CH 28 -- Infection Prevention & Control

Question 1

What is a pathogen?

Answer 1

Infectious agent

Question 2

What is colonization?

Answer 2

Organism that multiplies within a host but does not cause an infection

Question 3

What is an infectious disease?

Answer 3

Illness such as viral meningitis or pneumonia

Question 4

What is a communicable disease?

Answer 4

An infectious disease that is transmitted from one person to another

Question 5

What is pH?

Answer 5

Acidity of the environment

Question 6

What is a portal of exit?

Answer 6

• blood
• mucous membranes
• respiratory tract
• genitourinary tract
• G.I. tract

Question 7

What is the major route of transmission?

Answer 7

The unwashed hands of a healthcare worker

Question 8

What is virulence?

Answer 8

Ability to survive in the host or outside the body

Question 9

What is susceptibility?

Answer 9

Individual’s degree of resistance to pathogens

Question 10

What is immunocompromised?

Answer 10

Having an impaired immune system

Question 11

What is a reservoir?

Answer 11

A place for a pathogen survives

Question 12

What are carriers?

Answer 12

Persons who show no symptoms of illness but who have the pathogens that are transferred to others

Question 13

What is aerobic bacteria?

Answer 13

Bacteria that require oxygen for survival

Question 14

What is anaerobic bacteria?

Answer 14

Bacteria thrive with little or no free oxygen

Question 15

What is bacteriostasis?

Answer 15

Prevention of the growth and reproduction of bacteria by cold temperatures

Question 16

What is bactericidal?

Answer 16

A temperature or chemical that destroys bacteria

Question 17

What is the cycle of infection?

Answer 17

• an infectious agent or parasite
• a reservoir or source
• a portal of exit from the reservoir or source
• a mode of transmission
• a portal of entry to a host
• a susceptible host

Question 18

What are the most common modes of transmission?

Answer 18

• direct
• indirect
• droplets
• airborne
• vehicles
• vector

Question 19

What is a direct mode of transmission?

Answer 19

Person–to–person or physical source and susceptible host

Question 20

What is an indirect mode of transmission?

Answer 20

Personal contact of a susceptible host with a contaminated inanimate object

Question 21

What is droplet mode of transmission?

Answer 21

Large particles that can travel up to 3 feet and come into contact with the host

Question 22

What is airborne mode of transmission?

Answer 22

Droplets that are suspended in the air

Question 23

What are vehicles (mode of transmission)?

Answer 23

Contaminated items

Question 24

What is a vector (mode of transmission)?

Answer 24

Internal and external transmissions

Question 25

What are two types of infections?

Answer 25

- localized | - systemic

Question 26

What is a localized infection?

Answer 26

Wound infection; patient experiences localized symptoms

Question 27

What is a systemic infection?

Answer 27

An infection that affects the entire body instead of just a single organ

Question 28

What are the normal body defenses against infection:

Answer 28

- normal flora - body system defenses - inflammation

Question 29

What is normal flora?

Answer 29

* defense against infection * Microorganisms that normally reside on surface and deep layers of skin, in saliva, and in intestinal walls and G.I. tract

Question 30

What are body system defenses?

Answer 30

* defense against infection | * Skin, mouth, eyes, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract and vagina have unique defenses against infection

Question 31

What is inflammation?

Answer 31

- defense against infection - body's response to injury, infection, or irritation - protective vascular reaction that delivers fluid, blood products, and nutrients to an area of injury

Question 32

Acute inflammation - vascular and cellular responses

Answer 32

- rapid vasodilation causes redness at site and localized warmth - allows phagocytosis to occur

Question 33

Acute inflammation - inflammatory exudate

Answer 33

- accumulation of fluid and dead tissue cells - wbc's form at site - exudate may be serous, sanguineous, or purulent

Question 34

Acute inflammation - tissue repair

Answer 34

Healing involves the defenses, reconstructive, and maturative stages

Question 35

What is an exogenous (nosocomial infection)?

Answer 35

Comes from microorganisms outside the individual that do not exist in normal floras

Question 36

What is an endogenous (nosocomial infection)?

Answer 36

Occurs when part of the patient's flora becomes altered and overgrowth occurs

Question 37

Susceptibility to infection – age

Answer 37

Infant: immature defense Middle-aged adults: viruses common Older adult: cell-mediated immunity declines

Question 38

Susceptibility to infection – nutritional status

Answer 38

Reduction in intake of protein, CHOs, and fats reduces the body's defenses and impairs wound healing

Question 39

Susceptibility to infection – stress

Answer 39

Basal metabolic rates increase, serum glucose levels increase and decrease anti-inflammatory responses with elevated cortisone levels

Question 40

Susceptibility to infection – disease process

Answer 40

People w/ diseases of the immune system (leukemia, AIDS) and chronic diseases have weakened defenses against infection

Question 41

Standard precautions (tier 1)

Answer 41

- designed for ALL patients in ALL settings | - contact w/ blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes

Question 42

Isolation precautions (tier 2)

Answer 42

- based on mode of transmission of disease | - airborne, droplet, contact, and protective environment

Question 43

What common waste materials are considered infectious?

Answer 43

- wounds - stool - blood - urine

Question 44

What are these 9 responsibilities of infection control professionals?

Answer 44

1. provide education 2. develop policies and procedures 3. recommend appropriate isolation procedures 4. screen patient records 5. consult with health depts 6. gather stats regarding epidemiology 7. notify public health dept if communicable disease 8. consult w/ all depts to investigate unusal events or clusters 9. monitor antibiotic resistant organisms

Question 45

What does the severity of illness depend on?

Answer 45

- extent of infection - susceptibility of host - pathogenicity of the microorganism

Question 46

What is an iatrogenic infection?

Answer 46

An infection that results from a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.