Chapter 17: Controlling Infection

microorganisms

tiny organisms that usually require a microscope to see

Nonpathogenic

don’t normally cause disease

pathogenic

disease-causing

babies/kids, elderly, pregnant, and immunocompromised people

Who are the specific susceptible hosts?

When bacteria from a woman’s stool (like E. coli) accidentally spread to the vaginal area, they can become pathogenic and cause infections such as UTIs or vaginal irritation.

Example of non-path. becoming harmful

In humans and animals: intestines, skin, mouth, nose, throat, and vaginal area.

Location of non-path. in the body

Endogenous

infections from microbes from inside the body

Exogeneous

infections from microbes outside the body

direct contact

indirect contact

airborne

oral route

insects/pests

The 5 ways microbes & viruses spread

Pathogen exists

Source/Reservoir (where the pathogen lives)

Portal of Exit (how it gets out)

Mode of Transmission (how it spreads)

Portal of Entry (how it gets in)

Susceptible Host (person who can get sick)

The Chain of Infection

Pathogen exists: bacteria, viruses, fungi

1st step of C.O.I.

Source/ Reservoir: humans, animals, soil, water, contaminated surfaces

2nd step of C.O.I.

Portal of Exit: sneezing, blood, urine, feces, open wounds

3rd step of C.O.I.

Mode of Transmission: touching, kissing, contaminated objects, coughing, sneezing, food, insects like mosquitoes.

4th step of C.O.I.

Portal of Entry: nose, mouth, broken skin, urinary tract, reproductive tract.

5th step of C.O.I.

Susceptible host: infants, elderly, immunocompromised people, pregnant people

6th step of C.O.I.

Localized infection

an infection that stays in one specific area of the body: cut on the skin becomes infected, ear infection, pimple/ abscess, athlete’s foot.

Generalized infection

an infection that spreads throughout the body, often through the bloodstream: sepsis, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, fever, covid-19

Medical asepsis

the practice of reducing the number of microbes and preventing their spread

Aseptic technique

helps prevent cross infection/reinfection, self-inoculation, or an illness from worker to patient and vise-versa

proper handwashing

being clean

proper handlining of equipment

using sterile products when needed

using proper cleaning solution

following standard precautions

Aseptic technique examples

a susceptible host with a source of entry, a pathogen, a mode of transmission

3 elements for transmission of pathogens

blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (not sweat) nonintact skin

What on/in the body may contain contagious infectious agents

Surgical asepsis/ sterile technique

all practices that keep and area completely free of microbes

solution and procedures killing microbes are skin harmful

Why can’t hair/skin be sterilized

Bacteriostatic solution

cleanses skin, hair, equipment, and disinfects

disinfection

the act of controlling the spread of infection

boiling

_____ water kills germs

10% solution of household bleach

what can you add to water to disinfect items

inanimate objects: walls, floors, tables, patient care equipment

What can you use stronger disinfectant on?

handwashing

process of removing microbes from contaminated hand

handwashing

what’s the best way to prevent infecting you & others

Before having direct contact with patients, inanimate object, and/or patient’s skin or lifting them, and after removing gloves,

What can you hand cleanse instead of handwashing?

Standard Precautions

main strategy for successful hopsital-aquired (nosocomial) infection control

all patients, regardless of how harmful or not their diagnosis is. Provide protection from contact w’ blood, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, & body fluids

Who follows standard precautions

the 4 ways micro

Direct spread

spread of microbes through things like: sex, touching, breathing around a sick person

indirect spread

spread of microbes through things like: air, soil, feces, toys

Oral route

spread of microbes through things like food poisoning, polio, hepatitis, salmonellosis, typhoid fever

Airborne spread

spread of microbes through things like influenza, chickenpox, wound infections

Insects/pests spread

spread of microbes through things like bubonic plague, malaria, amoebic dysentery

Transmission-based precautions

for patients suspected to be w’ pathogens by airborne or droplet transmission, contact with dry skin, & w’ contaminated surfaces

direct

You can prevent _____ microbe spread by washing your hands regularly with soap and water

indirect

You can prevent _____ microbe spread by regularly disinfecting shared surfaces and objects.

oral-route

You can prevent _____ microbe spread by avoiding contaminated food and water and keeping your hands clean before eating.

airborne

You can prevent _____ microbe spread by wearing a mask and keeping indoor air well‑ventilated.

Insects/Pests

You can prevent _____ microbe spread by keeping living areas clean and using proper pest control.

vector

an entity that can transmit a pathogen to another location

airborne, droplet, and contact

the 3 types of precautions

AIDS

a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by HIV

HIV

a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, making it harder to fight infections over time, causing AIDS

opportunistic infections

an illness that occurs when germs take advantage of a weakened immune system, causing diseases that a healthy body would normally be able to fight off.

35 million

AIDS is a global epidemic affecting ____ people

use clean needles

report & receive follow-up care for any needle sticks

bloodborne-pathogen exposure

Follow standard precautions procedure

Precautions for AIDS/HIV

Keep contagious patient in a private/isolated room

follow required precautions for each disease

infection control will inform staff of extra precautions

always use Standard Precautions for blood & body fluids

How to deal with communicable diseases

Follow precaution card instructions when entering/leaving room

Listen to patient’s feelings and concerns

protective isolation protects patients with weak immune systems for germs: chemotherapy, burn victims, leukemia,

Transmission based disease precautions

blood and some body fluids

How are bloodborne diseases spread?

Hepatitis B (HBV)

Hepatitis C (HCV)

HIV

Bloodborne disease examples