Module 9

Healthcare Epidemiology

Healthcare Epidemiology

The study of the occurrence, determinants, and distribution of health and diseases within healthcare settings, with a primary focus on infection control and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Health Outcomes

Events occurring as a result of an intervention that is measured through physical examination, laboratory testing, or imaging.

Infection Control

The measures and practices taken in healthcare settings to prevent infections from occurring, including actions to eliminate or contain reservoirs of infection, interrupt the transmission of pathogens, and protect individuals from becoming infected.

Standard Precautions

Precautions that should be applied to the care of all patients in all healthcare settings, regardless of the suspected or confirmed presence of an infectious agent. It includes measures such as handwashing, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and proper disposal of sharps.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Infections that are acquired within hospitals or other healthcare facilities, including those that erupt within 14 days of hospital discharge. It should not be confused with iatrogenic infections, which are treatment-, physician-, or healthcare worker-induced infections.

Community-Acquired Infections

All other infections that are acquired outside of healthcare facility. It includes infection present or incubating at the time of admission.

Asepsis

The practice of preventing infection by maintaining a sterile environment. It includes medical asepsis (clean technique) and surgical asepsis (sterile technique).

Medical Asepsis

Procedures and practices that reduce the number and transmission of pathogens. It includes frequent and thorough handwashing, wearing clean masks and gloves, and proper cleaning of supplies and equipment.

Disinfection

The process of eliminating most pathogens. It can be categorized into high-level disinfectants, intermediate-level disinfectants, and low-level disinfectants, depending on their effectiveness against different types of microorganisms.

Surgical Asepsis

Practices used to render and keep objects and areas sterile. It is practiced in the operating room, labor and delivery rooms, and during invasive or surgical procedures. Techniques include surgical scrubbing, wearing sterile masks and gloves, and creating a sterile field.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Precautions used in addition to standard precautions for patients known or suspected to be infected with highly transmissible pathogens. It includes contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne precautions.

Urinary Tract Infections

It is a type of healthcare-associated infection particularly focused on the foley catheter.

Surgical Site Infections

It is a type of healthcare-associated infection which pertains to superficial but can also affect deep tissues.

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

It is a type of healthcare-associated infection which can be caused by the insertion of an artificial airway or intubation.

Bloodstream Infections

It is a type of healthcare-associated infection that can be caused by venous catheters and mainlines.

Central Venous Catheter

It is inserted to the central lines to give fluids, blood, and medications or to perform tests quickly.

Internal Jugular Catheter

It is used for patients that will undergo emergency dialysis, directly inserted in a major vein in the cervical area.

Intravenous Line

It is directly accessing blood flow or different blood vessels.

Gastrointestinal Infections

It is a type of healthcare-associated infection caused by Clostridium difficile.

Hematochezia

It is the term used to describe bright red feces

Melena

It is the term used to describe dark red feces

High-Level Disinfectants

It kills all microbes, including viruses, except large bacterial spores.

Intermediate-Level Disinfectants

Might kill mycobacteria, vegetative bacteria, most viruses most fungi but do not necessarily kill bacterial endospores.

Low-Level Disinfectants

Kill most vegetative bacteria, some fungi, and some viruses within 10 minutes of exposure.

Vaccination

It is an important way to eliminate the susceptible host.

Personal Protective Equipment

This includes gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection and respiratory protection.

Isolation Gowns

It protects the healthcare worker’s arms and exposed body areas and prevent contamination of clothing with blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials.

Masks

It is used to block the portal of entry/exist. It is also used for three primary purposes in healthcare settings.

1. Worn to protect healthcare providers

2. Worn to protect patients from exposure to pathogens

3. Placed on coughing patients to limit potential dissemination

Eye Protection

This refers to goggles and disposable or non-disposable face shields use to protect eyes, nose, and mouth protection.

Respiratory Protection

It requires the use of a respirator with N95 of higher filtration to prevent inhalation of infectious particles.

Contact Precaution

It is referred as the most important and frequent mode of transmission of HAIs. It is used for patients known or suspected to be infected or colonized with epidemiologically-important pathogens that can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact.

Droplet Precaution

It must be used for patients known or suspected to be infected with microbes transmitted by droplets.

Airborne Precaution

It is a type of transmission-based precaution which focuses on airborne droplet nuclei or dust particles that contains pathogens.

Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms (AIIR)

It is a single-patient room that is equipped with special air handling and ventilating systems usually under negative pressure to prevent room air from entering the corridor when the door is opened.

Protective Environment

It is referred to as protective isolation or positive pressure isolation. It is described as a well sealed single-patient room where vented air entering the room is passed through HEPA filters usually room is in positive pressure.