Chain of Infection Flashcards
How many steps are in the Chain of Infection?
6
What is the first step?
Infectious Agent
Infectious agent
Disease causing agent; pathogen
Example of an infectious agent
Virus, Ebol, bacteria
2nd step
Reservoir
Reservoir
Where the infectious agent lives
Examples of reservoirs
Human, Animal, Surfaces/Objects (fomites), etc
3rd step
Portal of Exit
Portal of Exit
How the infectious agent leaves the body
Examples of portal of exit
sneezing, vomiting, blood, urine, mucous discharge
4th step
Mode of Transmission
Mode of Transmission
The way the infectious agent can be transmitted
Describe the two types of contacts in Mode of Transmission
Direct contact - Physical contact
Indirect contact - Surfaces and vectors
What are vectors
Animals, insects, or parasites that carry an infectious agent
Examples of Mode of Transmission
Kissing, shaking hands, flies
5th step
Portal of Entry
Portal of Entry
The way the infectious agent enters your body
Examples of Portal of Entry
Breaks in skin, digestive and respiratory tract
6th step
Susceptible Host
Susceptible Host
A person who is likely to get a disease or infection, usually their body defenses are weak
Examples of Susceptible Hosts
Elderly, Newborns, immunocompromised
Ways to break the chain of Infectious Agent
Early recognition of symptoms and diagnosis of infection
Ways to break the chain of Reservoir
Standard precautions, Employee health, Disinfection/sterilization, Environmental sanitation
Ways to break the chain of Portal of Exit
PPE, standard precautions, hand washing, control of secretions and excretions, trash and waste disposal
Ways to break the chain of Mode of transmission
Standard precautions, hand washing, air flow control, sterilization, food handling, transmission based precautions
Ways to break the chain of Portal of Entry
Standard Precautions, wound care, catheter care
Ways to break the chain of Susceptible Host
Immunizations, Recognition of high risk patients, treatments of underlying disease
