been exposed to the correct temperature and steam for the correct time

Sterilization indicators

Chamber pressure in an autoclave should be

15-30lbs

Primary method for sterilizing instruments

autoclave

Temperature must reach what in an autoclave

250-270 degrees F

Proper placement order for multiple PPE

gown, mask/face shields, gloves

Any type of protective gear worn to guard against physical hazards

PPE, personal protective equipment

Type of gloves used when cleaning up that can be decontaminated and reused

utility gloves

Aseptic handwashing should take how long

2 minutes

Common cause of nosocomial infections caused by a resistant Staph bacterium

MRSA, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Pathogen responsible for healthcare associated infections spread by fecal-oral route, resulting in watery diarrhea, fever

clostridium difficile

What vaccine must be provided free of charge to at risk employees

Hepatitis B virus

Transmission of microorganisms by contact with secretions from the nose, throat, airways and digestive tract

Droplet contact

What is the minimum alchohol content for alchohol based hand sanitizers

60%

Recommended natural nail length should less than

¼ inch

Federal agency responsible for workplace safety

OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Infection caused by a normally beneficial or harmless microorganism

Endogenous infection

Introduction of a pathogen from outside the body

Exogenous infection

Ringworm

Dermatophytes | Contact | Fungal

Thrush/Vaginal yeast

Candida albicans | Bloodborne | Fungal

Pneumocystis

Pneumocystis jirovecii | Airborne | Fungal

Malaria

Plasmodium | Vectorborne | Protozoal

Giardiasis

Giardia intestinalis | Fecal-oral | Protozoal

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii | Foodborne | Protozoal

Trichomoniasis

Trichomonas vaginalis | Sexually | Protozoal

Pinworms

Enterobius vermicularis | Contact | Parisite

Head lice

Pediculus humanis capitis | Contact | Parisite

Pubic lice

Pthirus pubis | Sexually | Parisite

Scabies

Sarcoptes scabiei | Contact | Parisite

Genital Warts

HPV | Sexually | Viral

Genital Herpes

Herpes simplex virus, type 2 | Sexually | Viral

Cold Sores

Herpes simplex virus, type 1 | Contact | Viral

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis | Fecal-oral | Viral

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis | Bloodborne/Sexually | Viral

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis | Bloodborne | Viral

Common Cold

URI (Upper Respiratory tract Infection) | Droplets | Viral

Chickenpox/Shingles

Varicella-zoster virus | Droplets | Viral

Mononucleosis

Epstein-barr virus | Contact w/ saliva | Viral

Influenza

Influenza Virus | Airborne/Droplets | Viral

Measles

Measles Virus | Airborne/Droplets | Viral

German Measles

Rebulla Virus | Airborne/Droplets | Viral

Mumps

Mumps Virus | Airborne/Droplets | Viral

Whooping Cough

Bordetella perrussis | Airborne | Bacterial

PMC (Pseudomembranous colitis)

Clostridium Difficile | Fecal-oral | Bactieral

Tetanus

Clostrium Tetani | Contact | Bacterial

Diphtheria

Coryne bacterium diphtheria | Contact/Droplets | Bacterial

E.coli Diarrhea

Eschericia Coli | Foodborne | Bacterial

Peptic ulcers

Helicobacter pylori | Fecal/Oral | Bacterial

Gonorrhea

Neisseria Gonorrhea | Sexually | Bacterial

Strep Throat

Streptococcus pyogenes | Droplets | Bacterial

Syphilis

Treponema Pallidum | Sexually | Bacterial

Cholera

Vibriocholerae | Fecal-oral | Bactieral

Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis | Airborne/Droplets | Bacterial

Haemophilus Influenzae type B (HIB)

Hemophilus influenzae | Droplets | Bacterial

Hand sanitizer should be applied to ___ hands.

dry

The most important aseptic procedure for a medical assistant is ___

proper hand hygiene

According to CDC recommendations, what is the minimum length of time a medial assistant should spend scrubbing hands with soap and water when performing hand hygiene

20 seconds

A medical assistant is washing infectious debris off several sharp surgical instruments. What should they do while handling the instruments

 Wear utility gloves

which of the following indicates the correct sequence for wrapping instruments for sterilization

5, 7, 4, 1, 6, 3, 2

Which concentration of bleach solution should a medical assistant use as a disinfectant in a clinical setting

1:10

What is the proper way to wrap hinged instruments

Placed in the open position

Part of the medical assistant’s responsibility is to run the autoclave to sterilize instruments, and once a week the MA should include a biological sterilization indicator with a load as a general quality control measure. Today, she notices that the biological indicator from yesterday’s load is positive. What does a positive result mean

The items in that load are not sterile

Systemic infection

infection that occurs when pathogens enter the blood stream and move thru out the body causing generalized symptoms such as fever vomiting diarrhea, etc

Antisepsis

Prevent of inhibit the growth of pathogens but are not effective against spores and viruses
Ex. Alcohol, betadine

Asepsis

A condition in which no living disease-causing microorganisms are present