Chapter 12 Infection Control Measures Flashcards

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards covering infection control measures, medical and surgical asepsis, PPE usage, standard precautions, and transmission-based precautions from Chapter 12.

Health Care–Associated Infections (HAIs)

Infections that patients get while in a healthcare facility (hospital), which healthcare workers can also catch while providing care.

Nosocomial Infections

Another term for Health Care–Associated Infections (HAIs).

Transmission of HAIs

The most common mode of transmitting Health Care–Associated Infections, which is through our hands.

Cleanliness

Basic hygienic practices that decrease exposure to pathogens.

Infection Control

Practices followed by healthcare facilities to decrease the spread of pathogens from person to person.

Four Methods of Infection Control

The four main methods: medical asepsis, surgical asepsis, barrier methods, and isolation precautions.

Medical Asepsis

Physically removing or killing pathogens through processes involving soap, water, antiseptics, disinfectants, or heat.

Four Techniques of Medical Asepsis

The four specific techniques: sanitization, antisepsis, disinfection, and sterilization.

Sanitization

Practices associated with basic cleanliness (e.g., hand hygiene, cleansing eating utensils/surfaces with soap and water, providing clean linens) that remove pathogens to prevent spread.

Antisepsis

The use of chemicals (such as rubbing alcohol, iodine, or alcohol-based hand rubs) on skin or other surfaces to kill microbes or stop them from growing.

Disinfection

The use of stronger chemicals that kill pathogens on nonliving objects that come in contact with body fluids.

Disinfectants

Stronger chemicals used to clean nonliving objects (like bedpans, urinals, and tray tables) because they are too strong for skin.

Sterilization

The most thorough method of medical asepsis where objects are completely free of microbes.

Autoclave

Equipment used to sterilize objects or surgical instruments by destroying all microbes.

Boiling

A heating method noted as not being an effective method for sterilization.

C. diff

An infection that specifically requires thorough handwashing with soap and water after caring for patients.

Handwashing

The number one (#1) way of preventing the spread of infection.

Microbe Hiding Places

Areas on hands where microbes can hide, including long fingernails, nail polish cracks, false/acrylic nails, rings, and bracelets.

False or Acrylic Nails

Artificial nails where microbes can hide, which are prohibited from being worn to clinicals.

Alcohol-Based Hand Rub

An antiseptic product used when hands are not visibly soiled by rubbing hands and fingers together until dry.

Advantages of Alcohol-Based Hand Rub

Benefits including being quicker than washing hands, gentler on skin than soap and water, usable anywhere, and simple to use.

Surgical Asepsis

Sterile practices used for procedures that involve entering a person's body, such as surgical procedures, injections, sterile dressing changes, or urinary catheter insertion.

CNA Scope of Practice (Surgical Asepsis)

Surgical asepsis is not within a CNA's scope of practice, though employers provide proper training if it is part of the job description.

Barrier Methods

Objects that prevent microbes from reaching our skin or mucous membranes.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Barrier equipment including disposable gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, and protective eyewear.

Gloves

PPE worn when there is a possibility of touching body fluids, caring for contagious patients, performing perineal care, shaving, oral care, handling soiled linens, or when hand skin is cut.

Most Common Glove Error

Becoming too comfortable while wearing gloves, leading to contamination of clean surfaces like computer keyboards.

Latex-Free Gloves

Gloves that must be worn when there are latex allergies present.

Gowns

Disposable PPE worn once to protect uniforms from body fluids.

Contaminated Gown

The state of a gown once it gets wet.

Masks

Single-use PPE worn to prevent breathing in airborne or droplet microbes from patients.

Surgical Masks

Masks worn for droplet precautions during care for conditions like meningitis and strep throat.

N95 Masks

Respirator masks worn for airborne precautions during care for conditions like TB and measles.

Mask Removal Technique

The practice of handling only the ties/straps when removing a mask.

Protective Eyewear

PPE used to protect eyes from splashing substances, fitted close to the face and wearable over glasses.

PPE Donning Sequence

The proper sequence to put on PPE: 1. Gown, 2. Mask, 3. Eyewear, 4. Gloves.

PPE Doffing Sequence

The proper sequence to remove PPE: 1. Gloves, 2. Gown, 3. Eyewear, 4. Mask.

Respiratory Hygiene / Cough Etiquette

Standard precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory infection, including covering mouth/nose with tissue when coughing/sneezing, frequent hand hygiene, and masking.

Distance Threshold for Respiratory Hygiene Masking

Requirement to wear a mask within 3 feet of people to prevent respiratory infection spread.

Lumbar Puncture Precaution

Procedure requirement where assisting healthcare workers are required to wear a mask.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Precautions used when a patient has a known transmissible disease, categorized as Airborne, Droplet, or Contact precautions.

Airborne Precautions

Precautions used when a pathogen is transmitted through the air, requiring an AIIR and N95 masks for all entering.

Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR)

A private room equipped with a special ventilation and filtration system used for airborne precautions.

Resident Airborne Transport Rule

Requirement that a resident under airborne precautions must wear an N95 mask whenever leaving their room.

Airborne Disease Examples

Diseases listed that require airborne precautions: TB (tuberculosis) and measles.

Droplet Precautions

Precautions used when a pathogen is transmitted by droplets from a patient's mouth or nose, requiring all people entering to wear a surgical mask.

Droplet Precaution Disease Examples

Diseases listed that require droplet precautions: influenza, pertussis (whooping cough), and mumps.

Droplet Precaution Mask Examples

Conditions listed where a surgical mask is worn for droplet precautions: meningitis and strep throat.

Contact Precautions

Precautions used when a pathogen is transmitted by direct contact, requiring everyone entering to wear a gown and gloves.

Transmission-Based Equipment Protocol

Rule requiring equipment in isolation rooms to be disposable if possible, kept in the resident's room, and not used for anyone else.