Asepsis and Infection Control Flashcards
Asepsis means
freedom from and prevention of disease-causing contamination
infection is
establishment of a pathogen in a susceptible host; a disease state is caused by the infectious agent
Normal flora is
group of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, protozoa) that live in or on the body but do not cause disease
Normal Flora is or is not cancerous
its benign non cancerous
body’s first line of defense against infection is
Normal Flora
The second line of defense is
Inflammatory Response
Inflammation is a local response to
cellular injury or infection
why does the leukocytes increase the temperature during infections
to neutralize, control, and eliminate invading pathogens
antigen is
any substance that provokes an adaptive immune response
what are the different types of immune systemes
Innate Immunity
Adaptive Immunity
Innate (nonspecific) Immunity provides
immediate defense against foreign antigens
Adaptive (acquired or specific) Immunity provides
long-term immunity when the body is exposed to an antigen
the two types of adaptive immunity
Humoral Immunity
Cellular Immunity
Humoral Immunity produce
antibodies in response to antigens or pathogens circulating in the lymph and blood
Cellular immunity involves
defense by WBCs against any microorganisms that the body does not recognize as its own
Adaptive immunity is antigen specific and involves
active, long-term immunologic memory
epithelial cells, which help remove
microorganisms and other infectious agents
The respiratory system contains cilia and mucus, which move or trap
foreign bodies
The flora and low pH of the gastrointestinal tract prevent
the colonization of pathogenic microorganisms
The chain of infection has six main components:
the infectious agent, the source of infection, the portal of exit, the mode of transmission, the portal of entry, and the susceptible host
pathogen is
An infectious agent that causes disease
Bacteria are
single-cell organisms
Bacteria live as normal flora on and in the
skin, eyes, nose, mouth, upper throat, lower urethra, lower intestine, and large intestine
Viruses are
the smallest microorganisms
Viruses reproduce inside
living cells of the host
Fungi are like
bacteria
Fungi are present in
air, soil, and water
Molds and yeasts are examples of
fungi
Parasites are
organisms that live on or in other organisms
Examples of parasites are
protozoans, helminths, and arthropods
Parasites are typically transmitted by
sexual contact, insects, and domestic animals
Source of Infection is called
reservoir or host
Reservoirs can be
surfaces, equipment, medication, air, food, and water
Human sources of infection are
health care personnel, family, friends, and patients insects, rats, birds, bats, pigs, and cows
Portal of Exit is
the means by which the pathogen escapes from the reservoir of infection
Microorganisms escape through
emesis, sneezes, coughs, sputum, urine, stool, blood, genital secretions, and wound drainage
The form of transportation is referred to as the
mode of transmission
Modes of transmission include
contact, airborne, vehicle, droplet, and vector-borne
ost microorganisms are transmitted by
contact
Airborne transmission occurs when
microorganisms are dispersed by air currents and inhaled or deposited on the skin of a susceptible host
Droplet transmission occurs when
the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are exposed to the secretions of an infected individual
Vectors carry the
pathogens from one host to another
portals of entry:
gastrointestinal tract by ingestion, the genitourinary tract by contact with mucous membranes, the respiratory tract by inhalation, the integumentary system by breaks in the skin, and the urinary tract by introduction through the urethra.
Standard precautions are used with all patients to limit
direct exposure to blood and bodily fluids
susceptible host is
someone exposed to an infectious disease who is likely to contract the disease
Health care–associated infections (HAIs), formerly referred to as
nosocomial infections
nosocomial infections occur when
patient is receiving treatment in a health care facility such as a hospital, long-term care facility, clinic, or primary care office
Resistant Organisms are
Microorganisms that adapt to their environment to compete for survival
drug resistance is
Microorganisms developing resistance to medications that had been previously successful at treating the infection
Many factors contribute to resistance including
overprescribing of antibiotics for nonbacterial infections
use of inappropriate antibiotics for the infecting microorganism
incomplete courses of antibiotics
Infections are classified as
localized or systemic.
Localized infection signs and symptoms
redness, swelling, warmth, pain, tenderness, drainage, numbness or tingling, and loss of function to the affected area
Systemic infection signs and symptoms
fever, increases in heart and respiratory rates, lethargy, anorexia, and tenderness or enlargement of lymph nodes
Infants and the elderly are at the greatest risk for
infection because of weakened immune system
Females are at greater risk for
UTIs
Males with an enlarged prostate may have incomplete emptying of the bladder, leaving them vulnerable to _____
UTIs
Disabilities causing immobility can increase the risk for
respiratory, skin, and urinary tract infections.
