C11- Infection Prevention Flashcards
Infection definition
A disease state that results from the presence of pathogens (disease producing organisms) in or on the body
Chain of infection (cyclic process includes 6 components):
Infectious agent
Reservoir
Portal of exit
Means of transmission
Portals of entry
Susceptible host
What is an infectious agent?
Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Parasite
What is a reservoir?
People
Animals
Soil
Food
Water
What are portal of exit?
Coughing/sneezing
Bodily secretions
Feces
What is “means of transmission”?
Direct contact
Indirect contact
Vectors
What is portal of entry?
Mouth
Nose
Eyes
Cuts in skin
What is a susceptible hot?
ANYONE!
More risk associated with:
-elderly
-infants
-immunocompromised
What are the four stages of infection?
Incubation
Prodromal
Full stage of illness
Convalescent
What is the incubation period?
Time between invasion to appearance of symptoms
(Growing and multiplying) (lengths vary)
What is the prodromal stage?
Most infectious time, vague symptoms
What happens in the full stage of illness?
Specific signs and symptoms
(Type of infection determines length) (local vs systemic)
What is the convalescent period?
Recovery period
(S&S disappear)
Inflammatory response is?
A protective mechanism that eliminates the invading pathogen and allows for tissue repair.
Immune response involves?
Specific body responses to an invading foreign protein, such as bacteria or the body’s own proteins
Foreign material in the body is called
Antigen
Body responds to antigens by producing?
Antibodies
Cellular immunity, what cells increase or decrease due to present antigen
Leukocytes (WBC) ————> Leukocytosis (elevated WBC count)
Early detection and surveillance techniques: Inquire about?
Immunization status
Previous or recurring infections
Early detection and surveillance techniques: observe for signs and symptoms of infection, what two types of infections would you look for?
Local
Systemic
Early detection and surveillance techniques: laboratory data? What should you look for?
WBC in a CBC ——-> CBC with differential
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Urine, sputum
Cultures
Neutrophils do what?
Kill bacteria, fungi, and foreign debris
Monocytes do what?
Clean up damaged cells
Eosinophils do what?
Kill parasites, cancer cells and involved in allergic response