RTT 131 Week 1-3 Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering Week 1 Respiratory Care Research, Week 2 Microbiology, and Week 3 Infection Control.

Three Basic Missions of Academic Medicine

Education/teaching, research, and patient care/clinical service.

Stakeholders involved in research

Patients, physicians/healthcare providers, researchers/scientists, academic institutions/universities, government agencies, etc.

Study idea

Identity topic or clinical question worth investigating

Problem Statement

A clearly defined specific issue that a study will address and why it matters.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Study Protocol

A detailed plan for how a study will be conducted, including methods and procedures to design the research.

Controls

A comparison group that does not receive the treatment, used to isolate its effect.

Matching

Pairing subjects in different groups based on similar characteristics such as age or sex.

Randomization

Randomly assigning subjects to groups to eliminate selection bias.

Blinding or Masking

Keeping subjects and/or researchers unaware of group assignments to prevent bias.

Crossovers

A study design where subjects receive multiple treatments in sequence, acting as their own control.

Case Report

A detailed report on a single patient or case.

Case Series

A report on a group of patients with similar conditions or outcomes.

Case Control Studies

Studies comparing people with a condition (cases) to those without (controls), looking backward for exposure factors.

Cross Sectional Studies

Studies where data is collected at a single point in time to assess prevalence.

Cohort Studies

Studies following a group over time to see who developed an outcome (prospective or retrospective).

Animal studies

Research conducted on animals often preclinical

Equipment evaluations

Testing medical devices/equipment for safety and effectiveness

Surveys

Collect data via questionnaires/interviews

Randomized Control Trials (RCTs)

Gold standard study where subjects are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups.

Analyze

Use statistical or quantitative methods to interrupt results

Publish the study

Share finding through peer reviewed journals or conferences to contribute to the body of knowledge

PubMed

Free database of biomedical literature from the NIH/National Library of Medicine.

Synthesized databases

Combine and summarize results from multiple study’s

Cochrane Collaboration

An organization that produces systematic reviews of healthcare research, considered a top source for evidence-based practice.

Portals

Web gateways that organize and link to multiple health information resources

Electronic journals and books

Digital versions of published academic literature

Respiratory care journal

Peer reviewed journal specific to respiratory therapy practice

Evidence Based Medicine

Using the best available research to guide clinical decision making rather than relying solely on tradition or opinion.

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs)

Recommendations developed from research evidence to standardize and improve patient care.

Prokaryotes

Bacteria that have no nucleus/membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotes

Organisms, such as fungi and protozoa, that have a true nucleus.

Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Cocci

Round or spherical bacteria.

Shape of bacteria influence

Mobility, ability to attach to surfaces/host cells, and resistance to environmental stress

Bacterial staining

Technique used to visualize and classify bacteria under a microscope

Gram Stain

The most common bacterial staining technique, dividing bacteria into gram-positive (purple, thick peptidoglycan wall) and gram-negative (pink, thin wall with outer membrane).

Bacteria reproduction

Asexual splitting of bacteria into $2$ identical cells.

Lag Phase

Growth stage where bacteria adapt to the environment with minimal growth.

Logarithmic Phase

Growth stage characterized by rapid, exponential cell division.

Stationary Phase

Growth stage where bacterial growth rate slows or plateaus as nutrients deplete and waste builds up ($\text{death rate} = \text{growth rate}$).

Bacterial Mats and Biofilms

Communities of bacteria that attach to surfaces and are encased in a protective, self-produced matrix, making them more resistant to antibiotics and immune defenses.

Normal Flora

The natural, typically harmless bacteria that live in/on the body (skin, gut, respiratory tract) and help prevent colonization by harmful pathogens.

Common respiratory Infections

Colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, influenza

Upper respiratory tract infections

Affect the nose, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, (common colds sinusitis, pharyngitis)

Lungs infection roots

Inhalation of airborne pathogens, aspiration, bloodstream spread (,hematogenous)

Route of transmission

Airborne droplets, direct contact, contaminated surface (Fomites), Aspiration

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that can cause respiratory infections (mycoses), classified as yeasts (single-celled) or molds (multicellular, filamentous).

Viruses

Non-living infectious particles consisting of DNA or RNA and a protein coat that need a host to replicate.

Prions

Infectious misfolded proteins with no DNA or RNA that cause other proteins to misfold, leading to neurodegenerative disease.

