INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL UNIT 4

Infection means:

results when pathogen invades tissues and begins growing in host

Pathogens are:

MOs that cause disease

Colonization is:

presence and growth of MO w/in a host but without damaging it

Communicable disease is:

infectious disease can be transmitted directly from 1 person to another person

Resident infectious agent:

permanent residents of the skin and in body; do not cause illness

Transient infectious agent:

attach to skin when person has contact with another person/object

What is necessary for organisms to thrive?

appropriate food, O2, H2O, temperature)

Direct mode of transmission:

infected person TO non-infected person

Indirect mode of transmission:

host touches inanimate object

Bacteriostatic…

prevents the growth or reproduction of MO

Bactericidal…

destroys MOs

Disinfectant…

substance used to destroy pathogenic MO on inanimate objects

Antiseptics…

inhibits growth of bacteria and safely used on humans

Sterilization…

destroys all MOs

Germicide…

substance used on objects and people

What is a localized infection?

patient feels pain, tenderness, warmth, and redness at wound site

What is a systemic infection?

affects entire body and can be fatal if undetected/untreated

What is inflammation?

cellular response of body to injury, infection, irritation

What order does inflammation occur in?

Vascular and cellular responses, inflammatory exudate, and tissue repair

Opportunistic infections are:

bacteria, virus, or yeast takes over when immune system is compromised

Colonization is:

MO is not normal to that system but becomes a part of you (DOES NOT MAKE YOU SICK)

A suprainfection is:

develops when broad spectrum antibiotics are used to eliminate a wide range of normal flora MOs, not just bad ones

Endogenous means:

part of patient’s flora becomes altered and overgrowth occurs

Exogenous means:

comes from MOs found outside the individual

Iatrogenic infection means:

type of HAI caused by invasive procedure

Factors influencing infection prevention and control:

age, nutrition, stress, disease process

Signs of a systemic infection are:

fever, VS/lab changes, and fatigue

Medical asepsis is:

reduction of number and transfer of MOs to other things

Surgical asepsis is:

keeping things free of all MOs

What is the first line of defense to fight off infections?

EXTERNAL nonspecific defense mechanisms

What is second line of defense in fighting off infection?

INTERNAL nonspecific and inflammatory responses

What is the third line of defense in fighting off infections?

SPECIFIC defense mechanisms

An inflammatory response is:

protective body tissue response that delivers fluid, blood products, and nutrients to a local area of injury to protect against MO invasion and prepare site for repair

Cardinal signs of inflammation:

redness, heat, swelling, pain, loss of function

Cell-mediated immunity protects…

the body against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections and provides resistance against tumor and transplanted cells

Humoral immunity produces:

antibodies (immunoglobins)

The most important for initial or primary immune response:

IgM

Only able to cross placenta barrier and protects against bacteria, viruses, and toxins:

IgG

Predominantly present in allergic or hypersensitivity reactions:

IgE

First line of defense to protect against an infection in the respiratory, GI, or urinary tract:

IgA

Regulates lymphocytes activation and suppression:

IgD

Immunity is:

resistance to infectious disease

Immunocompetence is:

normal immune response

Immunosuppressed is:

partial/complete suppression of immune response

Autoimmune is:

immune system reacts with itself (malfunctions)

Active immunity is:

antibodies produced by body in response to infection

Active Natural immunity is:

antibodies formed in the presence of an active infection in the body

Active Artificial/Acquired immunity:

immunization with an antigen

Passive immunity:

antibodies are given for certain disease

Passive natural immunity:

antibodies are transferred naturally from an immune mother to her baby

Passive artificial/acquired immunity:

antibodies from an immune human or animal are injected

MOs are considered resistant when how many antibiotics are unable to stop its growth?

TWO

Stages of illness:

incubation, prodromal, illness, and convalescence

Sepsis is:

infection in blood stream

Early signs and sx of sepsis:

thirst, agitation, and restlessness

Progressive sx of sepsis:

lethargy, weakness, and dizziness

Normal level of WBCs?

5,000-10,000

Leukocytosis is:

elevated level of WBC

Leukopenia is:

decreased level of WBC

Most common type of WBC?

neutrophils

First phagocytes on the scene:

neutrophils

Weak phagocytes but are good at detoxifying allergens:

eosinophils

Play a role in hypersensitivity reactions by secreting histamine, serotonin, and heparin:

basophils

Largest WBC:

monocytes

Responsible for antibody production:

lymphocytes

What types of WBC fall under granulocytes?

neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils

What types of WBC fall under agranulocytes?

monocytes and lymphocytes

What is neutropenia?

absolute neutrophil count less than 500

First response after a puncture or laceration:

ENCOURAGE bleeding

Empiric therapy is:

initial antibiotic directed against anticipated or like disease

Definitive therapy is:

tailored based on cultures

Prophylactic therapy:

administering antibiotic before surgery to prevent

Therapeutic response is:

positive consequence of treatment; decrease in signs and symptoms

Subtherapeutic response is:

signs and symptoms do not improve

Superinfection is:

when antibiotics wipe out normal flora

What should be done before starting antibiotic therapy?

culture/blood culture

These antibiotics are often combined with another antibiotic:

sulfonamides

Empiric therapy:

treatment BEFORE specific culture was obtained

Definitive therapy:

tailored based on cultures

Prophylactic therapy:

administering antibiotics before surgery

Therapeutic therapy:

decrease signs and symptoms

Superinfection:

antibiotics wipe out normal flora

Mechanism of action for sulfonamides:

bacteriostatic action

Mechanism of action of penicillin:

bactericidal

Mechanism of action of cephalosporins:

bactericidal

Mechanism of action of carbapenems:

bactericidal and inhibt cell wall synthesis