Bad News – Good News: The Basics of Infection Prevention and Control July 2012 Judith Conway, RN, BS, CIC Infection Control Coordinator Communicable Disease.

Bad News – Good News:The Basics of Infection Prevention and Control

July 2012Judith Conway, RN, BS, CIC

Infection Control CoordinatorCommunicable Disease Control Section

Office of Health ProtectionIllinois Department of Public HealthE-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 217/557-3472

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Session Overview1. Fundamental information2. “Germology terminology”3. “Antibiotic resistance 101”4. Chain of infection – routes of infectious disease

transmission5. Brief review of basic infection

prevention/control recommendations used to prevent transmission

6. Problematic pathogens7. Scenarios

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Fundamental Information

• It’s a “bug-drug” war– “Bug” = bacteria– “Drug” = antibiotic

• Bad news: Some bacteria have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics

• Good news: We can help prevent infectious disease transmission by understanding and applying basic infection prevention/control practices

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Antibiotic Resistant GermsAntibiotic resistance can travel the globe

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“Resistance anywhere is resistance everywhere”

Welcome to Your New Normal…

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FUNdamental Information:Pre-Assessment

1) Antibiotics are drugs that fight infections caused by:A) BacteriaB) VirusesC) Bacteria and viruses

2) FILL IN THE BLANKS: ____________ ___________ is the primary strategy recommended by CDC as the foundation to prevent transmission of infectious agents in all healthcare settings.

3) TRUE or FALSE? MRSA is spread by airborne transmission.

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FUNdamental Information:Pre-Assessment

4) Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are most frequently spread from one patient to another in healthcare settings by:A) Airborne spread resulting from patients coughing and sneezingB) Patients coming in contact with contaminated equipmentC) The contaminated hands of healthcare workersD) Substandard environmental maintenance

5) What is the IDPH recommendation for the length of time to perform proper hand washing?

6) TRUE of FALSE? Clostridium difficile is readily killed by alcohol-based hand hygiene products.

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Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

“Germology Terminology”Microorganisms

• Microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, helminths, rickettsia, prions– Biologic agents capable of causing disease– Also known as infectious agents or pathogens– Commonly called “germs” or “bugs”

NOTE: In today’s session, we will focus exclusively on bacteria

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“Germology Terminology”Infection versus Colonization

• Infection: Bad news, bad news, bad news– Bad news: You’ve got it (it = bacteria “X”)– Bad news: It’s making you sick (invading your

tissues and cells)– Bad news: It can be spread to others

• Colonization: Bad news, good news, bad news – Bad news: You’ve got it (it = bacteria “X”)– Good news: It’s not making you sick– Bad news: It can be spread to others

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Antibiotic Resistance 101

• What are antibiotics?–Drugs used to fight infections caused

by bacteria• It is important to remember that

antibiotics have no effect on viruses• How do antibiotics work?–2 main types of action• Bacteriostatic: inhibit bacterial growth• Bactericidal: kill bacteria

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Antibiotic Resistance 101

• What is antibiotic resistance?–Ability of bacteria to resist the effects

of an antibiotic• How does it occur?–Occurs when bacteria change in some

way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of antibiotics• Because the antibiotic isn’t effective, the

bacteria survive and continue to multiply and cause harm 12

Antibiotic Resistance 101• How do bacteria become resistant to

antibiotics?–Bacteria have several mechanisms• Some bacteria develop the ability to neutralize

the antibiotic• Other bacteria rapidly pump out the antibiotic • Still other bacteria change the antibiotic attack

site (on the bacterial cell wall) so that the antibiotic can’t do its work of affecting bacterial metabolism• Additionally, some bacteria can transfer pieces of

DNA that code for resistance to other bacteria 13

Antibiotic Resistance 101

• What happens when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?–Selective pressure: resistant bacteria

survive, multiply, and replace all the sensitive (susceptible) bacteria that were killed off–Just like antibiotic-susceptible bacteria,

resistant bacteria can spread to other people and cause colonization or serious infections

