Chapter 19 (Infectious Diseases) Flashcards
C. Diff
inflammation of the colon caused by the bacteria
Symptoms: diarrhea, bloating, blood in stool, fever, pain in abdomen
Transmitted: thru touching contaminated surfaces then touching their mouths. Can be spread if health care workers hands are contaminated and they contaminate patients
Gastro intestinal - most common in acute care settings
HAI prevention methods need to be stressed
CRE
bacteria that have become resistant to nearly all available antibiotics. Extremely difficult to treat. Common among hospitals, nursing homes and medical facilities. E.g. E.coli. Risk factors are direct contact with infected persons bodily fluids such as blood, drainage form a wound, urine, stool or phlegm or by medical equipment. Ppl with weak immune systems more at risk and those with catheters or tubes of any sort).
Symptoms: UTI, blood infections, pneumonia
Blood culture done to diagnose the infection
Staph
Infection that forms at the site of injury. Usually pus filled. Area usually red, painful and swollen. Infection of skin. Serious Staph infections are pneumonia or bloodstream infections.
Transmission: spread to others by contaminated hands.
Skin and mucous membranes are usually effective barriers against infection but in case of trauma or skin damage, access to tissues or bloodstream can cause infection
MRSA
bacteria causing infection in skin. contracted more easily in HAIs. resistant to common antibiotics that make it difficult to treat. Common in ppl with weak immune systems, in hospitals, nursing homes, those with wounds or invasive devices like tubes or catheters
Gonorrhoeae
Common site of infection is the urogenital tract. Men with this infection ma experience dysuria with penile discharge. Women can also have this.
Transmitted sexually
Symptoms: burning when urinating, weird colored discharge
E. Coli
Transmitted person to person usually by oral/fecal route and even indirectly by contaminated food or water.
Symptoms: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramping
Tuberculosis
Caused by bacteria. Most often affects the lungs. Spread through air (airborne) by cough, sneeze, spit.
Ppl with compromised immune systems: HIV malnutrition or diabetes, etc at higher risk
Symptoms: cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss)
Klebsiella Pneumoniae
Those with compromised immune systems are at risk. Transmitted through direct contact to get sick, not air. (e.g. touching cut on your skin with dirty hands)
Catch it ifrom nursing homes, hospitals, contaminated medical devices, tubes)
Symptoms: fever, cough, breathing troubles
Prevention: washing hands
Acinetobacter baumanni
An opportunistic bacterial pathogen primarily associated with hospital acquired infections
High risk are immunocompromised
Symptoms: pneumonia, bloodstream infections/sepsis, meningitis, wound infections UTIs
Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia
HAI
bacteria that live in water based environments, in hospital settings multiplying in respiratory secretions, urine, and intravenous fluids
Those with weak immune systems at risk
Most common symptoms: pneumonia and bacteremia
Treatment: resistant to many antibiotics so trimoxazole is usually used to treat or fluoroquinolones
VRE (Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus
Superbugs resistant to the antibiotic to treat infection.
Whos at risk? Ppl in hospital , especially those who are recently post op, those with catheters or tubes, weak immune systems
Symptoms: UTI, blood infections, wound infections
Prevention methods: Wash hands, wear gloves when working in close contact with body fluids
Place patients in private rooms or in rooms with patients with same infection
Implement contact precautions wearing gown and gloves**
Candida (C.auris)
What is it? a Yeast infection caused by bacteria that live on skin and in mucous membranes that can sometimes cause infection
Ppl at risk: those with weak immune systems where yeast flourishes
Symptoms: red patch, itchy, leaking flulid
Precautions: wash hands, place patients in private rooms or with ppl with same infection , clean and disinfect environment
Commonly seen in acut care and long term facilities and nursing homes
Opportunistic bc doesn’t cause infection in healthy individuals, only those with compromised immunity
Malaria
What is it? caused by parasites transmitted by animals, sexual contact, insects
Symptoms: chills, fatigue, fever, night sweats, shivering or sweating, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting, confusion, pallor
Treatment: taking protective drugs before traveling to areas where they are common
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Highly contagious viral infection
Airborne Precautions
Symptoms: itchy, blister like rash, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite
Treatment: Self treatable, prevented by vaccine
Measles
Airborne Precautions
Viral infection serious for small children but preventable by vaccine Symptoms: cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever and red blotchy skin rash , tiredness, dry cough diarrhea, pain in muscles
Preventative: MMR vaccine
Medicine: analgesic, no treatments but vitamin A can help with sympoms
