The Chain of Infection
The link in the chain of infection that is the environment where a pathogen lives and reproduces.
What is the reservoir?
The PPE is always worn when there is a risk of coming into contact with blood or body fluids.
What are gloves?
The single most important action to prevent the spread of infection.
What is proper hand hygiene?
These are surfaces that are frequently touched and easily contaminated.
What are high-touch surfaces?
The general term for infections patients can acquire while in a healthcare facility.
What is a Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI)?
The link in the chain that is a person with a weakened immune system, for example.
What is a susceptible host?
For a patient in airborne precautions, this type of specialized respirator is required.
What is an N95 mask?
The minimum amount of time you should rub your hands with soap and water when washing them.
What is 20 seconds?
This is the proper way to dispose of a blood-soaked item.
What is putting it in a biohazard bag or container?
A common bloodstream infection caused by a certain type of staph bacteria that has become resistant to many antibiotics.
What is MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)?
Transmission of an agent from a reservoir to a host can happen through which routes?
What are direct or indirect contact, droplet, or airborne transmission?
This is the correct sequence for putting on PPE: hand hygiene, gown, mask, or respirator, face shield or goggles, and then gloves.
What is donning?
Before touching the patient, before a clean/aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings.
When are the five moments of hand hygiene?
These are used to clean surfaces and equipment in a healthcare setting.
What are proper cleaning and disinfecting agents?
This HAI can be prevented by removing a urinary catheter as soon as it is no longer medically necessary.
What is a CAUTI (Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection)?
A contaminated inanimate object, like a bedside table or medical instrument is known by this term.
What is fomite?
This is the key difference in PPE required for droplet versus airborne precautions.
What is a surgical mask for droplet vs an N95 for airborne?
This method of hand hygiene is not recommended when your hands are visibly soiled or when caring for a patient with C.difficile.
What is using an alcohol-based hand rub?
Aside from hand hygiene, what are two other Standard Infection Control Precautions for the care environment?
What is proper patient placement, respiratory hygiene, safe care environment, or managing linens and devices?
For this multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO), special precautions are taken, and alcohol-based hand rub is not an effective option.
What is C-diff (Clostridioides difficile)?
The name for the final step in the chain, where a microbe exits the host.
What is the portal of exit?
What are gloves?
These items, often worn for cosmetic reasons, have been linked to hospital-acquired infections because they can harbor bacteria.
What are artificial nails?
This is the name for the 1991 OSHA standard that requires employers to have a plan for protecting employees from exposure to infectious materials.
What is the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?
This type of bacterial infection is associated with central lines and can be prevented with proper insertion and maintenance bundles.
What is a Central Line- Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)?