Standard Precautions and Infection Control - NURS 1090

Vocabulary flashcards covering hospital infection control, standard and transmission-based precautions, aseptic techniques, and PPE procedures from NURS 1090.

Standard Precautions

Precautions used in hospitals to prevent transmission of disease that can be acquired through contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration; one of the governing bodies that mandates Standard Precautions.

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; one of the governing bodies that mandates Standard Precautions.

The Joint Commission (TJC)

An organization mandating standard precautions whose National Performance Goal #5 focuses on preventing and controlling infection.

National Performance Goal #5

A goal established by The Joint Commission focused on preventing and controlling infection through infection risk assessment, preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases, and hand hygiene.

Identify, Isolate, and Inform

The protocol approach mandated by TJC to support preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases or special pathogens.

Infection

The invasion of body tissues by microorganisms with the potential to cause disease or illness.

Pathogens

Infectious agents capable of causing disease, categorized as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

Direct Transmission

The transfer of microorganisms through direct contact (touching, biting, kissing, sexual intercourse) or droplet spread.

Droplet Spread

A form of direct transmission where infectious particles travel within 3 feet and contact a host via sneezing, coughing, spitting, singing, or talking.

Vehicle-borne Transmission

Indirect transmission occurring via inanimate objects or substances such as water, food, blood, serum, and plasma that transmit an agent into a susceptible host.

Vector-borne Transmission

Indirect transmission occurring when an animal or flying/crawling insect (such as flies, mosquitoes, fleas, or ticks) transports an infectious agent to people.

Airborne Transmission

Transmission where very fine particles (droplets) remain suspended in the air or on dust particles and are carried by air currents (e.g., Varicella, measles, TB, covid).

Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs)

Also known as Hospital Acquired Infections or Nosocomial Infections; infections that develop during admission to a health care facility.

Endogenous Infection

A Healthcare Associated Infection that originates from the patient.

Exogenous Infection

A Healthcare Associated Infection that originates from the hospital environment and hospital personnel.

Iatrogenic Infection

A Healthcare Associated Infection resulting directly from contaminated medical equipment (such as an endoscope, Foley catheter, or IV line).

Asepsis

The complete absence of disease-causing microorganisms.

Aseptic Technique

Practices and procedures designed to reduce the risk of transmitting microorganisms from one person to another.

Medical Asepsis

Also known as clean technique; practices that control the spread of organisms and are applied to all hospitalized patients regardless of diagnosis.

Surgical Asepsis

Practices designed to keep an area or object entirely free of all microorganisms.

Standard Precautions (Tier 1)

Basic infection control practices applying to all patients that cover blood, all body fluids (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes.

Transmission Based Precautions (Tier 2)

Control measures used in addition to Tier 1 precautions for patients with known or suspected infections, categorized into Contact, Droplet, and Airborne precautions.

Hand Hygiene

The single most important act of medical asepsis, required before and after all patient interactions and PPE usage.

Waterless Antiseptic Application

Technique involving applying 1 palmful/1 pump (3 to 5 mL) of alcohol-based product to the palm and rubbing hands together covering all surfaces until completely dry.

Hand Washing Technique

Wetting hands, applying 5 to 10 mL liquid soap, rubbing hands with friction for at least 20 seconds, rinsing with hands down and elbows up, and drying with a paper towel.

Donning Sequence

The standard order for applying Personal Protective Equipment: 1. Hand Hygiene, 2. Gown, 3. Mask or respirator, 4. Goggles or face shield, 5. Gloves.

Doffing Sequence

The standard order for removing Personal Protective Equipment: 1. Gloves, 2. Gown, 3. Protective eyewear (Goggles/face shield), 4. Mask, 5. Hand Hygiene.

Contaminated Areas of PPE

Areas on PPE that have or are likely to have been in contact with infectious sites or organisms, specifically the outside front and gloves.

Clean Areas of PPE

Areas of PPE that are unlikely to have touched infectious organisms, specifically the inside, outside back, and ties on the head and neck.