MODULE 6

infection prevention

set methods and practices used to prevent and control the spread of disease

microorganism

a living thing so small it can only be seen under a microscope

infection

the state resulting from pathogens invading the body and multiplying

pathogens

microorganisms that cause infection and disease

fomite

an object (e.g., tissue, doorknob, etc.) that may be contaminated with infectious agents and aids in transmission

asepsis

the state of being free from disease-causing contaminants like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites

goal of asepsis

to eliminate infection (not to achieve sterility)

sterility

the condition of being free from all microbes

sterilization

the process that destroys all microbes

medical asepsis

also called clean technique, includes practices like handwashing to reduce pathogens

handwashing

the most important procedure to prevent infection

disinfection

destroying pathogens using water or disinfectant

surgical asepsis

sterile technique used in surgery or sterile procedures to prevent infection

breach in aseptic technique

may introduce small amounts of microbes and lead to infection

immunity

protection against certain diseases

vaccine

a suspension with weakened or killed microbes that stimulate immunity

infectious agent

microbe that causes disease; synonym for pathogen

virulence

the ability of a microbe to grow and multiply

invasiveness

the ability of a microbe to enter tissue

pathogenicity

the ability of a microbe to cause disease

reservoir

a place where microbes thrive and reproduce

mode of transmission

how a microbe moves from one host to another (e.g., via hands)

portal of exit

the route by which a microbe leaves the reservoir (e.g., mouth, feces)

portal of entry

an opening allowing microbes to enter a host (e.g., skin break, mucous membrane)

susceptible host

a person who can't resist microbial invasion due to weak immunity

antimicrobial

agent that destroys or inhibits the growth of pathogens

bacteria

most common infectious agent; not all are harmful

streptococcus

bacteria that cause tissue infections and pneumonia

E. coli

commonly found in intestines, can cause infections outside intestines

tuberculosis

lung infection spread by sneezing or coughing

rickettsia

gram-negative parasitic bacteria spread by lice or ticks (e.g., Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus)

lice

parasites causing skin/hair irritation and itching

scabies

skin condition caused by mites, causes rash and spreads via contact

virus

infectious agent made of genetic material inside a protein coat, replicates in host cells

HIV

virus that weakens immune system and causes AIDS

hepatitis A,B,C

viruses that cause liver inflammation; Hep B spread via sex, needles, mother-to-baby, or sharps

cold

viral infection affecting upper respiratory tract

influenza

contagious viral respiratory infection causing fever, chills, body aches

herpes zoster

viral infection along nerve tracks, also called shingles; caused by reactivation of chickenpox virus

fungi

single- or multicellular organisms found in soil and plant material

tinea pedis

ringworm of the feet or athlete’s foot

candida albicans

yeast infection, overgrowth in vagina, causes discharge and inflammation

protozoa

single-celled organisms living in moist environments; some are parasitic

plasmodium

protozoa that causes malaria

malaria

serious disease spread by mosquitoes, causes fever, chills, flu-like symptoms

amoebiasis

infection caused by a protozoa

antibiotic resistance

when bacteria no longer respond to antibiotics

MRSA

methicillin-resistant staphylococcus; causes skin infection, resistant to many antibiotics

MRSA prevention

good hygiene, wound care, no sharing personal items, early treatment

VRE

vancomycin-resistant enterococcus; intestinal microbe resistant to vancomycin

VRE risk factors

long antibiotic use, surgery, weak immune system, ICU, transplant/cancer wards

VRE spread

through contact with surfaces or hands, not airborne

microbe growth conditions

food, moisture, oxygen/lack of, warmth, darkness

chain of infection

1. causative agent 2. reservoir 3. portal of exit 4. mode of transmission 5. portal of entry 6. susceptible host

break the chain

hand hygiene, vaccines, coughing etiquette, staying home when sick, PPE, disinfecting, safe injections, appropriate antibiotic use

lines of defense against infection

1. normal flora 2. intact skin 3. mucous membranes 4. immune system

localized infection

limited to one body area with local symptoms

systemic infection

spread through blood with whole-body symptoms

HAI

healthcare-associated infection acquired during medical care

localized infection symptoms

redness, pain, swelling, pus, drainage, heat

systemic infection symptoms

fever, chills, nausea, weakness, headache, low BP

medical asepsis

clean technique to prevent spread of pathogens (e.g., handwashing)

surgical asepsis

sterile technique free of all microbes

OSHA

federal agency that protects workers from job hazards

CDC

agency that creates guidelines to improve public health

standard precautions

infection prevention treating all fluids and skin as if infected; used for all patients

contamination

presence of microbes on an object/person

handwashing moments

arriving, before/after patient contact, after contact with contaminated items, meals, toileting, sneezing

alcohol-based gel use

substitute for soap when not visibly soiled; wash hands after 3 uses

sharps disposal

never recap, bend or break; place in biohazard containers

handling equipment/linen

avoid contact with skin, clean/disinfect before reuse

spill cleanup

don gloves, absorb spill, disinfect area for 10 minutes, notify proper dept

environmental controls

use EPA-registered disinfectants for surfaces and equipment

waste disposal

biohazard waste in proper bags, separate from regular waste

biohazard labels

used on sharps, blood, lab specimens

PPE

personal protective equipment like gloves, gowns, masks, goggles

gown use

wear when body fluid exposure is possible, remove before exiting room

mask use

worn when respiratory illness is present; fit snugly over nose and mouth

goggles/face shields

protect eyes during splashes, wrap around face, secure with headband

gloves

wear when contact with fluids or non-intact skin, discard after each use, never wash or reuse

non-sterile gloves

used for basic care; FDA banned powdered gloves

hand hygiene steps

soap, warm water, keep clothes dry, 20 sec friction, rinse fingertips down, dry with paper towel, don’t touch sink

donning gown

hold in front, arms in sleeves, fasten neck/waist, then gloves over cuffs

doffing gown

remove gloves first, then gown rolling dirty side in, discard properly, wash hands

donning mask/goggles

grab mask by straps, top then bottom tie, pinch metal strip, goggles over eyes

donning gloves

right hand first, interlace fingers, smooth fit, over gown cuffs

doffing gloves

grasp palm, pull off, scoop inside cuff, turn inside out, discard, wash hands

full PPE donning

gown first, then mask, goggles, gloves last

full PPE doffing

gloves off first, goggles, gown, mask last, then wash hands

transmission-based precautions

used with standard precautions for contagious patients

airborne precautions

for long-distance airborne diseases like TB, COVID, measles, chickenpox

airborne isolation

place in AIIR room, use N95 or higher mask, keep door closed

droplet precautions

prevent spread via sneezing/coughing; private room if possible, wear mask within 3 feet

droplet infections

pertussis, flu, rhinovirus, meningitis, strep throat

contact precautions

prevent spread by direct/indirect contact with contaminated material

contact PPE

gloves and gown for all contact, don/doff properly

isolation guidelines

follow facility protocol, don’t share equipment, follow PPE rules, educate visitors

bloodborne pathogens

federal law requires exposure control plan to prevent occupational exposure

significant exposure

needle sticks, mucous contact, non-intact skin exposure

bloodborne pathogens examples

HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C