Asepsis and Infection Control Flashcards
Define infection.
Establishment of a pathogen in a susceptible host.
Define asepsis.
Freedom from. and prevention of disease causing contamination.
What is surgical asepsis? (Also known as sterile technique)
Procedures that eliminate all microorganism from an area.
What is the first line of defense?
Normal flora
What does normal flora do?
They are non disease microorganisms that live in or on the body.
What is the second line of defense?
Inflammation
How does inflammation work?
Local response to cellular injury or infection which includes capillary dilation and leukocyte infiltration.
What does inflammation produce?
Redness, heat, pain, swelling
What is the third line of defense?
Immune response.
What is immune response?
Body’s attempt to protect itself from foreign and harmful substances initiated from antigens.
What is a antigen?
Any substance that provokes an adaptive immune response.
What are antibodies?
Immunoglobulin molecules that recognize foreign invaders.
What is innate (nonspecific) immunity?
Skin, cough reflex, mucus enzymes on the the skin, in tears, and acid in the GI tract prohibit harmful substances from entering the body.
What is adaptive (acquired/specific) immunity?
Occurs when exposed to an antigen
What is humoral immunity?
WBC (B lymphocytes) produce antibodies in response to antigens or pathogens.
What involves “T” cells
Cellular immunity
What is passive immunity?
Immunity received from another person
What is active natural immunity?
Body is infected by the pathogen disease——–>immune system makes antibodies
What is passive natural immunity?
Receiving antibodies not from your own immune system.
Active artificial immunity comes from?
Vaccinations
What is passive artificial immunity?
Receiving antibodies not from your own immune system, but your immune system doesn’t have to respond.
Describe the integumentary role:
Skin—->Barrier
Squamous epithelial cells—-> Remove infectious agents
Respiratory:
Cilia
Mucus
Proteins
GI:
Flora
Low ph
What is the chains of infections in order?
Infectious agents Reservoirs Portal of exit Modes of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host
Define pathogens.
Infectious agents that cause disease
Describe bacteria:
Single celled Classified +1 oxygen Vary in shape, size, growth, pattern, and replication Name by shape Staining qualities
Describe viruses:
Smallest
Reproduce inside living host cell
Not killed by antibodies
Describe fungi:
Single-celled (mold, yeast)
Describe parasites:
Live on or in other organisms.
What does portal of exit mean?
Means by which the pathogens escape from the reservoir of infection.
What are the different Models of Transmission?
Contact
Airborne
Droplet
Vector borne
What is portal of entry mean?
Microorganism enters the susceptible host
What increases susceptibility?
Age
Chronic disease
Immune or nutritionally compromised recent trauma or surgery.
What are heal care associated infections (HAI’s) aka nosocomial infections?
Infections that patients receive which receiving treatment in a health care facility.
What is the most effective method for preventing HAI’s?
Hand washing
Define drug resistance?
Microorganisms that developed resistance to medications that had previously been successfully at treating the infection.
What factors contribute to resistance?
Prescribing antibiotics for nonbacterial infections.
Localized infections are characterized by?
Redness Swelling Warmth Pain Tenderness Numbness Loss of function
Systemic infections are characterized by?
(Infiltrate the bloodstream) Fever Increase heart rate Increase respiratory rate Lethargy Anorexia Lymph node tenderness or enlargement
How long do acute infections last? Examples?
10-14 days
Cough, colds, and ear infections
How long do chronic infections last?
Months to years
What does erythrocyte sedimentation rate measure?
Degree of inflammation
Define disinfection.
Removes pathogenic microorganisms, it typically destroys all pathogenic microorganisms expect spores.
Define sterilization:
Used to destroy all microorganisms includes their spores.
