CH. 11 INFECTION CONTROL

types of pathogens

• bacteria

• fungi

• viruses

• prions

bacteria

• single cell organism

• contains RNA and DNA

aerobes (bacteria)

needs oxygen

anaerobes (bacteria)

don’t need oxygen

endospores (bacteria)

need to be stained

• allows bacteria to survive for many years

fungi (bacteria)

• need aerobic (oxygen) for reproduction

• produce mold and yeasts

• some useful for medicine

• yeasts source vitamins and minerals

• thrush- bad yeast infection for humans (whiteness of tongue)

viruses (bacteria)

• not visual under an ordinary microscope

• smallest micro-organisms

• either RNA or DNA, NOT BOTH

• must invade a specific host cell to survive

prions

exist in ALL MAMMALS, especially most in the brain cells

microorganisms NEEDS

• water

• oxygen

• nitrogren

• phosphorous

microorganisms USES

• iron, copper, and zinc to synthesize enzymes

• some bacteria need vitamins to grow

• pH- osmotic pressure is important for growth

microoganisms became resistant to anti-infective medications

• antimicrobial

• antibiotic

• antifungal

nosocomial infections

acquired while in the hospital or shortly afterwards

• most common: pneumonia

• UTI

communicable diseases

spread from one person, or insect, to another by blood, viruses, body fluids, insect bites

blood (communicable diseases)

borne pathogens (hepatitis, hep-c, HIV)

viruses (communicable diseases)

airborne, droplet (flu, covid-19, TB, phenumonia)

body fluids (communicable diseases)

urine, aids

insect bites (communicable diseases)

vectors, rabies

VRE (multidrug-resistant diseases)

vancomycin- resistant enterococcus

normal flora in gut (good bacteria that aren’t there bc antibiotics)

ESBL (multidrug-resistant diseases)

• extended-spectrum beta- lactamase (NARES)

• most common

bacteremia and fungemia (multidrug-resistant diseases)

found in the blood stream

C-diff (multidrug-resistant diseases)

• colostrum difficile (hand washing)

• in feces

• most common

VRSA (multidrug-resistant diseases)

used to treat MRSA

MSRA (multidrug-resistant diseases)

• methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

• semi-synthetic penicillin (UTI, body fluids)

• most common

immunosuppressed

diseased or those with pre-existing conditions

• lupus (immune system can’t find infections, can attack different organs)

• elderlu

immunosuppressed comorbities

• obesity

• cancer

• diabetic

• cardiovascular conditions

cycle of infection

• infectious agent

• reservoir (host)

• exit portal

• means of transmission

• entry portal (new host)

infectious agent

bacterium, fungus, virus, prion, or parasite

• invasiveness: ability to enter tissues

• specificity - attraction to the host

reservoir (host)

host is an animal, plant, water, food, earth and human

• environment for pathogenic microbes live and multiply

• any combination of organic materials that supports life of particular pathogen

portal of exist

• can be more than 1 portal

• human reservior - nose, mouth, intestines, urinary tract

• open wounds - bodily fluids may escape (cellulitis, trauma)

means of transmission

• carrier

• direct contact

• indirect contact

• droplet

• vehicle

• vector

• airborne

carrier

no symptoms

direct contact

touch/enter

indirect contact

touching fomites

droplet

secretions in air

vehicle

through food, water

vector

from insect, biting

airborne

residue of droplet

portal of entry

• pathogenic into new host

• by ingestion, inhalation, injection

• mucus membranes (under nails)

• pregnancy 0 across placenta

preventing infection transmission

• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment ) - gloves, gown, mask

• personal hygiene - clothing, jewelry, hand washing #1

medical asepsis

microorganisms eliminated with soap and water and friction

surgical asepsis

complete removal of microorganisms and spores by sterilization

transferring pts with communicable disease

• check for any signs picking pt up in ED or IP room

• check with RN before entering the room

• cover pt with blankets

• have pt wear a surgical or N95 mask as needed

• wear clean gloves

• clean equipment afterwards

• hand washing

• call EVS as needed

droplet precautions

• patients in private room (door may be open)

• patient must wear a maski for travel or visitors in room

• limit travel out of room

• RTs wear PPE with portables

• hand hygiene in/out room

• complete PPE

• N95 mask required (fit tested)

airborne precautions

• negative pressure patient rooms

• patients must wear surgical mask

• visitors wear surgical or N95 mask

• limit patient transport

• hand hygiene before and after in the room

• clean portable with sani wipes

reverse isolation

protecting yourself from patient

aseptic technique

• any practice that helps reduce the number and spread of microogranisms

• hand washing is #1

• microbes are transmitted by human hands

• alcohol aseptic technique is also acceptable

• may wash hands and use alcohol foam

• (C-diff ONLY wash hands)

surgical asepsis technique

• COMPLETE REMOVAL or microorganisms

• sterile scrub hand washing

• sterile gowns and gloves

surgical scrub technique

• cover hair and mask first

• wash one hand at a time

• use friction and disposable scrub brush

• do not contaminate other hand

• scrub hands and arms and elbows

Mr. Ryan has been a patient at the community hospital for 3 days. During his stay in the hospital, he was taken to the diagnostic imaging department several times where he was cared for by a radiographer who had an upper respiratory infection. Two days after he returned home from the hospital, he also developed an infection. It would be appropriate to say that Mr. Ryan had developed:

a nosocomial infection

Mary Mandura has been hospitalized for several weeks as a result of multiple injuries suffered in an automobile accident. She has been treated with a series of broad-spectrum antibiotics to discourage infection. She now has severe diarrhea and the stool culture has produced C. difficile. This would be called:

a superinfection

Hepatitis B and C are blood-borne viral infections. When caring for persons known to have either of these diseases, use the following infection control techniques.

Wear gloves if you are likely to come in contact with blood or body substances.

Wear goggles if there is a possibility of your being splashed with blood or body substances.

Wear a waterproof gown or apron if there is a possibility that your clothing may be splashed by blood or body substances.

The radiographer should always dress for the workplace with infection control in mind. This means:

clothing must be washable, fingernails must be kept short, and shoes must be comfortable and have closed toes

Microorganisms that need a host cell to reproduce and are virtually unresponsive to antimicrobial drugs are

viruses

The radiographer must use strict infection control mesures that include blood and body substance precautions for:

patients who have communicable diseases

Blood and body substance precautions include

Use of clean, disposable gloves for contact of the hands with blood or body fluids, a mask and goggles if blood or body fluids may spray on your face, and a gown if the blood and body fluids may touch your clothing for any patient care that may involve contact with blood or body fluids

The most common means of spreading infection are

human hands

The elements needed to produce an infection are a source, a host, and a means of transmission. An example of a source of infection might be:

A visitor in the hospital who has a "fever blister" on the mouth

A patient who develops pneumonia

A radiography student who has a cold and
comes to work

A safety precaution that must be taken when disposing of used hypodermic needles and syringes is:

To place the syringe immediately after use with the uncapped needle attached directly into the contaminated waste receptacle provided

When sterile drapes are placed by the sterile person, the drape is placed:

In the area farthest away from the sterile person first

Hand hygiene is to be used in the following situ: tions by radiographers in the workplace:

Before caring for a patient

After caring for a patient

When preparing for invasive procedures

When opening a sterile wrapper, the fold closest to the radiographer is opened first.

false

The route of transmission of MRSA, VRE, VRSA, and ESBL is:

direct contact

What must be done when the radiographer is to enter the newborn nursery?

• always scrub hands for 3 minutes

• always clean the equipment with disinfectant solution

iatrogenic infection

a nosocoimal infection that results from a particular treatment or therapeutic procedure