health occs chapter 5

Infection Prevention

Methods practiced in healthcare facilities to prevent and control the spread of disease.

Microorganism (Microbe)

A living organism so small that it can only be seen with a microscope.

Pathogens

Harmful microorganisms that invade the body and cause infection or disease.

Nonpathogens

Microorganisms that are part of the normal flora, are beneficial or harmless, and do not cause infection or disease.

Localized Infection

An infection limited to a specific area of the body, causing symptoms near the site.

Systemic Infection

An infection that enters the bloodstream and affects the entire body.

Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI)

An infection acquired in a healthcare facility while receiving medical care.

Signs of Localized Infection

Pain, redness, swelling, pus, fluid drainage, and heat at the site.

Signs of Systemic Infection

Fever, chills, body aches, nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, confusion, low blood pressure, or rapid breathing.

Chain of Infection

A six-link model describing how disease spreads from one host to another.

Causative Agent (Chain Link 1)

The disease-causing pathogen, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

Normal Flora

Microorganisms that live harmlessly in/on the body unless transferred to a different body part.

Reservoir (Chain Link 2)

The warm, dark, moist environment where a pathogen lives and multiplies.

Portal of Exit (Chain Link 3)

Any body opening that allows pathogens to leave an infected person, like the mouth, nose, or open wounds.

Mode of Transmission (Chain Link 4)

How a pathogen travels from host to host via contact, droplets, or air.

Direct Contact Transmission

Spread of germs by physically touching an infected person or their secretions.

Indirect Contact Transmission

Spread of germs by touching a contaminated object, like linens, tissues, or needles.

Portal of Entry (Chain Link 5)

Any body opening on an uninfected person that allows pathogens to enter, such as the nose, mouth, eyes, mucous membranes, or broken skin.

Susceptible Host (Chain Link 6)

An uninfected person who could become ill because their body defenses or immune system are weak.

Aerobic Microorganisms

Microorganisms that require oxygen to live.

Anaerobic Microorganisms

Microorganisms that live and reproduce in the absence of oxygen.

Fomites

Objects contaminated with infectious material that contains pathogens, such as doorknobs, bedpans, urinals, linens, and instruments.

Rickettsiae

Parasitic microorganisms that cannot live outside the cells of another living organism, commonly found in fleas, lice, ticks, and mites.

Communicable Disease

A disease that is transmitted from one person to another.

Bioterrorism

The use of microorganisms or biologic agents as weapons to infect humans, animals, or plants.

Standard Precautions

Infection control rules treating all blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as infected for every patient.

Body Fluids

Fluids like blood, saliva, urine, feces, vomit, pus, and semen (excludes sweat).

Transmission-Based Precautions

Extra infection controls added to Standard Precautions based on how a specific disease spreads.

Sharps

Sharp medical objects like needles and razor blades that must be placed in puncture-resistant biohazard containers.

Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs)

Bacteria resistant to one or more antibiotics commonly used for treatment, like MRSA and VRE.

Airborne Precautions

Controls for airborne germs that float long distances; requires an N95 mask and negative-pressure room.

Droplet Precautions

Controls for germs spread through large droplets traveling up to 6 feet; requires a face mask.

Contact Precautions

Controls for germs spread by direct/indirect touch; requires gloves, gown, isolated room, and dedicated equipment.

Isolate

To keep a patient or object separate from others to prevent infection spread.

Protective (Reverse) Isolation

Isolation methods used to protect vulnerable patients with compromised immune systems from outside pathogens.

Respiratory Hygiene / Cough Etiquette

Infection rules to stop respiratory germs, including covering coughs, disposing tissues, and wearing masks.

Epidemic

A disease outbreak affecting a large number of people in a specific geographic area.

Pandemic

A global disease outbreak that spreads across multiple countries or continents.

Endemic

A disease that is constantly present in a specific region or population at expected levels.

Medical Asepsis (Clean Technique)

Measures used in all healthcare settings to reduce and prevent the spread of pathogens, such as handwashing and wearing clean gloves.

Surgical Asepsis (Sterile Technique)

Sterile technique that makes an object or area completely free of all microorganisms, including spores and viruses, used for invasive procedures.

Sterile Field

An area that is completely free of all microorganisms, established using sterile barriers for surgical or invasive procedures.

Antisepsis

A cleaning process using antiseptics (like alcohol or betadine) to prevent or inhibit pathogen growth on skin; not effective against spores and viruses.

Disinfection

A chemical process that destroys or kills most pathogens on objects or surfaces (not effective against spores); requires a specific wet contact time.

Contact Time

The required amount of time a disinfectant must remain wet on a surface to kill pathogens.

Sterilization

A cleaning process using intense heat or chemicals to destroy all microorganisms, including spores.

Autoclave

A high-pressure steam machine used to sterilize medical instruments.

Ultrasonic / Cavitation

A cleaning process using sound waves through a liquid bath to remove debris from instruments prior to sterilization.

Clean vs. Dirty Objects

Clean means an object has not been contaminated with pathogens; dirty means it has been contaminated with pathogens.

Endogenous Infection

An infection or disease that originates from within the body, such as metabolic disorders or internal bacteria moving to a new body system.

Exogenous Infection

An infection or disease that originates from outside the body, such as invading pathogens, trauma, chemicals, or temperature extremes.

Opportunistic Infection

An infection that occurs when the body's immune system or defenses are weak, which would not normally harm someone with a healthy immune system.

Classes of Microorganisms

The five main groups of microscopic living things: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and helminths.

