NUR 215 Module 3: Infection Control Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the basics of infection control, types of infections, clinical stages, laboratory findings, and isolation precautions based on the NUR 215 Module 3 Study Guide.

Infection

The invasion and multiplication of a pathogen inside the body.

Pathogen

A microorganism that can cause disease, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or prions.

Medical Asepsis

Also called clean technique, these are practices that reduce the number and spread of microorganisms, such as hand hygiene and environmental cleaning.

Surgical Asepsis

Also called sterile technique, it involves maintaining a sterile field and using sterile equipment to eliminate all microorganisms.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

Infections acquired while receiving care in a healthcare setting.

Nosocomial infection

An infection acquired specifically in a hospital setting.

Infectious agent

The pathogen that causes disease, representing the first link in the chain of infection.

Reservoir

The place where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies; examples include humans, soil, water, and equipment.

Portal of exit

The route a pathogen uses to leave the reservoir, such as blood, respiratory secretions, or wound drainage.

Mode of transmission

How a pathogen spreads, including direct contact, indirect contact, droplet, airborne, fecal-oral, or vector-borne methods.

Portal of entry

How a pathogen enters a new host, such as through mucous membranes, wounds, or IV sites.

Susceptible host

A person at increased risk for infection because their defenses are reduced, such as infants, older adults, or the immunocompromised.

Virulence

The strength or ability of a pathogen to cause disease.

Normal Flora

Microorganisms that normally live in or on the body without causing disease and can be beneficial by competing with harmful pathogens.

CAUTI

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection.

CLABSI

Central-line associated bloodstream infection.

C. difficile

A gastrointestinal infection often associated with antibiotic use where alcohol-based sanitizer is unreliable against spores.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; it can cause skin and bloodstream infections and is spread by skin-to-skin or contaminated contact.

MDRO

Multidrug-resistant organism; a microorganism that has developed resistance to one or more antimicrobial medications.

Incubation period

The time between pathogen entry and the appearance of the first symptoms.

Prodromal stage

The time from the onset of vague symptoms (like fatigue or malaise) to more specific symptoms.

Illness stage

The period when symptoms specific to the infection occur and the infection is most obvious.

Decline stage

The period when the immune system or treatment reduces the number of pathogens and symptoms begin to improve.

Convalescence

The recovery stage when acute symptoms disappear and the body returns toward baseline.

Local infection

An infection occurring in one specific area of the body, characterized by redness, warmth, pain, and swelling.

Systemic infection

An infection that spreads through the blood or lymph and affects multiple body systems, marked by fever, chills, and increased heart rate.

Anorexia

Loss of appetite.

Malaise

A general feeling of discomfort, weakness, or being unwell.

Erythema

Redness of the skin.

Edema

Swelling.

Leukocytosis

An elevated White Blood Cell (WBC) count, often above $10,000/mm^3$.

Left shift

An increase in immature neutrophils or bands, which often suggests a bacterial infection.

ESR

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; a lab marker of inflammation where levels greater than $20\,mm/hr$ can indicate infection.

Standard Precautions

Minimum infection-prevention practices used for all clients, including hand hygiene and PPE when exposure to blood or body fluids is possible.

Contact Precautions

Precautions used for infections spread by touch (e.g., MRSA, VRE, C. diff); requires gown and gloves.

Droplet Precautions

Precautions for infections spread by large respiratory droplets (greater than $5\,\text{microns}$) like influenza; requires a surgical mask.

Airborne Precautions

Precautions for small particles (less than $5\,\text{microns}$) that remain suspended in air (e.g., TB, measles); requires a private negative-pressure room and N95 respirator.

Protective Environment

Used for severely immunocompromised clients; features a private room with positive airflow and HEPA filtration.

Donning

The correct order of putting on PPE: gown, then mask/respirator, then goggles/face shield, and finally gloves.

Doffing

The correct order of removing PPE: gloves, then goggles/face shield, then gown, and finally mask/respirator.