Infection prevention and control

Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites:

• Are agents that cause infections

• Are agents that do not cause infections

• Are best dealt with by using antibiotics

A person residing at your service is showing signs of influenza illness. They have come from another care / health setting. Which of the following measures should be put in place?

• Infection control measures should only be used to protect you and your workmates

• Infection control measures will only be required when caring for this new person

• Infection control measures should be strictly followed at all times. Restricted contact with others should be put in place whilst the person is infectious.

Answer explanation

Correct!!! Infection control measures should be followed by the staff and the residents at all times as a part of WHS. Correct hand hygiene and cough etiquette practices by everyone is essential to reduce the spread of flu.

What are your workplace infection control responsibilities?

• To report to your supervisor / manager only if you think other people could become infected

• To report any problems to your manager to prevent people from becoming infected

• To report problems to your manager only if you think you or other workers could become infected

Answer explanation

Good response! workplace safety is about doing everything possible to stop people from becoming injured or sick. Infections needs to be prevented where possible or stopped from spreading t those you care for, workers and others.

Infections micro-organisms are mainly spread by:

• Airborne, germs and parasites

• Airborne, droplet and contact

• Airborne, contact and parasites

Answer explanation

Correct!!! Infectious micro-organisms are mainly transmitted through the air, droplets, by contact with contaminated surfaces and physical contact with other people.

Which of the following should you do if there is an infectious disease outbreak where you work?

• Nothing. Once one person gets an infectious illness everyone will get it

• Strictly follow standard precautions and additional precautions as required for the type of infection

• Just be careful around the people who already have the infection

Answer explanation

Correct!!! Strictly following hand hygiene and other standard precautions plus additional precautions as required for example: use of PPE, Caring for people in isolation or restricting contact with others.

PPE - Personal Protective Equipment

• Should be used at all times where there is a risk of contamination or infection

• Should only be used if people have an infectious illness

• Is equipment that is not necessary unless you are a person who is susceptible to getting infections

Answer explanation

Correct!!! PPE is an essential part of infection control measures to protect staff and residents and reduce the spread of infectious illnesses. Ensure hand hygiene is performed.

As a part of surveillance and risk management, you should report to your manager about:

• Standard precautions not being followed, signs of infectious illnesses and incidents including injuries and hazards

• Standard precautions not being followed, incidents and hazards

• Standard precautions not being followed, infections and illnesses in workers only

Answer explanation

Correct!!! It is your responsibility and duty of care by law to report to your manager if standard precautions, signs of infectious illnesses, incidents, injuries and contamination occur as all of the above puts everyone at risk.

Why is cough etiquette so important?

• Coughing is a common symptom of COVID 19 and spreads the virus

• Because you don't have to wash your hands more often

• It's more polite than to cough in your hands

Answer explanation

Correct!!! When a person cough the virus can spread thru aerosol and droplets.

Is it the flu, cold or Covid 19? It can be tricky to work out. What are the most common symptoms to any of the mentioned?

• Headache, diarrhoea, vomiting, runny nose

• Fever, cough, tiredness, shortness of breath, sore throat, breathing difficulty

• Nausea, aches, loss of sense of smell, loss of taste

Answer explanation

Correct!!! Fever, cough, tiredness, shortness of breath, sore throat, breathing difficulty are the most common symptoms. People report other symptoms but are not as common.

The 5 moments of hand hygiene - are: before touching a patient, clean/aseptic procedures plus:....

• Any time you think your hands needs cleaning and you have time

• Only if you think a person might have an infectious illness

• After body fluid exposure/risk, touching a patient and touching patient surroundings

Answer explanation

Correct!!! As implemented by the World Health Organisation the 5 moments of hand hygiene; after body fluid exposure/risk, touching a patient or touching a patients surroundings reduces the risk of spreading germs