Infection Control

droplet transmission

-occurs when the pathogen travels in water droplets expelled as an infected person exhales, coughs, sneezes, or talks or during suctioning an oral care -can only travel A FEW FEET, within that distance they may readily contaminate fomites that then transmit the organism by contact

communicable disease

A disease that can be spread from one person or species to another.

sharps container

A puncture-proof container designed specifically to safely dispose of needles, scalpels, and other sharp disposable medical instruments

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that investigate foodborne-illness outbreaks, study the causes and control of disease, publish statistical data, and conduct the Vessel Sanitation Program.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

An agency of the US Department of Labor whose function is to regulate and enforce safety and health standards in the workplace

Fomite

Any inanimate object to which infectious material adheres and can be transmitted.

Exposure incident

Contact with nonintact (broken) skin, blood, body fluid or other potentially infectious materials that is the result of the performance of an employee's duties.

infection

Contamination or invasion of body tissue by pathogenic organisms

systemic disease

Disease that affects the body as a whole, often due to under-functioning or over-functioning of internal glands or organs. This disease is carried through the blood stream or the lymphatic system.

Blood borne pathogens

Disease-causing organisms transferred through contact with blood or other body fluids

MRSA

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - can survive on hands, clothing, environmental surfaces, and equipment

Droplet precautions

Must be followed for a patient known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by large-particle droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing.

exogenous

Produced outside the body

fomite

a contaminated object that transfers a pathogen

causative agent

a pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus that can cause a disease

susceptible host

a person who is at risk for infection because of inadequate defenses against the invading pathogen

Virulence

ability to produce disease

gloves

always remove ________ first when removing PPE

Carrier

an individual or animal who can spread a pathogen that causes disease but do not become ill themselves

compromised host

an individual whose resistance to infection is impaired by disease, therapy, or burns

vector

an organisms that carries a pathogen to a susceptible host (mosquito)

epidemic

an outbreak of disease that suddenly affects a large group of people in a geographic region or in a defined population group

portal of exit

any body opening on an infected person that allows pathogens to leave. most commonly through body fluids

portal of entry

any body opening on an uninfected person that allows pathogens to enter

pathogens

are microorganisms that care capable of causing disease

Superbugs

bacteria that are resistant to large numbers of antibiotics

passive immunity

can also be achieved when a receives antibodies that come from someone else rather than producing them through her own immune system, as in immunizations and mother's milk

carrier

capable of defending themselves from active disease but harbor the pathogenic organisms within their bodies

latent infections

cause no symptoms for long periods of time, even decades.

opportunistic infection

caused by a pathogen that does not normally produce an illness in healthy humans

prodrome

characterized by the first appearance of vague symptoms. not all infections have this stage.

medical asepsis

clean technique; refers to procedures that decrease the potential for the spread of infections

modes of transmission

contact (direct or indirect) droplet, airborne, vector

most frequent mode of transmission

contact, either direct or indirect

chronic infection

develop slowly and last for weeks, months, or even years. some chronic infections, such as relapsing fever, recur after periods of remission

N-95 respirator

for airborne isolation

surgical mask

for droplet isolation

Removing PPE

gloves, goggles, gown, mask

Order of putting on PPE

gown, mask, goggles, gloves

acute infection

have a rapid onset but last only a short time

convalescence

healing begins as the remaining number of microorganisms approaches zero.

indirect contact

involves contact with a fomite

Infection

is invasion of and multiplication in the body by a pathogen

normal flora

live in the intestine aid in digestion and synthesize vitamin K and release vitamin B12, thiamine, and riboflavin when they die

PPE (personal protective equipment)

mask, goggle, face shield, respirator

systemic infections

occur when pathogens invade the blood or lymph and spread throughout the body

airborne transmission

occurs when microorganisms float considerable distances on air currents to infect large numbers of people

active immunity

occurs when the body makes its own antibodies or T cells to protect the body against a pathogen

pandemic

one that affects a large number of people in an entire country or worldwide - exceptionally widespread epidemic

secondary infection

one that follows a primary infection, especially in immunocompromised patients

bacteremia

presence of bacteria in the blood

Endogenous

produced from within; due to internal causes

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)/Nosocomial Infection

refers to infections associated with healthcare given in ANY setting

disinfection

removes pathogens on inanimate objects by physical or chemical means, including steam, gas, chemicals, and ultraviolet light

Surgical asepsis (sterile technique)

requires creation of a sterile environment and use of sterile equipment

aerobic

requires oxygen to live and grow

asymptomatic

showing no symptoms of disease

reservoir

source of infection: a place where pathogens survive and multiply

vaccine

substance prepared from killed or weakened pathogens and introduced into a body to produce immunity

septicemia

symptomatic systemic infection spread via the blood

Sterilization

the elimination of all microorganisms (except prions) in or on an object

primary infection

the first infection that occurs in a patient

standard precautions

the first tier of protection, apply to care of all patients.

illness

the patient becomes ill when the signs and symptoms of the disease appear. if the patient immune defenses and medical treatments (if any) are ineffective, this stage can end in death

incubation

the person does not suspect that he has been infected but may be capable of infecting others

contamination

the process of becoming unclean

transmission-based precautions

the second tier of protection, are for patients, with known or suspected infection or colonization with pathogens

local infections

those that cause harm in a limited region of the body.

clean technique

use of clean hands or nonsterile gloves and clean, rather than sterile, supplies

Airborne precautions

used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei

direct contact

usually involves physical contact, sexual intercourse, and contact with wound drainage, but it can involve scratching and biting

what kind of environment do pathogens grow best?

warm, moist, dark environment

sterile means

without life - free from all microorganisms