CNA Chapter Six Content

antimicrobial

an agent that destroys, resists, or prevents the development of pathogens.

autoclave

an appliance used to sterilize medical instruments or other objects by using steam under pressure.

bloodborne pathogens

microorganisms found in human blood that can cause infection and disease.

bloodborne pathogen standard

federal law requiring that healthcare facilities protect employees from bloodborne health hazards.

body fluids

tears, saliva, sputum (mucous coughed up), urine, feces, semen, vaginal secretions, and pus or other wound drainage.

carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae) that have developed resistance to carbapenems, which are types of antibiotics.

carrier

person who carries a pathogen usually without signs or symptoms of disease, but who can still spread the disease.

catheter

tube inserted through the skin or into a body opening that is used to administer or drain fluid.

C. difficile or C.diff

an abbreviation for Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridum difficile); a bacterium that is spread by spores in feces that are difficult to kill; it causes symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea, and can lead to a serious inflammation of the colon (colitis).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

federal government agency responsible for improving the overall health and safety of the people of the United States.

clean

in health care, a condition in which an object has not been contaminated with pathogens.

communicable disease

an infectious disease transmissible by direct contact or by indirect contact.

contagious disease

a type of communicable disease that spreads quickly from person to person.

contaminated

soiled, unclean; having disease-causing organisms or infectious material on it.

cross-infection

the physical movement or transfer of harmful bacteria from one person, object, or place to another, or from one part of the body to another.

dehydration

an excessive loss of water from the body; a condition that occurs when fluid loss is greater than fluid intake.

direct contact

way to transmit pathogens through touching the infected person or his or her secretions.

dirty

in health care, a condition in which an object has been contaminated with pathogens.

disinfection

process used to destroy most, but not all, pathogens and other types of microorganisms.

doff

to remove

don

to put on

drainage

flow of fluids from a wound or cavity.

exposure control plan

plan that outlines specific work practices to prevent exposure to infectious material and identifies step-by-step procedures to follow when exposures do occur.

exposure incident

specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee's duties.

fomite

an object that is contaminated with a pathogen and can spread the pathogen to another person.

hand hygiene

washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

hand sanitizer

a preparation containing at least 60% alcohol that is designed for application to the hands to reduce the number of microorganisms on the hands.

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)

an infection acquired within a healthcare setting during the delivery of medical care for another condition.

hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such as alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma.

immunity

resistance to infection by a specific pathogen.

incubation period

the period of time between exposure to a pathogen and the time it causes visible signs and symptoms of disease or illness.

indirect contact

a way to transmit pathogens by touching something contaminated by the infected person.

infection

the state resulting from pathogens invading the body and multiplying.

infection prevention

set of methods used to prevent and control the spread of disease.

infectious disease

any disease caused by the growth of a pathogen.

isolate

to keep something separate, or by itself.

jaundice

a condition in which the skin, whites of the eyes and mucous membranes appear yellow.

localized infection

an infection that is limited to a specific location in the body and has local symptoms.

malnutrition

a serious condition in which a person is not getting proper nutrition.

medical asepsis

measures used to reduce, remove, and control the spread of pathogens.

microorganism (MO)

a living thing or organism that is so small that it is only visible under a microscope; also called microbe.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) that have developed resistance to the antibiotic methicillin or other antibiotics.

mucous membrane

the membranes that line body cavities that open to the outside of the body, such as the linings of the mouth, nose, eyes, rectum, or genitals.

multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs)

microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that are resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents that are comonly used for treatment.

non-communicable disease

a disease not capable of being spread from one person to another.

non-intact skin

skin that is broken by abrasions, cuts, rashes, acne, pimples, lesions, surgical incisions, or boils.

normal flora

microorganisms that live in and on the body and do not cause harm in a healthy person, as long as the flora remain in that particular location.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

a federal government agency that makes and enforces rules to protect workers from hazards on the job.

pathogens

microorganisms that are capable of causing infection and disease.

pernial care

care of the genitals and anal area.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

equipment that helps protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with workplace hazards.

reinfection

being infected again with the same pathogen.

resistance

the body's ability to prevent infection and disease.

sanitation

ways individuals and communities maintain clean, hygienic conditions that help prevent disease, such as the disposal of sewage and solid waste.

standard precautions

a method of infection prevention in which all blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes are treated as if they were infected with an infectious disease.

sterilization

a measure used to decrease the spread of pathogens and disease by destroying all microorganisms, including those that form spores.

surgical asepsis

the state of being completely free of microorganisms, also called sterile technique.

systemic infection

an infection that is in the bloodstream and is spread throughout the body causing general symptoms.

transmmission

the way and means by which disease is spread.

vaccine

a product that is administered to produce immunity to a specific disease.

VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus)

bacteria (enterococci) that have developed resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin.

What is the first Link in the chain of infection

Causative agent

What is the second Link in the chain of infection

Reservoir

What is the third Link in the chain of infection

Portal of exit

What is the fourth Link in the chain of infection

Mode of transmission

What is the fifth Link in the chain of infection

Portal of entry

What is the sixth Link in the chain of infection

Susceptible host

What are Standard Precautions

you should treat blood, bodily fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as if they were infectious

Types of PPE used in a facility

• Gloves

• Gowns

• Masks 

• Goggles

• Face shields

What should a CNA do before leaving a Patients room

Remove gloves and wash hands.

What do face shields offer that goggles don’t

They offer more protection

What should you do to dirty linens

All of the above

What should you not do with dirty linens

You should never shake dirty linens or clothes

What are Airborne precautions

They prevent the spread of pathogens that travel through the air after being expelled.

Types of waste that are considered infectious according to OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

Blood, Bodily Fluids, and Body Tissue

What plan should employers have incase of exposure to bodily fluids

Employers should have an Exposure Control Plan

What are the two major Bloodborne diseases

AIDs & HIV