Nursing
IPC
Infection prevention and control. A practical, evidence based approach which prevents patients, visitors and health care workers from being harmed by avoidable infection. Ensures quality of care + safety of patients, staff, carers + visitors.
Another name for HCAIs
Nosocomial infections/healthcare acquired infections.
HCAI definition..
Any infections acquired while receiving treatment/care at a healthcare facility or from a healthcare professional.
classifications of a HCAI..
1.causative:have been admitted for reasons other than infection
2.timing: no signs of infection (active or incubation) prior to or on admission.
3. Setting:patient has been anywhere with healthcare delivery
HCAIs impact....
Quality of life, morbidity mortality rates, cost, prevalence and antimicrobial resistance.
Anti-microbial resistant organisms
Also known as AMROs. Antibiotics used to kill this bacteria 10/20 years ago but no longer works. "Superbugs"
Superbug example?
MRSA: methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus
Resistance occurs when....
Bacteria, viruses, fungi... Evolve over time +no longer respond to medicines, increasing risk of disease spread and fatality.
Resistance is caused by...
Misuse + overuse of antimicrobials
To prevent HCAIs...
Hand washing
Use of PPE
Education (infection chain)
Identify those at risk
Environmental controls
Surveillance teams
Develop policies and procedures to protect those at risk.
Chain of infection: 1st link
infectous agents:
Bacteria=ecoli/mrsa
Viruses-influenza/covid
Fungi = thrush
Prions =encephalopathy
Parasites = lice/scabies
Protozoan malaria
Chain of infection: 2nd link
Reservoir:
Pathogens are found everywhere and usually don't harm/benefit organisms in their own environment, however when microorganisms migrate from one reservoir to an other, infection is initiated. Example= ecoli in the bowel is harmless but if it moves to the bladder, an infection WILL begin.
Chain of infection:3rd link
Exitport:
Microorganisms leave the host's reservoir through exit ports before infectionvan start. Escomple: lungs, mouth, vagina....
Chain of infection: 4th Link
Mode of transmission:
Now microorganisms pass from one person/place to another; direct transmission(touching, person to person), indirect (utensils, insects, IV line), airborne(droplet:infected host.. influenza/ meningitis OR particle:microorganism remains suspended in the air.. Measles/chickenpox)
Chain of infection:5th link
Entry port:
Microorganisms enter into new host through same route used to leave reservoir port
Chain of infection: 6th link
Susceptible host:
When microorganisms enter a host's body, these who are vulnerable or immunosuppressed cannot fight them off, therefore becoming infected.
at high risk of infection...
Very young/very old
Immunocompromised (chemo)
Post operative pts
Sources of infection
Endogenous = associated with migration, to organism in own flora.
Escogenous= infection's acquired from an outside form, such as an infected person or equipment.