Infection control and healthcare systems

Microorganisms

Tiny living organisms that exist and maintain bodily functions in the body.

Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause diseases.

Non-pathogens

Microorganisms that are essential to the body and do not cause disease.

Viruses

Microorganisms that require a living cell to reproduce and cannot replicate on their own.

Infection transmission

Some viruses that infect animals can change to infect humans.

Microorganism environment

Microorganisms prefer warmer, darker, and moist places, not cold environments.

Antibiotics

Medications that are only effective against bacteria.

Standard precautions

Guidelines used when in contact with bodily fluids to prevent infection.

Bodily fluids

Include blood, mucus, sputum, saliva, urine, and feces.

Patient treatment

Treat all patients as if they are sick and carriers of infection.

Needle safety

Never recap used needles; dispose of them in a Sharps container.

Gloves usage

Always use gloves in procedures involving bodily fluids and never reuse them.

Masks

Wear masks in procedures involving airborne droplets and change them frequently (every 30 minutes).

Resuscitation devices

Use these instead of direct contact to reduce infection risk during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

OSHA requirements

OSHA requires vaccinations for Hepatitis B but is not part of the needlestick safety and prevention act.

Injury reporting

Minor injuries should be reported immediately.

Biohazard linens

Linens soiled with body fluids should be treated as biohazardous and not mixed with regular laundry.

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, responsible for establishing standard precautions to prevent infection spread.

Standard precautions adherence

Healthcare workers should follow standard precautions at all times without exception.

Infectious body fluids

Under standard precautions, body fluids like blood, urine, and saliva are considered infectious.

Isolation methods

Depend on the cause of the patient's disease, how it spreads, and antibiotic resistance.

Protective isolation

Certain patients may require protective or reverse isolation due to chemotherapy or weakened immune systems.

Contact precautions

Gowns and gloves are necessary for direct contact precautions; not all require a mask.

Droplet precautions

Require masks but do not necessitate air filtration or venting outdoors.

Airborne precautions

Require high-efficiency masks (N-95 or HEPA filters) and air filtration or venting outdoors for diseases like measles and tuberculosis.

Epidemic vs

An epidemic is localized, while a pandemic is on a much larger scale.

OSHA standards

Employers must provide Hepatitis B vaccines to employees free of charge to prevent exposure.

Hand hygiene

Healthcare workers must wash their hands before and after patient contact, when hands become contaminated, and before and after removing gloves.