Infection Control Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering key concepts related to infection control, including types of pathogens, modes of transmission, and preventative measures.

Opportunistic bacteria

Bacteria that do not cause harm on a healthy host but can cause infection if they enter the skin or another part of the body.

Contamination

Exposure to a pathogen through a wound or nonintact skin; an object that has not been properly cleaned and disinfected comes into contact with skin during a procedure.

Disease

When an infection has set in and has had harmful effects on the body.

Immune system

The body's defense system made up of cells that fight off invading organisms or cause the body to react and kill invading germs.

Three basic shapes of bacteria

Round (coccus), rod (bacillus), and spiral (spirillum).

Ways infectious agents are differentiated and identified

Temperature, reproduction style, specific growth patterns, growth rate, locations, and ability to accept dyes as stains.

Capsule

A slimy, mucuslike substance surrounding a bacterial cell associated with virulence.

Spore or endospore

A resting stage developed by certain rod-shaped bacteria (bacilli) that is resistant to heat, drying, and disinfectants.

Virus

A microscopic particle smaller than a cell that can enter living organisms and cause disease, consisting of genetic material and a capsid.

Diseases caused by viruses

The common cold, HBV, HCV, HIV, herpes, and most upper respiratory infections.

Staphylococcus aureus

A bacterium commonly found on the skin and in the noses of healthy people that can cause infections if it enters the body.

Beta-lactamase

A substance produced by S. aureus that degrades penicillin, destroying its antibacterial activity.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a strain of S. aureus resistant to treatment with methicillin.

Forms of MRSA skin infections

Cellulitis, impetigo, folliculitis, furunculosis, carbuncles, abscess, and infected laceration.

How MRSA skin infections are transmitted

By close skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or contact with contaminated objects or surfaces.

Endogenous infection

Bacteria travel from a site where they were harmless to a site where they cause infection.

Cross-infection

The spread of any bacteria, including MRSA, from client to client.

How Hepatitis A is transmitted

Drinking water or food contaminated with fecal material.

How Hepatitis B is transmitted

Exposure to infected blood, unprotected sex, sharing contaminated needles, and travel to countries with a high rate of infection.

How Hepatitis C is transmitted

Direct contact with human blood from contaminated needles or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes.

How Hepatitis D is transmitted

Contact with infected blood; requires the hepatitis B virus to replicate.

How Hepatitis A (HAV) is contracted

Eating food contaminated with the virus, usually through fecal material and poor infection control practices, or eating raw shellfish.

How Hepatitis B (HBV) is spread

Body fluids or sexual contact.

How Hepatitis C (HCV) is transmitted

Blood transfusions and intravenous drug use, injuries involving broken skin, and sexual contact.

How HIV affects the body

Impairing or killing the immune system, progressively destroying the body's ability to fight infections or cancers.

How HIV is spread

Infected blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), mucous membranes, and nonintact skin.

Tuberculosis

A highly infectious disease that most often affects the lungs but can occur in any part of the body.