Infection Control & Health and Safety

Infection Control

programs that survey diseases within health care facilities so that they can investigate, prevent, and control the spread of infectious diseases and their causative microorganisms

Epidemiology Department

Whose responsibility is it to monitor infection control?

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution and determinants of disease and injuries in human populations

Infection

The reproduction of microorganisms in the human body

Disease

The signs and symptoms associated with an infectious agent or unknown etiology

Typical infection

Clinical signs and symptoms externally (ex: pain, fever, swelling, redness); body initiates an immune response internally

Subclinical infection

no external signs or symptoms and body does not initiate an immune response

Colonization

the reproduction of an infectious microorganism with no interaction between the body and the microorganism that would result in a detectable immune response. A person who is ___ but not ill is a carrier.

Nosocomial infection

Acquired within health care facilities but do not develop until after discharge

Pathogen

an infectious agent

Bacteria and Viruses

What is the most common sources of nosocomial infections?

Pathogenicity

the ability of an infectious agent to cause clinical disease

Virulence

the severity of a clinical disease, typically expressed in terms of morbidity and mortality

Reservoir Host

Where the pathogen/infectious agent resides

~Can be dry surfaces and equipment, people, water, animals, insects, and soil

~ If disease develops, proceeds in three phases: incubation, clinical disease, & convalescence

Incubation

time interval between exposure and the appearance of the first symptom

Clinical disease

person exhibits signs and symptoms

Convalescence

stage of recovery from the illness

Exit Portal

how is the disease going to be transferred

Transmission

the movement of an infectious agent from the source to the host

Susceptible Host

any person, especially those receiving healthcare and compromised immune systems (Ex: those receiving chemo)

Direct contact

host makes physical contact with the source (ex: touching, someone who has disease)

Indirect Contact

involves an object that is contaminated from contact with an infectious agent and infects another individual (ex: needle stick)

Contact

What is the most frequent way nosocomial infections are spread?

Droplets

the infectious agent is rapidly transferred through the air over short distances such as by coughing, sneezing, or talking too close to someone’s face

3 feet; 6-10

Droplets are large/heavy particles that travel up to ____ or less. Thus, PPE should be worn within _____ feet.

Common Vehicle Spread

transmission involves a contaminated inanimate object (fomite) for transmission of the infectious agent to multiple persons

Fomites

nonliving objects

Airborne

Transmission involves an infectious agent using the air as its means of dissemination and involves long distance, which is typically described as 6 feet or great or even up to miles

~ Can be in air for hours/days and inhaled or deposited on a host

~Require special ventilation (N95)

6 feet; miles; hours/days

Disease that are transferred through the air can travel for distances of ___ or even up to ____. They can be in the air for _____.

Vector-Borne

Involves living organism that transports an infectious agent to a host

Vector

living organism

Nonspecific defense mechanisms

body comes with defense mechanisms, including skin, cilia in lungs, acidic lining of gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, tears, and saliva

Specific defense mechanisms

two forms are natural immunity and artificial immunity

Natural immunity

immunity that develops after exposure to a pathogen and activation of the body’s own immune response

Artificial immunity

Divided into active and passive immunity: vaccines or transferred antibodies from host to susceptible host

Active immunity

Vaccines altered with the pathogen; vaccine serves as antigen which triggers the human body’s immune system to create antibodies

Passive immunity

The transfer of protective antibodies from one host to a susceptible host (short lived/months) (ex: a mother to child through birth)

Hand Hygiene

Cited frequently as the single most important practice to reduce the transmission of infectious agents in health care settings and it is clearly as essential element of standard precautions

Hepatitis C

Most common chronic blood-borne infection in the U.S.

Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)

The pathogen that causes chicken pox and herpes zoster (shingles or HZ). VZV has an extremely high degree of communicability and its transmitted by the inhalation of small droplet nuclei or by direct contact with respiratory droplets or vesicle fluid.

Tuberculosis (TB)

~ At the turn of the 10th century, this was one of the leading causes of death

~ Today the number of deaths worldwide has dramatically decreased due to effective treatment.

~ No effective vaccine exists and multidrug-resistant __ can be fatal.

~ Primary transmission is airborne droplet nuclei

Needle sticks

____ account for 84% of job-related acquired HIV

Blood; body fluids

Preventing exposures to ____ and ____ is the primary way of preventing occupationally acquired HIV infections.

Viral Respiratory Infections

what is a major source of nosocomial infections?

Influenza

The common cold, croup, and viral pneumonia are caused by the _____ virus.

Body Substance Isolation (BSI)

~ Focused on isolation of all body fluids for all patients through protective equipment such as gloves.

~ Also addressed the transmission of non-body-fluid associated pathogens

~ Refers to all patients and all body fluids

Universal Precautions (UP)

All human blood and certain body fluids are to be treated as though they are known to be infectious for HIV, hepatitis B virus, or other blood-borne pathogens

~ Refers to all patients but not all body fluids

Standard Precautions

~ Combine the major features of UP and BSI

~ Apply to blood; all body fluids, secretions, and excretions except sweat; broken or open skin; and mucous membranes

~ Designated to prevent nosocomial infections

~ Always practice as if all patients have undiagnosed infections

Central Service Department (CSD)

Accountable for preparing processing, sorting, and distributing medical supplies and equipment required in patient care.

Sterilization

A process that destroys all microbial life forms, including resistant spores. This can be achieved through chemical or physical processes.

Disinfection

A process that reduces microbial life forms and can range from high-level disinfection to intermediate-level disinfection and low-level disinfection. Some microbial life forms cannot be eliminated by this process.

Titer

Number of antigens or antibodies in the body

Reverse Isolation

~ Protecting a immunocompromised patient from yourself

~ Gown, Gloves, Mask

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

What does CDC stand for?

Institute of Medicine

What does IOM means?

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare

What does JCAHO stand for?

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

What does OSHA stand for?