Chain of Infection & Stages of Infection

🦠 Chain of Infection & Stages of Infection + 😷 PPE Donning & Doffing

🧬 CHAIN OF INFECTION — The 6 Links

To stop an infection, we gotta break a link in the chain!

1. Infectious Agent

   • Germs (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites).

   • 🔥 Tip: Kill it early! Clean, disinfect, sterilize!

2. Reservoir

   • Where the germs hang out (e.g., humans, animals, food, water, dirty surfaces).

   • Think: germ’s Airbnb 🏨

3. Portal of Exit

   • How germs leave the body (e.g., sneezing, poop, pee, blood, pus).

   • 🚪Exit doors of infection

4. Mode of Transmission

   • How germs travel (e.g., contact, droplets, airborne, vectors like mosquitos).

   • 🚌 Germ Uber!

5. Portal of Entry

   • How germs get in (e.g., mouth, nose, open wounds).

   • 👃👄🚪 “Come on in,” says your immune system... unless PPE says “Nah.”

6. Susceptible Host

   • Who's at risk? 👶👵🤒

   • Weak immunity, babies, elderly, chronic illness, no vax? You're a target 🎯

📈 STAGES OF INFECTION — "Irate Porcupines Ingest Delicious Carrots"

Mnemonic:
➡ Irate Porcupines Ingest Delicious Carrots
= Incubation, Prodromal, Illness, Decline, Convalescence

📍 High risk for new infections if immunity is still low!
✨ Tip: Imagine your immune system doing a mic drop at the end 🕺

🧤 PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) – Donning & Doffing

🟡 Donning PPE (In Order):

1. 🧼 Hand Hygiene

   • Clean before touching anything. It’s the golden rule!

2. 🧥 Gown

   • Full body coverage — tie it in the back like an apron superhero.

3. 😷 Mask / Respirator

   • Fit snug over nose & mouth. Tie it or loop it tight!

4. 🥽 Goggles / Face Shield

   • Cover the eyes — germs be flying!

5. 🧤 Gloves

   • Clean and snug — over the gown cuffs!

🔴 Doffing PPE (In Order):

1. 🧤 Remove Gloves

   • Grab one glove at the wrist, peel it off inside out, then do the same with the other.

2. 🥽 Remove Goggles/Shield

   • Don’t touch the front!

3. 🧥 Remove Gown

   • Untie and pull away without touching exposed surfaces.

4. 😷 Remove Mask/Respirator

   • From the back only! No front-facing touches!

5. 🧼 Hand Hygiene Again

   • Always finish strong 💪 with clean hands.

✅ Key PPE Reminders:

• Avoid touching the front of any PPE (that’s the germ zone ❌).

• Always hand sanitize before & after donning/doffing.

• Dispose of single-use gear properly 🗑

💡 Mnemonics to Remember:

• PPE Donning: "Go Me Girls Go Gloves!"
  (Gown, Mask, Goggles, Gloves)

• PPE Doffing: "Gloves, Goggles, Gown, Mask"
  (Reverse order!)