Communicable Diseases, Immunizations, and Bloodborne Pathogens

Comprehensive vocabulary review flashcards covering communicable diseases, CDC immunization schedules, contraindications, infection control, and OSHA bloodborne pathogen protocols.

Live Attenuated Vaccines

Vaccines that contain weakened live pathogens—specifically MMR, Flu mist (LAIV), Varicella, and Rotavirus—which must be withheld from immunocompromised individuals, such as patients actively receiving chemotherapy.

Intussusception Vaccine Contraindication

A specific gastrointestinal condition that serves as an absolute contraindication to receiving the Rotavirus vaccine.

Initial Approach to Vaccine Hesitancy

The recommended open-ended communication technique where the nurse explores parental reluctance by stating, 'Tell me more about your concerns about giving your child vaccines.'

Vaccine-Autism Relationship

No vaccine (including MMR, DTaP, and Hepatitis B) is associated with an increased risk of autism.

CDC Immunization Schedule Color System

Visual guidelines where yellow boxes denote the recommended age range (left edge indicates the absolute minimal administration age), teal boxes represent safe ages for catch-up immunization in healthy individuals, and purple boxes denote schedules for specific chronic medical conditions.

Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule

A $3$-dose immunization series recommended with the $1\text{st}$ dose given at birth, the $2\text{nd}$ dose between $1\text{--}2\text{ months}$ of age, and the $3\text{rd}$ dose between $6\text{--}18\text{ months}$ of age.

Four-Month Well-Child Immunizations

The standard routine vaccine series administered to an up-to-date $4$-month-old infant: Rotavirus (RV), DTaP, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV).

Four-Year-Old Well-Child Immunizations

The routine vaccine booster series administered to an up-to-date $4$-year-old child: DTaP, IPV, MMR, and Varicella.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

A contagious respiratory infection spread by respiratory droplets (requiring droplet and contact precautions) with an insidious onset, minimal fever, and a severe paroxysmal cough stage lasting $1\text{--}6\text{ weeks}$.

Pertussis Infant Complications and Cocooning

Complications in high-risk infants including secondary bacterial pneumonia, apnea and bradycardia events, and respiratory failure; prevented by vaccinating parents and close family members.

Tetanus Wound Management Prophylaxis Guide

Protocol dictating that clean, minor wounds require a tetanus booster only if the last dose was given $\\ge 10\\text{ years}$ ago, whereas contaminated/puncture/crush wounds require a booster if given $\\ge 5\\text{ years}$ ago, plus Tetanus Immune Globulin (TIG) if primary series is incomplete ($<3\\text{ doses}$) or unknown.

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)

A bacterial pathogen transmitted via respiratory droplets (requiring droplet precautions) that causes severe invasive illnesses including meningitis, epiglottitis, pneumonia, arthritis, and cellulitis, typically requiring hospitalization.

Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)

A viral infection transmitted via the fecal-oral route that leads to liver dysfunction presenting with fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, and jaundice.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

A bloodborne viral infection transmitted via direct contact with infected blood or body fluids (and perinatally at birth) that causes hepatic inflammation, progressing to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular cancer.

Jaundice (Scleral Icterus)

Yellow discoloration of the sclera, mucous membranes, and skin resulting from elevated bilirubin levels due to hepatic dysfunction in diseases like Hepatitis A and B.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Subtypes

Sexually transmitted virus where low-risk types $6$ and $11$ cause low-grade cervical changes and genital warts (condyloma acuminata), while high-risk types $16$ and $18$ cause high-grade cervical dysplasia and anogenital cancers.

Gardasil Vaccine

A vaccine protecting against HPV types $6$, $11$, $16$, and $18$, indicated for both males and females between ages $9\text{--}26\text{ years}$.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)

Premalignant dysplastic changes of the cervical epithelium divided into low-grade and high-grade abnormalities that serve as precursors to cervical carcinoma, primarily driven by HPV types $16$ and $18$.

Influenza

A highly contagious viral illness spread via respiratory droplets (requiring droplet precautions), presenting abruptly with fever, joint myalgias, body aches, sore throat, headache, and nonproductive cough, causing approximately $36{,}000$ annual deaths in the US.

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV)

An injectable vaccine containing killed influenza virus that cannot transmit active influenza, though it may trigger a mild immune response with low-grade, cold-like symptoms.

COVID-19

An acute infection transmitted by airborne respiratory droplets that presents with flu-like symptoms, sensory loss (taste/smell), and potentially severe complications including hypercoagulability (strokes, heart attacks, hemorrhage), multiple organ failure, and respiratory failure.

Measles Prodrome

An early symptomatic phase lasting $2\text{--}4\text{ days}$ after a $10\text{--}12\text{ day}$ incubation period, characterized by a stepwise fever reaching 103^\rot\text{F}\text{--}105^\rot\text{F}, cough, conjunctivitis, and Koplik spots.

