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Infection Control and Safety Standards in
Healthcare questions with solved solutions
Infections - ANSWER>>Caused by pathogens, which are microorganisms that have the potential to cause illness.
Pathogens - ANSWER>>Microorganisms that are very tiny and not visible to the naked eye, capable of causing illness.
Communicable diseases - ANSWER>>Infectious diseases that can be transmitted from person to person.
Local infection - ANSWER>>Infection that is confined to a specific body area and is usually external (i.e. an infected cut on the skin). Symptoms include localized redness, swelling, warmth, tenderness.
Systemic infection - ANSWER>>Infection that has spread, affects more body systems, and causes more symptoms (i.e. a bladder infection that causes fever, increased heart rate, generalized aching, loss of appetite, fatigue).
Acute infection - ANSWER>>An infection with a sudden onset, of short duration (i.e. ear infection).
Chronic infection - ANSWER>>An infection that persists over a long period of time (i.e. hepatitis B) and might have periods of exacerbation, remission, latent infection, recurrent infection, and relapse.
Exacerbation - ANSWER>>When symptoms of a chronic infection are apparent.
Remission - ANSWER>>When symptoms of a chronic infection are absent.
Latent infection - ANSWER>>The disease-causing microorganism remains dormant in the body and can resurface and cause symptoms when the patient is stressed or during challenging times (i.e. a cold sore).
Recurrent infection - ANSWER>>Infection that develops after a period of recovery but may be caused by a different pathogen (i.e. ear infections that occur 2- times/year).
Relapse - ANSWER>>Infection that develops after recovery from an infection that was caused by the same pathogen.
Opportunistic infection - ANSWER>>Pathogens cause the infection by taking advantage of compromised immunity or a weakened system (i.e. during cancer treatments).
Nosocomial infection - ANSWER>>An infection that is acquired in a healthcare environment.
Nonpathogenic bacteria - ANSWER>>Bacteria that are not harmful and live on our microbiome (skin, lungs, etc.).
Bacteria - ANSWER>>Pathogens that thrive on moisture, darkness, and warmth, can be aerobic or anaerobic, and can usually be eradicated with antibiotic therapy.
Aerobic bacteria - ANSWER>>Bacteria that require oxygen to grow and multiply.
Anaerobic bacteria - ANSWER>>Bacteria that do not require oxygen to live and multiply.
Viruses - ANSWER>>Pathogens that are difficult to eradicate, do not respond to antibiotics, and are managed with supportive care to control symptoms.
Temperature Monitoring - ANSWER>>Monitor the refrigerator temperature daily.
Vaccine Placement - ANSWER>>Store vaccines in the middle of the refrigerator to help maintain a constant temperature.
Vaccine Delivery - ANSWER>>Place newly-delivered vaccines in the refrigerator immediately upon receiving them.
Expiry Date Check - ANSWER>>Check expiry dates regularly and place soon-to-be expired vaccines in front of those with later expiry dates.
Vaccine Handling - ANSWER>>Remove vaccines from the refrigerator just before use and return unused doses as soon as vaccine is administered.
Power Failure Protocol - ANSWER>>Contact the Public Health Unit for directions following a power failure with an unknown length of time.
Chain of Infection - ANSWER>>An infection develops when six steps in a series of events occur, compared to the links of a chain.
Causative Organism - ANSWER>>The organism must be able to cause an infection; a nonpathogenic organism will not cause an infection.
Host - ANSWER>>The host refers to the location of the pathogen, usually a person but can also be an animal, soil, food, water, or feces.
Portal of Exit - ANSWER>>The pathogen must be able to leave the host through common exit points like the nose, mouth, saliva, semen, blood, and bowel.
Mode of Transmission - ANSWER>>After leaving the host, the pathogen is transmitted to a new host via several methods.
Direct Contact Transmission - ANSWER>>Transmission is from one person to another person, such as during a handshake.
Indirect Contact Transmission - ANSWER>>Transmission is from a person to an inanimate object, to another person, like touching a doorknob.
Droplet Transmission - ANSWER>>Transmission through pathogens expelled during a cough or sneeze.
Airborne Transmission - ANSWER>>Transmission through dust or evaporated skin and hair particles carried by air currents.
Vehicle Route Transmission - ANSWER>>Transmission via food, water, blood, or other body fluids.
Vector - ANSWER>>Transmission is via an insect, a bird, or an animal.
Portal of Entry - ANSWER>>The transmitted organism finds a route to enter a recipient (another person). The most common ports of entry are the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems.
