Chapter 6: Infection control Fundamentals

Immunity

The body’s ability to resists pathogens and diseases

Asepsis

The condition where the pathogen are absent or controlled

Standard Precautions

Combine Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation; treat all blood and bodily fluids as infectious

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Equipment to guard against hazards (includes: gloves, gowns, masks)

Work Practice Control

Procedures that reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering how tasks are performed.

Exogenous Infection:

Caused by pathogens from outside the body

Endogenous infection:

Occurs when normally harmless microbes become pathogenic

Opportunistic infection:

When a microorganism causes disease in a host with a weakened immune system

Healthcare- Associated Infection (HAI):

Acquired in a healthcare facility

Congenital Infection:

Present at birth

Reservoir host

Organism (person, animals, infect) where the pathogen lives

Means of Exit

How pathogens leave the host (Nose, mouth, blood)

Means of Transmission

Direct: Contact with infected person’s fluids

Indirect: Via fomites or contaminated

Airborne, Foodborne, Vector-borne

Means of entry

Pathogens enter the host (e.g, mucous membranes, broken skin)

Susceptible host

Person with little/no immunity

Virulence:

The strength or disease producing capability of a pathogen

Fomite:

Inanimate object that can carry infectious organisms

Vector:

Living carrier (e.g, mosquito, tick) of disease

OSHA (Occupational safety and Health Administration)

Created in 1970 to protect workplace safety.

Mandates biohazard labeling, training, PPE, and the HBV vaccine within 10 days of employment.

NIOSH

Recommends needlestick prevention programs

CDC:

Recommends no artificial nails for healthcare workers

Hand Hygiene

Most important aseptic procedure

Sharp disposal

Use puncture- resistant containers; never recap needles

Laundry and Waste

Use red bags with biohazard and symbols for contained materials

Cough etiquette

Cover mouth/nose with tissue and dispose of it properly

Environmental Controls

Clean contaminated surfaces and maintain cleanliness

Airborne disease

TB, influenza

Foodborne transmission

Contaminated food (e,g, salad bar)

Vectors

Mosquitoes (Zika, malaria, West Nile), fleas and ticks

Carrier

Infected individual without symptoms who spread disease

Subclinical case

Infection with no noticeable symptoms

Biohazard symbol

Required on containers for contaminated materials

General Duty Clause

Requires employers to ensure workplace safety

What is the most important aseptic procedure?

Hand washing

What is an endogenous infection?

Infection cause by normal flora becoming pathogenic

How is a congenital infection acquired?

Present at birth

What are vectors?

Living organisms that carry pathogens

What is the purpose of Standard Precautions

To treat all body fluids as potentially infectious

When must an employer offer the HBV vaccine?

Within 10 days of employment

How far can droplets from a cough/sneeze travel?

Up to 3 feet