Asepsis and Infection Control Flashcards
Infection
Condition in which the body is invaded by microorganisms that can produce injurious effects
Resident (normal) Flora
Microorganisms that are always present without altering the client’s health
Transient Flora
Microorganisms that are episodic (of limited duration)
Pathogen
Disease-producing microorganisms
Pathogenicity
Ability of microorganisms to produce disease
Virulence
Frequency with which a pathogen causes disease
Infectious Agent
Microorganism that causes cellular injury
Communicable Agent
Infectious agent transmitted to a client by direct or indirect contact, through a vehicle or vector or an airborne route.
Generalized Infection
Vague - may include headache, malaise, muscle aches, fever, anorexia. whole body involvement
Septicemia
Microorganisms are present and multiplying in the blood
Reservior
Where infectious agents live, multiply, and reproduce in order to be transmitted to a susceptible host.
Portal of Exit
Route by which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir or source host. May be the same as the Portal of entry.
Mode of transmission
How the pathogen moves from one location to another
Contact
two - direct and indirect
Direct Contact
person to person
Indirect
spreading of organisms by contact with contaminated objects
Airborne
Spreading of infectious material in dust particles or evaporated droplets that can stay suspended in air for long periods of time.
Droplet
Occurs during talking, sneezing, suctioning.
Common Vehicle
Agent transferred by contaminated inanimate objects like water food milk drugs and blood.
Vector-Borne
Transfer of microorganisms from infected animal carriers
Portal of Entry
Includes the respiratory tract, skin, mucous membranes, GI tract, genitourinary tract, and placenta.
Susceptible Host
Factors that contribute to people being susceptible:
very young
old age
mal-nourishment
being immunocompromised
having a chronic disease
being under stress
undergoing an invasive procedure
compromised skin integrity
Primary Defenses
Skin and mucous membranes
Gastric Juices
Secondary Defences
Inflammatory Process
Elevated Temp
Complement Cascade
Tertiary Defenses
Specialized WBC called lymphocytes (B and T cells) that fight infections. Search for invading pathogens and signal phagocytes to destroy them.
Immunity
The ability of the body to protect itself from disease
Natural Immunity
Occurs in species and prevents one species from contracting an illness found in another species
Innate Immunity
Genetic, hereditary immunity that a person is born with
Acquired immunity
Obtained either actively or passively
Active Immunity
Antibodies are produced within the body
Naturally Acquired Active Immunity
Natural contact with antigen
Artificially Acquired Active Immunity
Immunization with antigen. Vaccines contain antigens that trigger the immune response when they enter the body.
Passive Immunity
Antibodies are received from another source
Naturally Acquired Passive Immunity
Immunity is transferred directly into the individual via antibodies (like mom to baby)
Artificially Acquired Passive Immunity
Injection of antitoxin or immune globulin preparations.
Infection Lab Tests
Culture & Sensitivity
Culture
Used to identify the causative agent
Sensitivity
Used to determine which antibiotic the pathogen is sensitive to
Communicable Disease
Transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another
World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC
Monitor disease outbreaks and teach standards to use, prevent and control disease
Nosocomial Infection
Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI)
Community Acquired Infection (CAI)
Present before admission to the hospital
Standard Precautions
Group of safety measures performed to prevent the transmission of the pathogens found in the blood and body fluids
Airborne Precautions
-Private room with regulated air flow
-Keep door closed
-Do not enter room if susceptible, unless no immune caregivers available
-If Susceptible, wear N95 or HEPA respirator mask
-Limit patient transport
-Place surgical mask on patient
Droplet Precautions
-Provide private room or separation of at least 3 feet between pat
-Wear mask for patient care within 3 feet of patient
-Limit patient transport, place surgical mask on patient
Contact Precaution
-Provide private room or place with patient with same infection and no other Infection -Protect self and others from contaminated items -Limit patient transport -Dedicate the use of non-critical patient care equipment to a single patient
Asepsis
Practices that decrease or eliminate infectious agents, their reservoirs, and vehicles for transmission
Medical Asepsis
Practices that confine or reduce the number of microorganisms
Medical Asepsis Priciples
*Microorganisms exist everywhere
*Best methods for reducing transmission:
*Major Reservoirs:
*Clean environment decreases microorganisms
*Clean from cleanest to dirtiest
Medical Asepsis Practices
*Antimicrobial agents
*Hand washing
*Personal protective equipment
*Confining soiled articles
*Keep environment clean
Surgical Asepsis
Free of Microorganisms
Surgical Asepsis Practices
- All objects used in sterile field must be sterile
*Sterile items become contaminated when touched by unsterile
*Sterile items that are below waist or out of eyesight are considered unsterile
*Sterile objects can become unsterile by prolonged exposure to airborne microorganisms
*Fluids flow in direction of gravity
*Moisture passes through sterile object draws microorganisms from unsterile surfaces about or below the sterile surface by capillary action
*Edges of sterile field are considered unsterile
*Skin cannot be sterilized and is unsterile
Treatments for infectious diseases
*bactericidal antibiotics
*bacteriostatic antibiotics
Bactericidal Antibiotics
Destroy bacteria without the help of the infected host’s immune system
Bacteriostatic Antibiotics
Destroy bacteria with the help of the infected hosts immune system
