Chain of Infection
A nurse washes her hands before entering a patient's room.
Which link in the chain is being interrupted?
What is Mode of Transmission
This organism reproduces only inside living cells.
Virus
Changing a dry dressing.
What PPE is needed PPE?
Gloves
You notice another nurse leaves a patient's room wearing contaminated gloves.
First action?
Instruct the nurse to remove gloves and perform hand hygiene
"I don't need to wash my hands because I wore gloves."
Gloves never replace hand hygiene.
A patient with influenza coughs into the air without covering his mouth.
Which link does this represent?
What is Portal of Exit
This microorganism causes thrush after antibiotics.
Candida (fungus)
When emptying a Foley bag.
Gloves
You discover a sterile field has been left unattended.
Discard and prepare a new sterile field.
"This dressing package fell on the floor but still looks clean."
It is contaminated.
A patient has an infected Foley catheter.
Identify
Reservoir
Portal of Exit
Portal of Entry
What is Reservoir = Urinary tract (Kidneys to Urethra)
Portal of Exit = Urine
Portal of Entry = Catheter into bladder
These microorganisms are spread by ticks.
Rickettsia
Suctioning a tracheostomy.
Gloves
Mask
Eye shield
A patient's IV dressing is wet.
Priority?
Change dressing using aseptic technique.
"I'll carry this used needle to another room."
Dispose immediately in a sharps container.
A patient develops pneumonia after surgery.
List THREE links that the nurse could have interrupted in the chain of infection
Hand hygiene
Oral care
Early ambulation
Respiratory hygiene
Proper equipment cleaning
Which organisms are most likely to produce endotoxins?
Gram-negative bacteria
Patient with pulmonary tuberculosis.
Required PPE?
N95
Negative-pressure room
An elderly diabetic has
Fever
Confusion
Open wound
Low blood pressure
Priority?
Recognize possible infection and notify provider while initiating appropriate nursing assessment and interventions.
"I can reuse these gloves because I only touched the bed."
Disposable gloves are never reused.
A patient with MRSA develops a bloodstream infection from a central line.
Students must identify ALL six links in the Chain of Infection.
Pathogen
Reservoir
Portal of Exit
Mode of Transmission
Portal of entry
Susceptible host
What does the student need to be able to identify in case scenarios?
Type of organism
Likely disease
Possible transmission
A patient has explosive diarrhea from C. difficile. Students determine appropriate PPE, hand hygiene method, environmental cleaning priorities.
PPE - Gown and gloves
Dedicated equipment
Hand hygiene only no hand sanitizers
Daily disinfection
An elderly diabetic has
Confusion
Fever
Low blood pressure
What would you assess first and why?
Vital signs first! then confusion and finally fever
"I'll save time by opening all my sterile supplies before entering the patient's room."
Sterile supplies should be opened immediately before use to reduce contamination.