Parasites

Organisms living on or in a host at its expense, including protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites.

Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)

Pneumonia contracted from outside a healthcare setting.

Health Care Associated Pneumonia (HCAP)

Pneumonia in patients with recent healthcare contact.

Hospital Acquired Pneumonia (HAP)

Pneumonia developing $48+\text{ hrs}$ after hospital admission.

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

Pneumonia or complications developing $48+\text{ hrs}$ after ventilation.

Sputum Induction

Procedure nebulizing saline to induce coughing up sputum.

Bronchoscopy

Use of a scope to view and sample airways.

Tracheal Aspiration

Suctioning secretions directly from the trachea.

Trans-tracheal Aspiration

Needle sampling conducted through the tracheal wall.

Non-bronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Catheter lavage of lower airways without using a scope.

Pleural Fluid Analysis

Testing fluid obtained from the pleural space.

Sputum Culture and Sensitivity

Procedure that grows bacteria to identify it, then tests which antibiotics work against it.

Selective Toxicity

Property of an antimicrobial drug that kills pathogens while sparing host cells.

Types of antimicrobial drug therapy

Antibiotics, antivirals, antifungal, anti-parasites

Antibiotic Resistance

The process by which bacteria evolve to survive drugs meant to kill them.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Infections acquired during care that were not present at admission. Infection prevention matters because equipment/procedures create high risk of pathogen transmission

Source of pathogens

Where The infectious agent originates (patient, staff, equipment, environment)

Susceptible host

A person vulnerable to infection(Weakened immune system, invasive devices)

Direct contact

Physical contact between infective person to host

Indirect contact

Via a contaminated object(Fomite)

Respiratory droplets

Larger droplets from coughing/sneezing, travel short distances

Airborne droplet nuclei

Tiny particles that stay suspended in the air, travel further

Decreasing hose susceptibility

Vaccines, good nutrition, treating underlying conditions

Eliminating source of pathogens

Isolating/treating infected patients, disinfection

Interrupting roots of transmission

Hand hygiene, PPE, equipment sterilization

Infection prevention programs

Hospitalwide policies/surveillance to reduce HIA’s

Standard precautions

Baseline practice used for all(Hand, hygiene, gloves, etc.)

Expanded precautions

Extra measures used for Specific known/suspected infections

Critical risk infection

Contacts sterile tissue/bloodstream, requires sterilization(Surgical instruments)

Semi critical risk infection

Contacts mucous membranes, requires high-level disinfection(Bronco scopes)

Non-critical risk infection

Contacts intact skin only, requires low level disinfection(BP cuff)

Cleaning

The first step(Removing visible debris/organic matter) Before disinfection or sterilization can occur

Disinfection

Kills most pathogens, not spores

Physical – heat/boil boiling

Chemical – disinfectant solution(Bleach, alcohol)

Sterilization

Kills all microorganisms, including spores

Chemical – ethylene oxide, gas, chemical sterilants

physical – autoclave(Steam/pressure)

Nebulizers

Devices that Aerosolize medication for inhalation

Large volume– used for continuous/extended treatments

Small volume – use four single dose treatments

Ventilator circuits

Tubing connecting ventilator to patient, require regular changing/disinfection to prevent VAP

Oxygen therapy devices

Nasal cannulas, masks: Generally, low infection risk, but still need proper cleaning

Bag mask devices

Manual resuscitator, must be clean/disinfected between patients

Suction systems

Used to remove secretions, high contamination, risk, requires careful handling

PFT equipment

Pulmonary function testing devices, mouthpieces/filters must prevent cross-contamination

Other equipment

General category for miscellaneous respiratory devices

Reusable vs. disposable equipment

Reusable requires proper cleaning/disinfection/sterilization

Disposable is single used to reduce infection risk

Handling fluids, and medication’s

Use a aseptic technique, avoid contamination of multidose vials

Handling contaminated equipment

Use PPE, Follow proper decontamination protocols before reprocessing

Handling laboratory specimens

Use proper containers/PPE, label correctly, follow biohazard protocols during transport

Surveillance programs

Systematic tracking/monitoring of infection rates in a facility to identify trends and outbreaks

Bundles

A set of evidence based practices group together(VAP bundle) When performed together, reduce infection rates more effectively than individual