4 part 1 Flashcards
Define infection
A disease state that results from the presence of pathogens in or on the body.
Define pathogen
A disease-producing microorganism
What is healthcare associated infection (HAI)
Any infection that develops as a result of healthcare from which the patient was not suffering prior to admission. Also known as Nosocomial infection.
Define Iatrogenic infection
infections that occur as a result of health care interventions.
address the chain of infection transmission in order
Causative agent (1) - reservoir (2) – portal of exit (3) – means of transmission (4) – portal of entry (5) – susceptible host (6)
what are the 4 major infection agents
Bacteria
- Most commonly observed infectious agent causing HAIs
Categorised according to:
1. Shape – round, rod-shaped, spiral.
2. Reaction to the gram stain – gram-negative, gram-positive • Need for oxygen – aerobic, anaerobic.
Viruses
- Smallest of all microorganisms. Requires a living host cell to replicate
Fungi
- Plant-like organisms (molds and yeasts)
Protozoa
-Microscopic, free-living or parasitic in nature
Define Reservoirs
The habitat in which the agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies.
Reservoirs for pathogenic micro-organisms include: • Other humans • Animals • Soil • Water • Milk • Inanimate objects
what the components of chain of infection transmission (order)
- infectious agents
- Reservoirs
- portal of exit
- means of transmission
what is means of transmission
Various routes of transmission
defines the 3 major routes of transmission
- contract
- direct contact
- indirect contact
- contact with contaminated blood, water or food - Airborne
- small- particle aerosols
- dust, talking - Droplet
- infectious particles larger than 5 microns in size
- coughing, sneezing, talkingg
what are the examples of portal of entry?
portal of entry is the point at which organisms enter a new host.
common portal of entry include:
- urinary tract
- respiratory tract
- skin
- gastrointestinal tract
what is susceptible host
Whether a person acquires an infection or not depends on their susceptibility to an infectious agent.
what are the stages of infectious disease
- incubation period
- prodromal stage
- illness stage
- convalescence
Define 3 ways of transmission of HALs
- patients may transfer organism to:
- other patients
- health workers
- objects in hospital setting like sofa
- environment (bathrooms, other department) - heath care worker (HCW) can transfer organisms to:
- patients - clinical contact/ care other HCWs
- instruments/equipment
- environment - instruments/ equipments may transmit organisms to:
- patient during clinical procedures HCWs
- other parts of the environment
Describe Hand Hygiene
It is the single most important practice to reduce the transmission of infectious agents in the health care settings (in standard precaution)
3 ways of reducing the spread of infection
- standard precautions
- transmission based precautions
- compliance with Australian infection control guidelines