Infection Control and Hospital Acquired Infections

Flashcards covering hospital acquired infections, modes of transmission, PPE donning and doffing procedures, standard precautions, and isolation types based on lecture notes.

Health care acquired infection (HAI)

An infection acquired during medical intervention that was not present upon admission.

Nosocomial

The medical term for a hospital acquired infection.

C. Diff

A hospital acquired infection that leaves the body through severe diarrhea and has a distinct, strong odor.

MRSA

A staph infection that can live in the nose or in wounds and is diagnosed using nasal or wound swabs.

CAUTI

Catheter Acquired Urinary Tract Infection, which is acquired from medical equipment such as a Foley catheter.

CLABSI

Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection, which originates from a central line catheter leading to the heart.

Sepsis

A condition defined as having more than one infection occurring in the body at the same time.

VAP

Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia (interchangeably referred to as ventilator associated pneumonia).

Direct contact transmission

Infection spread that occurs by physically touching an infected person's skin.

Indirect contact transmission

Infection spread that occurs by touching an inanimate contaminated object, such as a doorknob.

Vector transmission

Infection transmission originating from an insect or animal, such as ticks, mosquitoes, or rats.

Handwashing minimum duration

The minimum length of time required to wash hands with soap and water, which is at least $20\,\text{seconds}$.

Bloodborne pathogens

Infectious pathogens carried in blood, identified in the lecture as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis, and tuberculosis.

Donning

The sequence of putting on PPE, starting with the gown, followed by the mask, and ending with gloves.

Doffing

The sequence of taking off PPE, starting with the most dirty item (gloves), followed by the gown, and ending with the mask.

Fitted N95 mask

The specific type of mask required as PPE when entering an airborne precaution room.

Reverse isolation

Isolation practices intended to protect vulnerable, immunocompromised patients (such as burn or cancer patients) from outside pathogens.