West-MEC Med Lab

nosocomial infections

infections acquired in a hospital/healthcare setting

in order to be nosocomial…

must be developed after 48+ hours after admission, not entry

common nosocomial infections

pneumonia, UTIs, and GI infection

resident flora

normal microbes on skin + don't cause disease

transient flora

temporary microbes (fungi, bacteria, virus) that cause disease

pathogen

microbe that causes disease

how microbes cause infection

steal nutrients, release toxins, trigger immune response, damage cells, and spread

Naming organisms first word:

capitalized; group/class

Naming organisms second word:

lowercase; species

types of microorganisms

bacteria, fungi, protozoa, virus, and multicellular parasites

viruses

very small, need microscope; some bloodborne (HIV, Hepatitis, AIDs)

HIV/AIDs

HIV destroys helper T cells - leads to AIDs (affects whole body)

hepatitis

virus infection of the liver - can cause jaundice, cirrhosis, or death

hepatitis A

viral liver disease that causes mild to severe illness

hepatitis B

most common; spreads through contact w contaminated blood

hepatitis c

spread through contact w contaminated blood + body fluids; no cure/vaccine

hepatitis d

only w HBV; makes symptoms worse

jaundice

excess bilirubin; yellow skin/eyes

first sign of hepatitis:

brown urine

bacteria classification

shape, stain, reaction, + oxygen use

coccus

round (steph, step, diplo)

bacillus

rod-shaped

spirillum

spiral shaped bacteria

vibrio

comma shaped bacteria

aerobes

bacteria grow with oxygen

anaerobes

bacteria grow with absence of oxygen

facultative

bacteria grow w/ or w/out oxygen

drug-resistant bacteria

MRSA - resistant to Methicillin + VRE - resistant to vancomycin

protozoa

one-celled, often in soil/water; some cause diesease

Certain protozoans are pathogenic, causing which of the following diseases?

malaria, dysentery, and trichomoniasis vaginalis (type of STI)

most common protozoa

Giardia - found in food, water, or surfaces with feces

fungi

don't make own food; live off others

yeast

single-celled fungi

mold

multi-celled fungi

most fungi don't cause diseases but can be seen in superficial infections like

athletes foot, ringworm, thrush, and vaginal yeast

multicellular parasites

live on/in host; feed from it; helminths + ectoparasites

3 main classes of parasites

protozoa, helminths, ectoparasites

helminths

worms (flat, tape, round) ; infect by eggs/larvae/skin entry

ectoparasites

live on skin (mosquitoes, ticks, lice, mites)

culture specimens

collected to test infection-throat, stool, wound, urine, sputum

throat culture

upper respiratory, throat, sinus infection

stool culture

infection in digestive system

wound

fungi, bacteria, virus growing on skin

sputum

infection in lungs/airways

urine

UTIs

culturing

samples incubated at body temp for 24 hours, some 48

interpreting cultures will be done by

physician, microbiologist, or trained technician

cycle of infection

6 links needed for an infection to spread

1st link of cycle of infection

infectious agent - germ (bacteria, fungus, virus, worm, protozoa)

2nd link of cycle of infection

reservoir - where the germs lives (ppl, animals, soil, water)

3rd link of cycle of infection

portal of exit - hot it leaves (cough, sneeze, feces, urine, blood)

4th link of cycle of infection

mode of transmission - how is spreads (droplets, contact, fomites, fluids)

5th link of cycle of infection

portal of entry - how it enters a new host (wound, mouth, nose, urinary tract)

6th link of cycle of infection

susceptible host - person who can get sick

asepsis

free of disease-causing microorganisms

2 types of asepsis

medical (clean) + surgical (sterile)

most common means of transmission is

hands

hand hygiene

soap + water, alcohol-based sanitizer, nails less than 1/4 in length, and avoid nail polish/artificial nails

levels of infection control sanitization

lowest level, process of scrubbing instruments + equipment to remove material (tissue, blood, other bodily fluids), water + soap + friction

levels of infection control disinfection

mid-level, chemical or physical means of destroying bacteria, only used on objects, mainly for large instruments/heat sensitive items can withstand the autoclaving process (stethoscope, exam tables)

levels of infection control sterilization

highest level, destroying ALL microorganisms including spores using heat, chemical, water, or gas. Needed for critical times like surgery/environments like industrial, hospital, or laboratory

handwashing

before/after patient contact, after contact w specimens, coughing/sneezing/blowing nose/using restroom, before/after lunch, after breaks + before leaving for the day

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

OSHA (1970): Ensures safe work conditions, enforces CDC guidelines like standard precautions, and requires hazard-free workplaces with training + education

OSHA- bloodborne pathogens

Bloodborne pathogens = disease-causing germs in blood. OSHA made the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard in 1991.

