Chain of infection Flashcards
Name four types of resivours.
Humans, Animals, Water and Soil
Give an example of diseases associated with Human reservoirs
UTI
Give an example of diseases associated with Animal reservoirs
Sars, covid 19
Give an example of diseases associated with water reservoirs
tetanus
Give an example of diseases associated with soil reservoirs
hepatitis A
Define portal of exit
the path by which an infectious microorganism leave a reservoir
Define portal of entry
Is the path by which an infectious microorganism gains entry to a new host
What are the human portals of entry
Endogenous infections – inside of the body
Exogenous infections – outside of the body, inhalation, ingestion etc
What are the human portals of exit
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Reproductive systems
- Urinary system
- Skin
- Blood
How can pathogens exit the body
excretion (expelling waste) , secretions (discharge of cell, gland or organ), droplets (sneeze, cough)
What are the standard precautions to break chain in the portals of entry and exit.
Hand hygiene, PPE, routine environmental cleaning, waste management, sterilisation.
State the categories of diseases transmission.
Contact, Common Vehicle, Vector
Explain Direct contact in transmission and what category it is in.
close or intimate contact between infected host and susceptible individual e.g. touch, sexual contact. Contact
Explain Indirect contact in transmission and what category it is in.
microbes transferred from one host to another via a non-living object (fomite) e.g. door handle. Contact
Explain droplet transmission in transmission and what category it is in.
droplets falling less than 1 meter e.g. sneezing, coughing, laughing, speaking. Contact
Explain airborne transmission in transmission and what category it is in.
Organisms are carried in air currents for more than 1 metre and in some cases can circulate in the air for hours. Common vehicle
Explain water-borne transmission in transmission and what category it is in.
Occurs when there is faecal contamination of water used for drinking and bathing. Common vehicle
Explain mechanical transmission in transmission and what category it is in.
Passive transport of microorganisms on the exterior of an insect’s body. Vector
Explain Biological transmission in transmission and what category it is in.
An insect vector bites a host, ingests blood containing the microorganisms and transmits them when it bites another host. Vector
What are the five strategies to prevent transmission.
Sanitation , Hygiene practises, Isolation, Immunisation, Treatment
State different populations that are susceptible hosts.
Young children, the elderly, Chronically ill people, People receiving treatment ,
People with open wounds
Outline 2 methods which can help susceptible hosts avoid infection
Ensure effective use of Standard Precautions,
Treat their underlying disease/condition,
Ensure they have appropriate nutrition,
Vaccination
What is the major advantage of antibiotics
An advantage of antibiotics over other antimicrobial agents is their selective toxicity
What is Antimicrobial agents?
An antimicrobial agent is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms
what are the main causes of antibiotic resistance
Bacteria multiply so quickly that they can mutate and become resistant to antibiotics, the more antibiotics are used, the more likely this is to occur, Susceptible bacteria die off, leaving resistant bacteria to multiply