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Antibiotic Resistance 101• Why are bacteria becoming resistant to

antibiotics?–Antibiotic use promotes development of

antibiotic-resistant bacteria• Every time a person takes antibiotics,

sensitive (susceptible) bacteria are killed, but resistant bacteria may be left to grow and multiply

–Overuse and misuse• Antibiotics are not effective against viral

infections 15

Causative Agent

Portal of Exit

Mode of Transmission

Portal of Entry

Susceptible Host Reservoir

Chain of Infection

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Chain of Infection:Modes of Transmission

• Microorganisms are spread through 3 primary routes: –AIRBORNE–DROPLET–CONTACT•Direct contact• Indirect contact

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Airborne Spread• Least common mode of transmission• Dissemination of airborne droplet nuclei (small-particle residue

[5 microns or smaller in size] of evaporated droplets that contain the infectious pathogen and remain suspended in the air) or dust particles containing the infectious pathogen

• Examples of diseases spread through airborne transmission:– Anthrax spores from contaminated environment– Chickenpox– Disseminated herpes zoster (shingles)– Measles (rubeola)– Novel Strain Influenza: airborne spread may occur, extent unknown– Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) – Smallpox– Tuberculosis

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Droplet Spread

• Pathogen is spread in large respiratory droplets that don’t stay suspended in the air; they travel about 3 - 6 feet and then drop to the ground/surfaces

• Studies have shown that the nasal mucosa and conjunctivae (and, less frequently, the mouth) are susceptible portals of entry for respiratory viruses

• Examples of diseases spread through droplet transmission:– Influenza (seasonal influenza)– Meningococcal Meningitis– Mumps– Pertussis (Whooping cough)– Rubella (German measles)– Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

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Contact Spread• Most common mode of transmission• Direct contact: germs (microorganisms) are transferred directly

from one person to another person through physical contact• Indirect contact: transferred from contact with a contaminated

item or contaminated hands• Short list of examples of diseases spread through contact

transmission:– Chickenpox– C. diff– Lice– MRSA and other multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) – Norovirus– Scabies– Smallpox

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Chain of Infection:Preventing Transmission

CDC recommended these isolation precautions in 1996:• Standard Precautions• Transmission-based Precautions–Airborne Precautions–Droplet Precautions–Contact Precautions

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Standard Precautions• Primary strategy recommended by CDC as the

foundation to prevent transmission of infectious agents in all healthcare settings

• Basic level of infection prevention/control practices to be used in the care of all patients at all times and in all healthcare settings, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection– Intended to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne

and other pathogens from recognized and unrecognized sources of infection

– Designed to both protect the healthcare worker and prevent the healthcare worker from spreading infections among patients

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Standard Precautions• Five components of Standard Precautions:

1. Hand hygiene before and after touching a patient2. Personal protective equipment (PPE) (gloves, gowns, face

protection [masks, goggles, face shields]) is used as indicated to prevent exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat), mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or contaminated equipment

3. Safe injection practices (recommended in 2007)• One & Only campaign: ONE needle, ONE syringe, ONLY ONE time

4. Safe handling of potentially contaminated equipment or surfaces in the patient environment

5. Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette (recommended in 2007)• Cover Your Cough

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Alcohol-Based Hand Hygiene Products

“Alcohol-based products are more effective for standard handwashing or hand antisepsis by healthcare workers (HCW) than soap or antimicrobial soaps… In studies examining antibiotic-resistant organisms, alcohol-based products reduced the number of multidrug-resistant pathogens recovered from the hands of HCWs more effectively than did hand washing with soap and water.”

SOURCE: CDC Hand Hygiene Guideline, 2002; page 11.

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Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette

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Who, What, Where, When, & Why• WHO: On whom is the Precaution(s) used?

• WHAT: What type of personal protective equipment is used by healthcare worker(s)?

• WHERE: Where is the patient placed in the hospital or LTCF?

• WHEN: When is the Precaution(s) used?

• WHY: Why is the Precaution(s) used?

