HOSA Nursing Assistant: Infection Control

10% of 2020 HOSA Exam

antibiotic

a drug that kills microbes that cause infections

asepsis

being free of disease-producing microbes

biohazardous waste

items contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions; bio means life, and hazardous means dangerous or harmful

carrier

a human or animal that is a reservoir for microbes but does not have the signs and symptoms of infection

clean technique

medical asepsis

communicable diease

a disease caused by pathogens that spread easily; a contagious disease

contamination

the process of becoming unclean

disinfection

the process of destroying pathogens

germicide

a disinfectant applied to the skin, tissues, or non-living objects

healthcare-associated infection (HAI)

an infection that develops in a person cared for in any setting where health care is given; the infection is related to receiving health care

immunity

protection against a certain disease

infection

a disease state resulting from invasion and growth of microbes in the body

infection control

practices and procedures that prevent the spread of infection

medical asepsis

practices used to remove or destroy pathogens and to prevent their spread from one person or place to another person or place; clean technique

microbe

a microorganism; bacteria, fungi, protozoa, rickettsia, viruses

multi-resistant organisms (MDROs)

microbes that can resist the effects of antibiotics

methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

a common type of MDROs; a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body and is often resistant to commonly used antibiotics; can be found on the skin, in surgical wounds, in the bloodstream, lungs, and urinary tract.

vancomycin enterococcus (VRE)

a common type of MDROs; a bacterium that is found in the intestines and is present in feces which could cause infections when not in its natural site

microorganism

a small living plant or animal seen only with a microscope; a microbe

non-pathogen

a microbe that does not usually cause an infection

normal flora

microbes that live and grow in a certain area

pathogen

a microbe that is harmful and can cause an infection; they require water, oxygen, nourishment, and darkness to grow

reservoir

the environment in which a microbe lives and grows; host

spore

a bacterium protected by a hard shell

sterile

the absence of all microbes

sterile field

a work area free of all pathogens and non-pathogens (including spores)

sterile technique

surgical asepsis

sterilization

the process of destroying all microbes

surgical asepsis

the practices that keep items free of all microbes; sterile technique

vaccination

giving a vaccine to produce immunity against an infectious disease

vaccine

a preparation containing dead or weakened microbes

the chain of infection

infectious agent/source, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host

common aseptic practice

washing hands when they are visibly dirty or soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions

when to use an alcohol-based hand rub?

to decontaminate hands if they are not visibly soiled; faster and more effective

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

protective equipment that blocks exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material; gloves, mask, gown, and goggles or face shield- when cleaning items contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretion, or excretions

isolation precautions

a method of infection control that assumed that all human blood and body fluids were potentially infectious; airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs); keep pathogens within a certain area

when is Standard Precautions used?

used for all persons whenever care is given to reduce the risk of spreading pathogens and known or unknown infections

why is gloves used?

used to prevent microbes from entering the body, acting as a barrier to protect you from microbes and pathogens in the person's blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions

Standard Precaution

precautions apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions and excretions except sweat, non-intact skin and mucous membranes

Transmission-Based Precautions

measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases from people suspected to be infected or colonized with highly transmissible pathogens that require measures beyond standard precautions to interrupt transmission, specifically, airborne, droplet, and contact precautions

why is gowns used?

used to prevent the spread of microbes by protecting your clothes and body from contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions

why is masks and respiratory protection used?

used to protect self from contact with infectious materials from the patient or resident and/or protect the person from infectious agents carried in your nose and mouth

why is goggles and face shields used?

used to protect your eyes, mouth, and nose from splashing or spraying of blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions

what to do with contaminated items?

contaminated items are bagged to remove them from the person's room in leak-proof plastic bags with the biohazard symbol

what order do you clean equipment?

from clean to dirty areas