Chain Of Infection Flashcards
Learn the sequence of circumstances where all events must occur to develop an infection
What are the six circumstances?
Infectious Agent, Reservoir, Portal of Exit, Mode of Transmission, Portal of Entry, and Susceptible Host
What are five common types of infectious agents?
Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa, Fungi, Helminthes
What is a bacteria?
Single-celled microorganisms that multiply rapidly
What are viruses?
DNA or RNA is encased in a protein coding. Cannot reproduce outside of a living host cell.
What are Protozoa?
Unicellular microorganisms that can infect the blood, brain, intestines and other body areas
What are Fungi?
Tiny primitive organisms, that contain no chlorophyll
What are Helminthes?
Parasitic worms or flukes
What is a Reservoir?
A place where the pathogen grows and may or may not multiply
What are some examples of a reservoir?
Patients, staff member, animal, food
What is a portal of exit?
An exit route for pathogens to leave its host
What are some examples of a portal exit?
Blood, skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, and gastrointestinal tract
What is a mode of transmission?
The manner in which an infectious agent moves from one source to another
What are some types of mode of Transmission?
Direct contact, indirect contact, vector transmission, airborne transmission and droplets.
What is a portal of entry?
Place where a pathogen enters the body
What are some examples of a portal of entry?
Break in skin, mucous membrane, nose, mouth, genitourinary tract
True or false: any portal of exit can also become a portal of entry
True
What is the most effective barrier to infection?
Intact skin
What is a susceptible host?
A person who becomes ill after pathogens enter the body because they cannot fight off the pathogen.
