Infection prevention, isolation and outbreak management — branching viva

Opening question. Take me through the chain of infection and explain how each of your infection-control measures breaks a single link. [1]

Branch — standard precautions. What are standard precautions, and why do they apply to every patient regardless of diagnosis? Name the WHO 5 Moments of hand hygiene and tell me when alcohol-based rub is sufficient and when you must use soap and water. [1]

Branch — transmission-based precautions. Now match the precaution to the route: contact, droplet and airborne. Give me two example organisms for each and the PPE and room requirements. Why is norovirus not adequately controlled by alcohol-based hand rub alone? [4]

Branch — the outbreak in front of you. Three cases in 36 hours on one bay. Is this an outbreak, and what is your immediate response? Define a case for me. Do you wait for laboratory confirmation before acting? [4]

Branch — the epidemic curve. Sketch the epidemic curve for a point-source outbreak versus a propagating outbreak. How does the shape guide your investigation of the source and the mode of transmission? What is a pseudo-outbreak, and how do you tell it apart from a true outbreak? [4]

Branch — protecting the oncology patient. The central-line-dependent child on the next bay — what additional measures protect this patient, and how would you investigate and prevent a central-line bloodstream infection on the unit? Walk me through the CLABSI bundle. [5]

Branch — the system and the evidence. Where does this event fit in the HAI burden, and what surveillance and audit measures would you expect to find running in the background? Name the guidelines and the regional bodies that govern this practice in ANZ, the UK, the US and Canada. [6] [4]

Closing. Summarise, in one minute, the principles that make paediatric IPC a system rather than a list of rules — and tell me the single most important measure on your ward today. [1]