Koplik Spots

Tiny white or bluish-white papules on the erythematous oral buccal mucosa pathognomonic of the measles prodromal stage, appearing prior to the generalized exanthem.

Measles Exanthem

A maculopapular rash developing $2\text{--}4\text{ days}$ after prodrome onset ($14\text{ days}$ post-exposure) that begins on the face and upper neck, spreads downward, persists for $5\text{--}6\text{ days}$, and fades in order of appearance.

Measles Complications

Secondary pathologies associated with rubeola: diarrhea ($8\%$), otitis media ($7\%$), pneumonia ($6\%$), seizures ($0.6\%\text{--}0.7\%$), encephalitis ($0.1\%$), and death ($0.2\%$).

Meningococcal Disease

A fulminant bacterial infection spread by respiratory droplets (requiring droplet precautions) presenting with fever, severe headache, and stiff neck (nuchal rigidity), associated with a $10\%\text{--}15\%$ case-fatality rate despite prompt antibiotics.

Meningococcal A Conjugate Vaccine (Men ACWY) Administration

Vaccine given to adolescents at age $11\text{--}12\text{ years}$, requiring a mandatory booster dose after $4\text{ years}$ (at age $16\text{ years}$).

Pneumococcal Disease

Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (prevented via PCV13 and PPSV23) that present abruptly with fever, chills, chest pain, productive cough, tachypnea, dyspnea, hypoxia, otitis media, meningitis, and sepsis.

Rotavirus (RV) Vaccine

The only routinely administered oral vaccine in the United States, given to prevent dehydrating viral gastroenteritis, diarrhea, vomiting, and metabolic complications in infants.

Varicella (Chickenpox) Clinical Features

An airborne- and contact-transmitted illness featuring pruritic lesions appearing in successive crops over several days, characterized by lesions simultaneously present in multiple stages of development.

Varicella Lesion Morphology

Cutaneous evolution characteristic of chickenpox lesions, progressing concurrently across the head and trunk from erythematous papules to fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) and crusted ulcers.

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

Secondary reactivation of dormant varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that causes localized burning, tingling, and itching, followed by a painful, hyperpigmented vesicular rash along a unilateral dermatomal nerve path.

Herpes Zoster Dermatomal Rash

Unilateral vesicular eruption distributed along an affected sensory nerve pathway, triggered by aging, immunosuppression, intrauterine exposure, or primary varicella infection occurring before $18\text{ months}$ of age.

Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV)

A non-live shingles vaccine administered to adults aged $50\text{ years}$ and older or immunocompromised individuals to prevent reactivation of the dormant zoster virus.

Natural Host Defenses Against Infection

Anatomic and physiological protective barriers: intact skin (barrier), mouth (microbial inhibitors), eyes (blinking and tears), respiratory tract (ciliary sweeping), urinary tract (urine flushing), GI tract (gastric acid acidity), and vagina (acidic low pH).

Bloodborne Pathogens (BBPs)

Pathogenic microorganisms transmitted through human blood and infectious bodily fluids, most commonly Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Clinical Stages

A retroviral progression consisting of Stage 1 (acute flu-like illness lasting approximately $1\text{ month}$), Stage 2 (asymptomatic clinical latency phase), and Stage 3 (fatal Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS] if untreated).

HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Emergency antiretroviral pharmacotherapy that must be initiated within $24\text{ hours}$ following qualifying occupational exposure to blood or infectious bodily fluids.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Post-Exposure Protocol

Clinical management following sharp or body fluid exposure that includes testing the source, conducting baseline and $4\text{-week}$ testing for the employee, and treating with antivirals if positive (no prophylactic medication or vaccine exists).

Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

Federal legislation signed into law on November 6, 2000, mandating engineered needleless systems, sharps safety devices, and the mandatory maintenance of a sharps injury log.

OSHA Needlestick Prevention Measures

Five mandatory clinical principles: (1) plan handling and disposal before procedures, (2) use needle alternatives, (3) activate safety features, (4) immediately dispose of sharps in compliant puncture-proof containers, and (5) complete bloodborne pathogen training.

Hand Hygiene

The single most effective healthcare intervention for halting the transmission and spread of infectious disease.

Clostridioides difficile Cleaning Protocol

Specialized decontamination required because bacterial spores resist alcohol-based hand rubs and sanitizers; healthcare workers must wash hands with soap and water and clean equipment/surfaces with bleach wipes.

Purple and Orange Wipes Safety Warning

Caustic hospital surface disinfectant wipes that must NEVER be applied to a patient's skin.

Surgical Asepsis

Sterile technique designed to completely eliminate and destroy ALL microorganisms and bacterial spores from objects and fields, contrasting with medical asepsis (clean technique) which only reduces microbial load.

Mask-Requiring Transmission Precautions

Isolation categories necessitating mask usage by healthcare providers: Droplet precautions (e.g., Influenza, Pertussis, Hib, Meningococcal) and Airborne precautions (e.g., Measles, Varicella, COVID-19).