ch 28 infection prevention and control

what is an infection

invasion and multiplication of microorganism in body tissues that can cause disease

common signs/symptoms of infection

fever

malaise

inflammation

swelling

redness

increased heart rate

changes in WBC

why can heart rate increase during an infection

metabolic rates increases as the body fights the infection

what laboratory test cna help identify the causative organism of an infection

a blood culture

what is colonization

presence and growth of microorganisms on or in the bodu without causing infection

example of colonization

healthcare worker may carry MRSA without having an active MRSA infection

what are infectious idseases

disease caused by microorganisms that can be transmitted from person to person

what are the six links in the chain of infection

infectious agent

reservoir

portal of exit

mode of transmission

portal of entry

susceptible host

what is an infectious agent

microorganism capable of causing infection (bacteria, virusses, fungi or parasites)

what is a reservoir

place where microorganism live, grow, and multiply

what is a portal of exit

way a microorganism leaves it reservoir

what is a mode of transmission

way a microorganism is transferred from its source/reservoir to another person

what is a portal of entry

way a microorganism enters a new host

what is a susceptible host

a person who is vulnerable to infection because their defenses are unable to prevent infection

where can the cahin of infetion be beroken

at any of the six links

what is normal flors

beneficial microorganism that normally live on/in the body and help prevental harmful microorganism from taking over

what are the body’s defenses against infection

normal flora

body-system defenses

inflammation

what are the three major components of the inflammatory response

vascular response

cellular response

inflammatory response

what are common sighs of infection

pain

redness

swelling

tenderness

what is the purpose of inflammation

to help protect the body from injury/infection and begin tissue repair

what is a HAI (healthcare associated infection)

infection associated with receiving health care or exposure to a health care setting

what can contribute to HAIs

invasive procedures

antibiotic administration/overuse

MDROS

breaks in infection-control practices

prolonged health care exposure

what are MRDOS

multi-resistant drug organisms that are resistant to multiple antibmicrobial medications

why are HAIs a patient safety concern

increase complications, prolong recovery, and increase health care costs

what factors influence a person’s susceptibility to infection

age

sex

nutritional status

stress

disease processes

medical therapists

what is the nurse assessing when evaluating a patient’s infection risk

risk factors

clinical appearance

defense mechanisms

medical therapy

travel history

laboratory data

what patient factors should be included in an infection assessment

age

chronic illness

defense mechanisms

medical therapies

travel history

why is thorough infection assessment important

it allows for early intervention and prevention

what does the nurse do during analysis

analyzes assessment findings and uses clinical judgmnet to identify actual or potential infection problems

what are important components of planning infection care

establishing outcomes

setting priorities

using teamwork/priorities

what are examples of infection-related health promotion

good nutrition

hygiene

immunization

adequate rest

regular exercise

what are goals of acute infection care

eliminate the infectious organism and support the patient’s defenses

what is medical asepsis

practice used to reduce, control or eliminate microorganisms and prevent their spread

what are methods used to control or eliminate infectious agents

cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization

other ways medical asepsis preevnts infection

protecting susceptible hosts, eliminating reservoirs, controlling portals of exit/entry, and controlling transmission

one of the most important ways to control transmission

hand hygiene

two major types of isolation procedures

standard precautions and transmission-based precautions

who requires standard precautions

all patients

what are transmission-based precautions

additional precautions used for patients with known or suspected infections that can be transmitted in specific ways

three types of transmission-based precautions

airborne

droplet

contact

when are airborne precautions usedd

for infections that can remain suspended in the air and travel over longer distances

when are contact precautions used

for infections spread through direct or indirect contact, including certain MDROs

how can nurses reduce the negative psychological effects of isolation

provide education

emotional support

sensory stimulation

involve family when appropriate

why is patient-centered communication important during isolation

helps patient understand the reason for precautions and reduces emotional distress

PPE stands for

personal protective equipment

what ist eh purpose of PPE

create a barrier between the ehalth care worker and potentially infectious materials

what does a gown protect against

exposure of clothing and skin to infectious materials

what do masks protect againt

exposure of the nose and mouth/mucuous membranes to infectious material and transmission of respiratory infections

when is eye protection important

when there is a risk of splashing or spraying of body fluids

what do gloves protect against

contact with body fluids and contaminated surfaces

what is important when removing PPE

remove it carefully to avoid contaminating yourself or your surroundings

surgical asepsis

practices used to eliminate all microorganisms from an object or area and maintain sterility

main difference between medical and surgical asepsis

medical asepsis: reduces and controls microorganisms

surgical asepsis: aims to eliminate microorganisms and maintain a sterile field

what should the nurse consider when evaluation infection-control care

patient perspective and whether the patient expectations and outcomes were met

how does the nurse evaluate the success of infection-control techniques

compare the patient’s actual response with the expected outcomes

what should the nurse do if goals are not achived

determine what eneds to be changed and revise the plan/interventions