Susceptible Host - ANSWER>>Also called a recipient host, the susceptible host is the person to whom the pathogen was transmitted.
Asepsis - ANSWER>>A state in which disease-causing microorganisms are reduced or totally eliminated.
Medical Asepsis - ANSWER>>Refers to the destruction of microorganisms on the body or after they leave the body.
Surgical Asepsis - ANSWER>>Aimed at destroying pathogens before they even enter the body.
Integumentary System - ANSWER>>The system that includes the skin, which can allow pathogens to enter through breaks and open wounds.
Immune Defences - ANSWER>>The body's mechanisms that protect against infection and disease.
Chain of Infection - ANSWER>>All six steps must be present for an infection to develop; if any steps/links are missing, the chain is broken and an infection cannot occur.
Scheduling Appointments - ANSWER>>Appointments should be scheduled to minimize the spread of infection, avoiding scheduling patients with infections at the same time as those with weakened immunity.
Sanitization - ANSWER>>A washing/cleansing process with the use of non- abrasive and low-sudsing agents called sanitizers that remove oils, debris and some microorganisms.
Disinfection - ANSWER>>A more thorough removal of microorganisms than sanitization, using stronger solutions like antiseptics and disinfectants.
Antiseptic Solutions - ANSWER>>Weaker solutions that can be used on the skin and mucous membranes, and are bacteriostatic, keeping microorganisms in a stationary stage of growth.
Disinfectants - ANSWER>>Stronger solutions not recommended for prolonged use on skin and mucous membranes, and are bactericidal, meaning they destroy most microorganisms.
Sterilization - ANSWER>>The highest level of asepsis which destroys all microorganisms, typically performed in an autoclave.
Standard Precautions - ANSWER>>A set of internationally-accepted infection control measures to protect against cross-contamination by pathogens.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - ANSWER>>A variety of protective barriers used to protect patients and staff from the transmission of disease.
Gloves - ANSWER>>Worn prior to contact with all body fluids and contaminated items, changed between procedures, and removed before washing hands.
Mask, Goggles, Face Shield - ANSWER>>Worn to protect against the risk of being splashed or sprayed with blood or body fluids.
Gown - ANSWER>>Protects skin and clothing from contact with microorganisms and splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids.
Head Cover, Shoe Covers - ANSWER>>Protects the head and shoes from contact with microorganisms and splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids.
Infectious Diseases - ANSWER>>Major diseases include HIV, hepatitis A, B, C, and various microorganisms and mutating viruses.
Injury Prevention - ANSWER>>Ensuring a safe physical environment is the first step in managing risk factors and preventing injury.
Bacteriostatic - ANSWER>>Refers to solutions that keep microorganisms in a stationary stage of growth and prevent their growth.
Bactericidal - ANSWER>>Refers to solutions that destroy most microorganisms.
Autoclave - ANSWER>>A strong heated container that uses high pressures and high temperatures to destroy all microorganisms.
Be alert to the needs of patients with mobility impairments - ANSWER>>The practice of recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by patients with physical limitations.
Call a loved one or a taxi to drive a patient home safely - ANSWER>>A recommendation for ensuring safe transportation for patients post-care.
Management of environmental factors - ANSWER>>Strategies to create a safe physical environment to prevent accidents.
Keep lighting at a level that fosters safety and prevents falls - ANSWER>>An environmental control to enhance visibility and reduce fall risks.
Keep background music soft and quiet - ANSWER>>A measure to minimize distractions and support patients using hearing aids.
Keep walking areas clean, dry, and free from obstacles - ANSWER>>An essential practice to prevent trips and falls in healthcare settings.
Avoid the use of loose scatter rugs - ANSWER>>A precaution to limit the risk of slips and falls.
Quality Assurance (QA) - ANSWER>>The process of ensuring a safe working environment and evaluating service quality.
Accreditation - ANSWER>>A process for hospitals to demonstrate compliance with provincial or territorial standards.
Frequency of readmissions - ANSWER>>A metric indicating the number of patients returning to the hospital within a specific timeframe.
Volume of nosocomial infections - ANSWER>>The total number of infections acquired within a hospital setting.
Incident report - ANSWER>>Formal documentation of any lapse in policy or procedure that causes an injury.
Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) - ANSWER>>An organization that provides financial compensation and rehabilitation for work-related injuries.
WHMIS training - ANSWER>>Mandatory training for employees on workplace hazardous materials information.