Bacteria Characteristics & Shapes

Single-celled microorganisms that lack nuclei; classified into three main shapes: round (cocci), rod (bacilli), and spiral (spirilla).

Viruses Characteristics

Tiny packages of DNA or RNA encased in protein shells that invade a living host cell, hijack its DNA to replicate, and destroy the host cell.

Fungi Characteristics

Single or multicellular organisms like yeasts and molds that secrete enzymes to break down surrounding cells for nourishment.

Protozoa Characteristics

One-celled animal-like microorganisms often found in decayed materials, animal/bird feces, or contaminated water (causes diseases like malaria).

Helminths Characteristics

Multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes (such as hookworms or pinworms) transmitted via contaminated food or insect bites.

Body Defenses

Natural barriers protecting the body from pathogens, including mucous membranes, cilia, coughing/sneezing, stomach acid, tears, fever, inflammation, and immune response.

WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene

The five key times to clean hands: 1) Before touching a patient, 2) Before clean/aseptic procedures, 3) After body fluid exposure risk, 4) After touching a patient, and 5) After touching patient surroundings.

Handwashing Protocol

Scrub hands and wrists vigorously with soap and water, using friction for at least 20 seconds while keeping fingertips pointed downward.

Alcohol-Based Hand Rub (ABHR) Rules

Preferred method for routine cleaning when hands are not visibly soiled; apply 60-95% alcohol sanitizer and rub hands until completely dry.

Artificial Nails Rule

Artificial nails must not be worn because they harbor bacteria and increase contamination risks, even after frequent handwashing.

PPE Donning Sequence

The correct order to put on PPE: 1) Gown, 2) Mask or Respirator, 3) Goggles or Face Shield, 4) Gloves (gloves go on last and overlap gown cuffs).

PPE Doffing Sequence

The correct order to take off PPE: 1) Gloves, 2) Goggles or Face Shield, 3) Gown, 4) Mask/Respirator (mask comes off last; respirator after leaving room and closing door; wash hands immediately).

Highest Risk Step in PPE Usage

Doffing (removing PPE) is the highest-risk step for self-contamination and must be performed slowly and carefully.

Bloodborne Pathogens Definition

Pathogenic microorganisms found in human blood and certain body fluids that can cause serious infections like HBV, HCV, and HIV.

Hepatitis B (HBV) Details

A severe bloodborne liver virus that can survive in dried blood for at least 7 days; preventable with a free 3-dose vaccine series offered to healthcare workers.

Hepatitis C (HCV) Details

The most common chronic bloodborne infection; can live on surfaces for up to 6 weeks, has no vaccine, but has curative direct-acting antiviral treatments.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) & AIDS

A bloodborne virus that attacks the immune system and leads to AIDS; it is fragile outside the human body.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Immediate medical evaluation and preventive treatment given after an accidental exposure to blood or body fluids to lower infection risk.

Exposure Control Plan

A written safety plan required by OSHA for healthcare facilities to eliminate or reduce employee exposure to infectious materials.

Engineering Controls

Safety features built into medical devices to reduce workplace hazards, such as needleless IV systems, retractable lancets, and puncture-resistant sharps containers.

Work Practice Controls

Safe behavioral rules that reduce exposure risk, such as washing hands after glove removal and never recapping needles with two hands.

Significant Exposures (OSHA)

Accidental incidents requiring immediate reporting, including needle sticks, cuts from contaminated objects, mucous membrane contact, or non-intact skin contact (including acne).

Hierarchy of Decontamination

The 3-step infection control process: 1) Cleaning (removing organic soil with water/detergent), 2) Disinfection (killing pathogens with chemical wet time), 3) Sterilization (destroying all life and spores using an autoclave).

Clean and Dirty Utility Rooms

Separate facility rooms for clean supplies versus dirty/contaminated items; wash hands before entering clean rooms and before leaving dirty rooms.

Dedicated Equipment in Isolation

Equipment assigned to and used by only one specific patient in isolation (such as a dedicated blood pressure cuff and stethoscope) to prevent cross-contamination.

Handling Soiled Linen

Fold dirty areas inward, keep away from uniform, do not shake, and bag immediately at point of origin.

CRE (Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae)

Antibiotic-resistant intestinal bacteria that can cause severe, life-threatening infections.

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)

Spore-forming gut bacteria causing severe diarrhea; resistant to alcohol sanitizer and requires soap and water.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

A federal agency that creates regulations to protect workers from job hazards, including infections.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

A federal health agency that provides disease prevention guidelines for healthcare workers.

Employer Responsibilities for Infection Control

Responsibilities include establishing an exposure control plan, providing safety education, providing free PPE and hepatitis B vaccines, and keeping a sharps injury log.

Employee Responsibilities for Infection Control

Responsibilities include following Standard Precautions and facility policies, wearing proper PPE, reporting exposures immediately, and taking advantage of the free hepatitis B vacc

Specimen Labeling Requirements

Body fluids being saved for a specimen must be clearly labeled with the patient's name, date of birth, date, and a biohazard label, kept in a container with a lid, and transported in a biohazard specimen bag if required.

Handwashing Rinsing Direction

During handwashing rinsing, hands must be kept lower than the elbows with fingertips pointing downward so water flows from wrists to fingertips without contaminating clean hands.

Shaking Soiled Linen Prohibited

Healthcare workers must never shake dirty bed linens because shaking disperses pathogens, dust, and microorganisms into the air and onto uniforms.

Skin Contamination Immediate Action

Any skin surfaces that become contaminated with blood or other body fluids must be washed immediately with soap and wat