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Standard Precautions

• WHO: All patients in all healthcare settings• WHAT: Hand hygiene and PPE: healthcare workers

have clean hands and use of appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, gown, face protection) as indicated by the nature of the interaction and the extent of anticipated blood, body fluid etc. exposure

• WHERE: No special room placement is required• WHEN: During all healthcare encounters• WHY: Prevent transmission of bloodborne and other

pathogens from recognized and unrecognized sources of infection

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Airborne Precautions• WHO: Patient with known or suspected infection with

airborne infectious agent• WHAT: Respirator and AIIR: healthcare workers will

wear respiratory protection (respirator) upon entry into patient’s Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR)

• WHERE: Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR): patient is placed in a room with special air handling and ventilation capacity (negative air pressure)

• WHEN: During hospitalization or LTCF stay while patient is known/suspected to be contagious

• WHY: Prevent transmission of airborne infectious agents

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Droplet Precautions• WHO: Patient with known or suspected infection with

droplet-spread infectious agent• WHAT: Mask: healthcare workers will wear mask upon

room entry / when working within 6 feet of patient• WHERE: Private room: patient is placed in a private

room, if available. Special air handling and ventilation capacity are NOT required or indicated.

• WHEN: During hospitalization or LTCF stay while patient is known/suspected to be contagious

• WHY: Prevent transmission of infectious agents spread through close respiratory or mucous membrane contact with infectious respiratory secretions

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Contact Precautions• WHO: Patient with known or suspected infection with

contact-spread infectious agent• WHAT: Gown and gloves: healthcare workers will wear

gown and gloves for all interactions that involve contact with patient

• WHERE: Private room: patient is placed in a private room, if available. Special air handling and ventilation capacity are NOT required or indicated.

• WHEN: During hospitalization or LTCF stay while patient is known/suspected to be contagious

• WHY: Prevent transmission of infectious agents spread through direct or indirect contact

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How to Safely Don & Remove PPE

• The addddddition of a mask for certain spinal procedures grew from recent evidence of an associated risk for developing meningitis caused by respiratroy flora

• The use of a mask when performing certain high-risk, prolonged procedures involving spinal canal punctures (e.g., myelography, epidural anesthesia)

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Problematic Pathogens

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Clostridium difficilea.k.a. C. diff

• Bacteria: spore-forming bacteria• Toxin-producer: produces exotoxins (toxin A

and toxin B) that are pathogenic to humans• Exotoxins: toxin A and toxin B• Illness: diarrhea (known as Clostridium difficile

infection – CDI)– Can also cause serious intestinal conditions, sepsis– CDC estimates that 14,000 deaths occur annually

due to CDI

Main Symptoms of CDI

• Watery diarrhea• Fever• Loss of appetite• Nausea• Abdominal pain/tenderness

Public Health definition of diarrhea: 3 or more loose stools within a 24-hour period

Risk Factors for CDI

• Antibiotic exposure• Proton pump inhibitors• Gastrointestinal surgery/manipulation• Long length of stay in healthcare settings• Serious underlying illness• Immunocompromising conditions• Advanced age

CDI: New Difficulties With an Old Pathogen

• Nationwide, increased rates of CDI, with more severe disease and increased mortality

• Possible reasons include the emergence of a new strain of C. diff with increase virulence and/or antibiotic resistance– New strain has increased production of toxins A

and B, and can produce an additional toxin known as binary toxin

CDI: Healthcare Facility Infection Control• Contact Precautions for patients with known or

suspected CDI– Soap & water hand hygiene; alcohol doesn’t kill

spores• Continue Contact Precautions until diarrhea ceases and

patient has been diarrhea-free for 3 days• Ensure adequate cleaning and disinfection of

environmental surfaces, especially items likely to be contaminated with feces– During outbreaks, use a bleach-based disinfectant or

an EPA-registered disinfectant with a sporicidal claim

Multidrug-Resistant Organisms

• Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are microorganisms, predominantly bacteria, that are resistant to 1 or more classes of antibiotics

• In some cases, the microorganisms have become so resistant that no available antibiotics are effective against them

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Facts About MDRO Transmission

• Transmitted by the same routes as antibiotic susceptible infectious agents

• Patient-to-patient MDRO transmission in healthcare settings is usually via contaminated hands of healthcare workers

• Contact Precautions are recommended to prevent MDRO transmission in healthcare settings

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MRSA in the 21st Century

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What is Staphylococcus aureus?

