Infection Control and Isolation

A set of practice flashcards covering the principles of infection control, the chain of infection, isolation precautions, and healthcare-associated infections.

Chain of Infection

A sequence of necessary pieces for an infection to occur, including infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Infectious Agent

Something that contains bacteria, fungi, virus, parasite, or prion.

Reservoir

The habitat of the infectious agent where it lives, grows, and reproduces itself or replicates.

Portal of Entry

Any body orifice (e.g., ears, nose, mouth) or the skin that provides a place for the infectious agent to replicate or for the toxin to act.

Portal of Exit

The means by which the infectious agent can leave the reservoir.

Susceptible Host

An individual required for the infectious agent to take hold and become a reservoir for infection.

Contact Precautions

Precautions required when microorganisms move from an infected person to another, requiring a private room, gloves, and a gown.

Enteric Precaution

The specific type of precaution required for Clostridium difficile.

Direct Contact Transmission

Microorganisms moved from the infected person to another person without a contaminated object or person between the two, such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) or scabies.

Indirect Contact Transmission

Microorganisms moved from the infected person to another person with a contaminated object or person between the two, notably seen with Staphylococcus aureus.

Droplet Precautions

Precautions for microorganisms from the respiratory tract that travel through the air into the mucosa of a host; requires mask, gloves, and a private room.

Airborne Precautions

Precautions for small particulates in the airspace; requires a private room with negative-pressure airflow and an N-95 mask.

Nonspecific Immunity

Refers to the work of neutrophils and macrophages acting as phagocytes to eat and destroy microorganisms.

Specific Immunity

Refers to the work of antibodies (immunoglobulins) and lymphocytes that bind to infectious agents to facilitate their destruction.

Incubation

The 1st stage of infection where an infection enters the host and begins to multiply.

Prodromal

The 2nd stage of infection when the client begins having symptoms.

Acute Illness

The 3rd stage of infection where manifestations of the specific infectious disease process are obvious and may become severe.

Decline

The 4th stage of infection when manifestations begin to wane as the degree of infectious disease decreases.

Convalescence

The 5th stage of infection when the client returns to a normal or a “new normal” state of health.

Local Infections

Infections confined to one area of the body that can be treated with topical and oral antibiotics.

Systemic Infections

Infections that start locally and then spread to the bloodstream to infect the entire body.

Hand Hygiene

The most important step in preventing the spread of infection, encompassing washing with soap and water for $15-30$ seconds or using alcohol-based sanitizers.

Medical Asepsis

Also known as clean technique; defines the elimination of and absence of disease-causing microorganisms.

Standard Precautions

Infection prevention practices applied to all clients, whether or not they are known to have an infectious agent.

Health Care-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Infections obtained by a client while at a facility, affecting 1 out of 31 clients.

CLABSIs

Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections, occurring via PICC lines or midlines.

CAUTIs

Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections, occurring via indwelling urinary catheters.

SSIs

Surgical Site Infections located at any area on the body where surgery took place.

VAPs

Ventilator-assisted Pneumonias involving a mechanical machine that acts as a bellows to move air in and out of the lungs.