RETR 211 (Mastered)

What is Respiratory Therapy?

A branch of healthcare that promotes optimal cardiopulmonary function and health.

What do respiratory therapists do?

They apply scientific principles to prevent, detect, and manage acute or chronic dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system.

What are the main components of respiratory care?

Patient assessment, diagnostic evaluation, treatment and management, control, and patient education.

Common workplaces for respiratory therapists include __________.

ICUs, clinics, wards, cardiopulmonary diagnostic facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and educational institutions.

Respiratory therapists were previously called __________.

Oxygen technicians and inhalation therapists.

The term 'respiratory therapist' was officially established in __________.

When did respiratory therapy officially begin in Ghana?

In 2017, with the first batch of 9 students.

Advancements made in oxygen therapy include the development of __________.

Nasal catheters, oxygen tents, masks for specific oxygen concentrations, LTOTs, and oxygen concentrators.

What is mechanical ventilation?

A method of ventilation introduced with negative pressure in the 19th century, now primarily using positive pressure ventilators with specific modes.

Complications associated with mechanical ventilation include __________.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Name areas of advancement in respiratory therapy.

Airway management techniques, cardiopulmonary diagnostics, pulmonary function testing, oxygen therapy, and aerosol medications.

Professional organizations related to respiratory therapy include __________.

American Association for Respiratory Care, International Council for Respiratory Care, National Board for Respiratory Care, Ghana Association for Respiratory Care, Africa Respiratory Care Association.

To become a respiratory therapist in Ghana, one must __________.

Complete a BSc. in Respiratory Therapy, pass licensure exams, join relevant organizations, and adhere to the code of conduct.

What is the pooled prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in Africa?

12.76%, more than twice the rate in developed countries.

HAIs are most common in __________ in Africa.

Intensive Care Units (ICU) and neonatal ICUs/wards.

The most common types of HAIs in Africa are __________.

Surgical site infections and bloodstream infections.

The prevalence of HAIs in Ghana is __________.

8.2% overall (ranging from 3.5% to 14.4%).

The most common HAIs in Ghana include __________.

Surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and respiratory tract infections (RTIs).

The most commonly isolated pathogen in Ghana’s HAIs is __________.

Escherichia coli.

The three elements leading to infection transmission are __________.

Source of the pathogen, route of transmission, and susceptible host.

Main sources of infections in hospitals include __________.

Humans, inanimate objects (e.g., equipment), and the hospital environment.

Susceptible hosts for infections typically include __________.

Very young or old patients, HIV patients, and those with poorly controlled diabetes.

Primary routes of infection transmission are __________.

Contact, droplet, airborne, and other routes.

Standard precautions for infection prevention include __________.

Hand hygiene, wearing gloves, masks, eye protection, gowns, and safe equipment handling.

When should hand hygiene be performed in healthcare settings?

Before and after patient contact, after glove removal, and after touching blood or contaminated items.

Gloves should be worn __________.

When touching body fluids or non-intact skin.

The purpose of wearing masks and eye protection in healthcare is __________.

To protect mucous membranes from splashes or sprays of blood and body fluids.

The role of gowns in infection prevention is __________.

To protect skin and clothing during procedures likely to generate splashes.

Patient care equipment should be handled by __________ to prevent infection.

Cleaning and disinfecting between patients and discarding single-use items properly.

The primary focus of occupational health in preventing infections is __________.

Safe handling of sharps and use of alternatives like resuscitation bags.

The purpose of patient placement in infection control is __________.

To isolate patients who contaminate the environment or cannot maintain hygiene.

Transmission-based precautions are __________.

Additional precautions for patients with known or suspected infections.

The three types of transmission-based precautions are __________.

Contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne precautions.

The main focus of cleaning in infection prevention is __________.

Removing all dirt and organisms from equipment as the initial step in reprocessing.