• Bacteria often referred to as “Staph”• Carried on the skin or in the nose of

healthy people– Approximately 30% of the population

carry it on the skin or in the nose– Approximately 2% carry a type known as

MRSA

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What Is MRSA?• MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant

Staphylococcus aureus• It is a type of Staph bacteria that is resistant to

certain antibiotics including penicillin, methicillin, and amoxicillin

• HA-MRSA stands for healthcare-associated MRSA

• CA-MRSA stands for community-associated MRSA

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MRSA Infection• In the community, most MRSA infections

are skin infections• In healthcare settings, more severe or

potentially life-threatening infections may occur among patients e.g., bloodstream infection, pneumonia, surgical site infection, urinary tract infection

• MRSA is spread by contact transmission44

ESBL-Producing Bacteria• ESBL = Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase• Beta-lactams are a class of antibiotics• Beta-lactamase is an enzyme that deactivates the antibiotics• ESBLs are enzymes that confer resistance to a broad

(extended) spectrum of beta-lactam antibiotics & third and fourth generation cephalasporins

• ESBL-producing bacteria have been identified in E. coli, and also in Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Serratia species

• ESBL-producing bacteria are spread through contact transmission

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Carbapenem Resistance and Carbapenemase-Producing Bacteria

• Carbapenems: a class of beta-lactam antibiotics (imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, doripenem)

• Carbapenems have been used as a last line of defense in treating infections caused by ESBL-producing bacteria

• Some bacteria have developed the ability to produce carbapenemase which is an enzyme that deactivates carbapenem antibiotics– KPC refers to Klebsiella pneumoniae

carbapenemase– CRE refers to carbapenem-resistant

Enterobacteriaceae• KPC / CRE are spread through contact transmission

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Bad News• Antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s most pressing

public health threats• Antibiotic overuse increases the development of drug-

resistant germs• It will be many years before new antibiotics are available

to treat some resistant infections• Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) infection -- a

type of antibiotic resistant bacteria also known as CRE -- is found in 37 states

• Resistance anywhere is resistance everywhere– Antibiotic resistance can travel the globe (Information source: CDC Web site “Get Smart for Healthcare”)

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CDC: 2011 Location of CRE Caused by KPC Enzyme;

CRE Caused by Other Enzymes Noted

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Good News • Many healthcare facilities are making infection prevention a

patient safety priority• Implementation and correct adherence to Standard

Precautions, and Contact Precautions when indicated, are “low-tech” practices that help prevent MDRO transmission

• CDC has launched educational programs and campaigns to promote the proper use of antimicrobial agents

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FUNdamental Information: Knowledge Assessment

1) Antibiotics are drugs that fight infections caused by A) BacteriaB) VirusesC) Bacteria and virusesBACTERIA.

2) FILL IN THE BLANKS: ________ _________ is the primary strategy recommended by CDC as the foundation to prevent transmission of infectious agents in all healthcare settings.

Standard Precautions

1) TRUE or FALSE? MRSA is spread by airborne transmission. FALSE: MRSA is spread by contact transmission. 50

FUNdamental Information:Knowledge Assessment

4) Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are most frequently spread from one patient to another in healthcare settings byA) Airborne spread resulting from patients coughing and sneezingB) Patients coming in contact with contaminated equipmentC) The contaminated hands of healthcare workersD) Substandard environmental maintenanceThe contaminated hands of healthcare workers

5) What is the IDPH recommendation for the length of time to perform proper hand washing? 20 seconds of scrubbing

6) TRUE of FALSE? Clostridium difficile is readily killed by alcohol-based hand hygiene products. FALSE: alcohol doesn’t kill spores

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Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

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Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

(Don’t be alarmed! This photo was staged – it’s not really blood!)

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Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Concluding Comments

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