Chapter 23 - Asepsis and Infection Control Flashcards
Major concern for health practitioners
Danger of spreading microorganisms from person to person and from place to place
A U.S. government agency responsible for investigating, preventing, and controlling disease.
CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL (CDC)
Major focus for nurses
Prevention of infection
Disease state that results from the presence of pathogens
Infection
What are pathogens?
disease-producing microorganisms
What are the six components of infection?
Infectious agent, Reservoir, Portal of exit, Means of transmission, Portals of entry, Susceptible host.
What is a bacteria
The most significant and most commonly observed infection-causing agent.
Shapes of bacteria
Spherical (cocci), Rod-shaped (bacilli), Corkscrew (spirochetes).
Aerobic bacteria
Require oxygen to live and grow
Anaerobic bacteria
Can live without oxygen
Virus
smallest of all microorganisms, visible only with an electron bacteria.
Antibiotics have…
no effect on viruses
plant-like organisms (molds and yeasts) that also can cause infection, are present in the air, soil, and water.
Fungi
Treatment for fungi
anti fungal medications
organisms that live on or in a host and rely on it for nourishment
Parasites
occurs with predictability in one specific region or population can appear in a different geographic location
Endemic
Normal flora
part of the body’s natural defense system
Bacteria that normally cause no problem, but with certain factors may potentially be harmful in susceptible people
Opportunists
Organisms that reside in a person’s body but show no clinical signs of an infection are referred to as…
Colonization
Mosquitoes, ticks, and lice are nonhuman carries that transmit organisms from one host to another by injecting salivary fluid when a human bite occurs
Vectors
Airborne Transmission
host coughs, sneezes, or talks when the organism becomes attached to dust particles.
Droplet Transmission
droplet particles similar to airborne but greater than 5 mcm.
Common portals for organism entry and exit
Respiratory, GI tracts, GU tracts, and Skin
Phases of Infection
Incubation Period,
Prodromal Stage,
Full Stage of illness,
Convalescent Period
Indication of inflammation
Elevated Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