Bloodborn Pathogen Standard

OSHA 1991: Laws on handling infectious or potentially infectious waste in medical/surgical procedures

OSHA- standard precautions

Standard precautions (former universal) = infection control for blood, fluids, skin, or mucous contact. Use with all patients. OSHA requires training + compliance

per the OSHA Bloodborn Pathogens Standard, all of the following must be discarded in biohazard container

blood/blood products, contaminated PPE, human tissue, specimen + vaginal secretions, sharps waste, used gloves, disposable supplies, other bodily fluids if visibly contaminated blood or questionable origin in body

OSHA - exposure plan

OSHA requires an Exposure Control Plan, reviewed with new hires and annually. At-risk employees must be offered the Hepatitis B vaccine free within 10 days of hire.

Transmission - based precaution

CDC guidelines add to standard precautions for patients with suspected or confirmed infection

transmission based precautions include 3 categories

contact (indirect/direct), airborne, and droplet precautions

PPE

personal protective equipment - worn to minimize exposure to hazards that may cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses, items may include gloves, goggles, gown, mask, face shields, or respirators

donning

gown, mask, goggles, gloves

doffing

gloves, goggles, gown, mask

medical office safety plan

Safe office = less risk. Have a written safety plan, easy to find, updated yearly

safety plan includes:

OSHA Hazard communication, electrical/fire/chemical safety, emergency action plan, Bloodborne Pathogen exposure, PPE, needlestick prevention

hazard communication standard

OSHA HCS updated in 2012 - requiring all employees to understand the danger of chemicals they are exposed to.

Safety Data Sheet

(SDS)- info sheets for every hazardous chemical + standardized so workers can quickly find info during an emergency

biohazard label

Label all hazardous containers—waste, blood, pathogens, and every lab

signs, symbols, + labels : biohazards

indicates the actual or potential presence of a biohazard including equipment, containers, rooms, and materials that present a risk/potential risk, Biohazard symbol is black, background is orange/orange-red

signs, symbols, + labels: radiations hazards

Radiation harms cells—limit exposure, wear protection, use badge/dosimeter to measure

simple language codes

code red - fire, code blue - cardiac arrest, code pink - infant/child abduction, code silver - armed intruder, code black - severe weather alert

precautions to avoid electrical hazards

avoid using extension cords, repair/replace equipment with damaged cord, avoid water/damp hands while using electrical devices, know location of circuit breaker + emergency power shut off.

fire safety

fire is a safety hazard anywhere but especially where high-voltage medical equipment is used such as an x-ray machine.

things that cause fires:

smoking, extremely flammable material, and inoperative smoke detectors

types of fire extinguishers

class a, class b, class c, and class d

Class A fire extinguisher

ordinary combustibles (wood/paper/cloth)

Class B fire extinguisher

Flammable liquids - grease, gasoline, oil

Class C fire extinguisher

electrical fires

Class D fire extinguishers

Flammable metals

in case of fire PASS

pull the pin, aim at the base of fire, squeeze the trigger, sweep side to side

if fire re-ignites…

repeat the last 3 steps of PASS

evacuation plan

maps of the office floor plan should be located throughout the office + marked w the location of the nearest exit. ALL employees should be familiar/practice plan

when working w chemicals

wear protective gear, carry chemical w both hands, work in well-ventilated area, never combine chemicals unless required, always add acid to water for chemical combination to avoid splashing, proper clean up spills immediately

physical safety

Walk, don't run; wipe spills fast; floors clear, cords taped; rugs smooth, safe tools; dropped meds—dispose

Ergonomics

study of the way ppl work. People who perform repetitive tasks often develop work-related musculoskeletal disorders

safety precautions for children

Keep sharps, meds, and toxins out of reach, store toys and books safely, use only safe washable toys, and check often for sharp edges