Chain of infection/ Infection control measures- unit test

what link is broken in the chain of infection when disinfecting door knobs and phones..?

reservoir

susceptible host

-A person likely to get an infection or disease. -A person likely to get an infection or disease, usually because body defenses are weak. -Young (5 years or younger b/c immune system isn't as developed). -Elderly population. -Immunosuppressed (having a weakened immune system, making them a susceptible host. -ANYONE (depends on the pathogen)

Reservoir

-A place where germs can live and multiply. -Variety of different reservoirs. -Humans. -Environmental (soil) -Rodents, insects. -Animals/insects (referred to as vectors). -Birds. -Water. -Equipment (anything that can harbor pathogens).

psychosocial effect of PPE

-Amount of PPE can effect contact between the patient (pt) and the care provider; how they react/feel. -Try to help them by supporting them, comforting them, be concise when talking about whats happening, etc.

TO BREAK: Reservoir

-Dx (diagnose) and Tx (treatment) -Quarantine (so we don spread the infection to other people). -Isolation (so we don spread the infection to other people). -Surveillance (system of tracing the disease using evidence. In public health, we are always surveilling infectious disease; labs and physicians have to report any infectious disease to the state).

medical asepsis (condition of no infection)

-Helps to contain infectious organisms and to maintain and environment free from contamination. 1) hand washing. 2) gowns, masks, gloves (PPE- personal protective equipment). 3) clean linens- bedding, tablecloths, towels.

portal of exit

-How it can leave a host/body. -The germ can escape from the reservoir. -Infected open wounds/skin -Splatter of bodily fluids (blood, mucous, respiratory droplets, vomit). -Aerosols: tiny particles or droplets in the air (cough, sneeze)

What is the chain of infection?

-The chain of infection is a way of describing how disease is transmitted from one living being to another. -It is a infectious or communicable disease model. -We can think of each part of the process as a separate 'link' in the chain. And if we can break a link at any part of the chain, we can stop infection from occurring.

infectious agent (also referred to as pathogen)

-The infectious agent is simply the germ that causes the infection. -Depends on where we are at, what we are in contact with, of what kind of pathogen we are in contact with, depends on exposure or your immune system. -bacteria -virus -parasite -fungi

portal of entry

-The portal of entry refers to the manner in which a pathogen enters a susceptible host. -The portal of entry must provide access to tissues in which the pathogen can multiply or a toxin can act. -Often, infectious agents use the same portal to enter a new host that they used to exit the source host. -Broken skin/incisions (NOT INFECTED) -Respiratory tract- inhale it. -Mucous membranes. -Catheters/tubes/IV (anything that enters the patients body MUST be handled a certain way)

mode of transmission

-This is how the germs move, or spread, from one place to another. -Transmission from host to host. -Direct (kissing) or indirect (touching a contaminated door knob and then eating) contact. -Ingestion. -Inhalation.

Standard Precautions

-Treat everything like it's infected. This widens the focus of prevention, applying prevention tactics to all patients. -hand washing. -gowns, masks, gloves, (PPE- Personal Protective Equipment). -basic hygiene. -clean linens -BSI (a system of infection precautions intended to reduce nosocomial transmission of infectious agents among patients and to reduce the risk of transmission).

TO BREAK: Infectious agents (pathogens)

-What can we do to get rid of the pathogen so infection wont continue? -Pasteurization. -Chlorination. -Disinfection. !!Hand washing is NOT under pathogen!!

TO BREAK: portal of entry

-hand washing -PPE -Insect repellent (An insect repellent is a substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages insects from landing or climbing on that surface; making sure it makes a block so that insects aren't going to bite us since we have repellent on). -personal hygiene -wound care/first aid care

TO BREAK: portal of exit

-hand washing. -PPE. -personal hygiene. -control of aerosols and splatter.

TO BREAK: mode of transmission

-hand washing. -disinfectants. -cleaning. -sterilization. -PPE. -Isolation. -Pest control (getting rid of the pests so they are no longer there and cant interfere with that mode of transmission. Insect wont be alive anymore with pest control; limits that mode of transmission). -Sneeze glass/barrier (prevents transmission from occurring. It's not gonna be transmitted from one person to the next b/c it puts up a barrier).

to stop the agent from entering the host, you might...?

-maintain skin integrity -get all your immunizations. -get proper nutrition and exercise.

TO BREAK: susceptible host

-vaccines/immunizations (once put into your body, it helps boost your immune system to recognize the pathogen. Anytime that pathogen comes into your body, your immune system will automatically attack it so you don't get sick. Some people still get sick but it's not as bad compared to if you didn't have the vaccine in your system at all). -continued treatment of underlying conditions (ex: if somebody were to have diabetes, we would need to make sure they have controlled diabetes cause that will affect their overall health and limit their risk of becoming sick with anything else. If they have a heart disease, we need to make sure they have controlled heart disease- making sure they have access to care, they are getting good care, and they can afford the care they are getting). -health insurance- wanna make sure the susceptible host is staying healthy. That's how we can break that chain! -patient education. -Healthy behaviors- keeping people healthy through: - Good nutrients. - Being active (exercise). - Sleeping

What are the six links in the chain of infection?

1. infectious agent (also referred to as pathogen) 2. reservoir 3. portal of exit 4. mode of transmission 5. portal of entry 6. susceptible host

BSI

Body substance isolation; if someone vomited in classroom for example, we want to isolate that substance so it doesn't get trapped or spread anywhere else- all about containment. Protect the substance so no one comes in contact with it.

antibiotics...?

Drugs that block the growth and reproduction of bacteria (bacterial infection)

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment like gowns, gloves or mask.

a vector transmitted disease is spread by..?

an animal

Maintain skin integrity

equals maintaining skin health. Might mean the skin is damaged, vulnerable to injury or unable to heal normally.

exit the reservoir in order for transmission to occur

exit the reservoir in order for transmission to occur