Infection Control

Disease

  • Disease - Any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any part, organ, or system of the body.

  • Infection - refers to the establishment and growth of a microorganisms on or in a host.

  • Pathogens - are microorganisms that can cause disease.

  • Microorganisms - are living. Organisms too small to be seen with naked eye.

Pathogens

  • 1 or 3 functions

    • Multiply in large #’s and cause obstruction

    • Cause cellular and tissue damage

    • Secrete organic substance called toxins that produce certain side effects such as fever, nausea, vomiting, shock

    • Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites.

Bacteria

  • Are single celled organisms organisms

  • Reside in the host in a group or cluster called a colony.

  • Killed by antibiotics

  • Endospores - highly resistant form of bacteria which are resistant to chemical and physical agents

  • Diseases caused by bacteria:

    • Pneumonia

    • Streptococcal pharyngities (strep throat)

    • Staph infections

    • Tuberculosis

    • Clostridium botulinum (food poisoning)

    • Syphilis

Viruses

  • Common cold is rhinovirus, infectious mononucleosis is Epstein-Barr virus, warts (papillomavirus), and cold sores are caused by herpes virus.

Fungi

  • Athletes foot (tinea pedis)

Establishment of infectious disease

  • Encounter

  • Etry

  • Spread

  • Multiplication

  • Damage

  • Outcome

  • After a host or organism is affected, these 6 steps have to happen before manifestation.

  • Encounter - occurs when an infectious organism contacts the host.

  • Entry - Microbes enter through ingression (surface-level entry) or penetration (deep tissue entry).

    • Ingression - does not involve deep tissue penetration; infectious organsm adheres to to cell;s surface and excretes toxins that cause sickness

      • Digestive system, respiratory system

    • Penetration - involves MO invading past epithelial barrier

      • Vectors (insects), cuts, wounds

      • Microbes with flagella to penetrate tissue » syphilis

Chemical methods

  • Disinfectants - are chemicals that alter the environment available to the microbe

    • Can refer to either the inactivation or inhibition of microbial growth

    • May or ay not remove bacterial endoscopes

    • Can be used on living body (antiseptic) or inanimate objects

  • Antiseptic - a disinfectant that is applied

Standard precaution

  • include the features of both body fluid precautions and body structure precautions

  • Used when performing procedures that may require contact with blood, body fluids, secreations, excretions, mucous membranes, and nonintact.

Transmission based precautions

  • A set of practices specific for patients with known or suspected infectious agents that require additional control measures to prevent transmission.

  • These precautions are used in addition to standard precautions

  • There are three categories of transmission-based precautions:

    • Airborne precautions

    • Droplet precautions

    • Contact precautions

Airborne cautions

  • PAthogens transmitted by the airborne route

  • Remain suspended in air for long periods on aerosol or dust particles.