Obesity has been linked to an increased risk for certain
skin infections in the skin folds
Infection Assessment question
- Do you feel tired or fatigued?
- Do you feel short of breath?
- Do you often feel chilled and require a blanket when others in the room are comfortable?
- How is your appetite?
- Do you have any areas of pain, redness, swelling, and warmth?
- Do you have any rashes, breaks in the skin, or reddened areas?
- Do you have swollen lymph nodes?
- Do you feel that you empty your bladder when you go to the bathroom?
- Do you have a cough or difficulty swallowing?
- Have you had a fever?
- What medications are you on? Have you taken an antibiotic recently?
- Have you had any infections in the past year?
- Are your immunizations up-to-date?
- Have you been exposed to anyone with an infection?
- Have you traveled anywhere recently?
Infections are classified as _____ OR _____
acute or chronic
Examples of acute infections include
coughs, colds, and ear infections
Altered vital signs can indicate an
infection
Decreased blood pressure is a late sign of
infection
Adequate nutrition is important in the
body’s defense against infection
The normal WBC count for adults is
5000 to 10,000 cells/mm3
higher percentage of neutrophils than normal indicates
infection
ESR stands for
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
The ESR measures
the degree of inflammation in the body
An ESR that remains elevated indicates
poor response to current therapy
ESR that decreases indicates
good response
ESR test is performed by
timing how fast red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube of whole blood
RBC’s settles faster when
inflammation is present
International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) nursing diagnoses are applicable to infectious disease patients
Surgical break in skin integrity; chronic disease: diabetes mellitus; left hip incision: skin around incision warm, red, and tender to touch; chronic Foley catheter
Lack of knowledge about what causes infection, patient not washing hands after toileting or before meals
Prolonged bed rest, inadequate diet, open area on the coccyx
The planning stage of the nursing process involves
prioritizing identified nursing diagnoses, evaluating patient abilities and resources, and setting goals
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is
a helpful resource for ranking nursing diagnoses
The nurse must be proficient in aseptic technique to
reduce the patient’s risk for an HAI and know what action(s) should be taken if an HAI is suspected.
Proper hand hygiene and proper use of PPE are important nursing actions in the prevention of
HAIs
Prevention of Infection
includes
Washing hands before and after giving care
Educating patients on infections
wearing gloves when there is a risk of exposure for blood or bodily fluids
monitoring the patient’s temperature
monitoring wbc count if ordered
oral hygiene
use of strict aseptic technique when inserting iv or urinary catheter and when performing air suctioning
changing iv tube every 24-48 hours
breathing exercises
turning patient every 2 hours
performing skin care
ensuring optimal nutrition
Immunization is
the process by which an individual develops immunity against a specific agent
it is important in preventing the spread of communicable diseases
Medical asepsis is often referred to as
clean technique
Medical aseptic procedures include
handwashing, wearing gloves, gowning, and disinfecting
Surgical asepsis is also called
sterile technique
Surgical asepsis is used for
surgical procedures
invasive procedures such as catheterization
procedures that invade the bloodstream or break the skin
dressing changes
wound care
Disinfection is
the removal of pathogenic microorganisms
Sterilization is
process used to destroy all microorganisms, including their spores
tuberculosis is spread through
air
what action will the nurse take when not all of the necessary equipment is at bed side
ring bell and ask for assistance from another staff member
if a person has a respitory infection you should maintain a distance of
3 feet and above
if there is a blocked IV line it should be
number 1 priority
the order of washing hands
palms
back
wrists
between fingers
fingers back and front
fingertips/ under nails
the sterile work surface should be
above waist level
when performing a surgical scrub keep hands
above elbows
athlete foot is what type of infection
fungal infection
how can HIV spread
bodily fulid/ blood
blood transfusion, sharing of infecting needles, needle stick injuries
blood born pathogen diseases
hep B
hep C
HIV
clostridium difficile is transmitted through
vehicle
airborne
droplet
contact
contact
indication of localized response to inflammation
pain
swelling
redness
and heat and wound site
vehicle transmited infectons are spread by
blood
food
water
blood borne pathogens examples
hepatitis B and C viruses and HIV
what does a culture swab do
know what type of infection is present and find the right medications for it
