Chain Of Infection Flashcards
Six components in the infections disease process
- Pathogen
- Reservoir
- Portal of exit
- Made of transmission
- Portal of entry
- Susceptibility host
source of pathogen; any site where the pathogen can multiply or merely survive until it is transferred to a host
Reservoir
may be living hosts or inanimate objects or materials
Reservoir
a way for the pathogen to escape from the reservoir
Portal of Exit
a way for the pathogen to travel from one person to another
Mode of Transmission
INFECTIOUS AGENT
The Harmful Germ
a. Bacteria
b. Viruses
c. Fungi
d. Parasites
e. Arthropods
f. Infestations
Disease producing characteristics
• virulence
• Invasiveness
• pathogenicity
The ability to grow and multiply
Virulence
The ability to enter tissues
Invasiveness
The ability to cause disease
Pathogenicity
Where sever grow, and increase in numbers
Reservoir “HIDING PLACES”
Reservoir “HIDING PLACES”
• A person
• An animal
• Environment/Fomite
• Blood
• Skin
• Digestive tract
• Respiratory tract
• Urinary tract
3 MODES OF TRANSMISSION
Direct, Indirect, Droplet
Physical contact between source and victim
Direct
Victim contacts contaminated inanimate objects
Indirect
Brief passage of infectious agent
Droplet
8 possible SUSCEPTIBLE HOST
• Age: Very young or Older
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Poor nutrition
• Chronis Illness
• Not properly vaccinated
• Open cuts; skin breakdown
• Immune suppressive medications
To prevent the infections from occurring, measures must be taken to break the chain of infection at some point (link) in the chain. Some of the broad goals are to:
a) Eliminate or contain reservoirs of pathogens or curtail the persistence of pathogen at the source
b) Prevent contact with infectious substances from exit pathways
c) Eliminate means of transmission
d) Block exposure to entry pathways
e) Reduce or eliminate the susceptibility of potential hosts
Some of specific methods of breaking the chain of infection are:
a) Practicing effective hand hygiene procedures
b) Maintaining good nutrition and adequate rest
c) Obtaining immunizations against common pathogens
d) Practicing insect and rodent control measures
e) Practicing proper patient isolation procedures
f) Ensuring proper decontaminati
g) Disposing sharps and infectious wastes properly
h) Using of Personal Protective Equipment
i) Using needle safety devices during blood collection
