Chapter 28

Question 1

why are patients in health care settings at risk for acquired infections?

Answer 1

because of lower resistance to pathogens; increased exposure to pathogens, some of
which may be resistant to most antibiotics; and invasive procedures

Question 2

Infection

Answer 2

an invasion of a susceptible host by a pathogen or microorganisms resulting in disease or alteration of normal tissue function.

Question 3

Colonization

Answer 3

the presence and growth of microorganism within a host but without tissue invasion or damage.

Question 4

Communicable disease

Answer 4

Any disease that can be transmitted from one person or animal to another by direct or indirect contact or by vectors.

Question 5

Symptomatic

Answer 5

pathogen that when multiply cause clinical signs and symptoms.

Question 6

Asymptomatic

Answer 6

absence of symptoms or illness.

Question 7

Chain of infection

Answer 7

An infectious agent or pathogen-> a reservoir or source for pathogen growth-> a port of exit from the reservoir-> a mode of transmission-> a port of entry to a host-> a susceptible host.

Question 8

Virulence

Answer 8

ability to produce disease, and ability to enter and survive in the host, as well as the susceptibility of the host.

Question 9

Immunocompromised

Answer 9

impaired immune system

Question 10

transient microorganism

Answer 10

attaches to the skin when a person has contact with another person or object during normal activities.

Question 11

reservoir

Answer 11

place where microorganism survive, multiply, and await transfer to a susceptible host.

Question 12

two types of human reservoirs

Answer 12

• display acute or symptomatic disease

- carries that show no signs of disease

Question 13

what do organism need to thrive?

Answer 13

proper environment, food, oxygen, water, temperature, PH, light

Question 14

Aerobic

Answer 14

bacteria that requires oxygen for survival,

Question 15

Anaerobic

Answer 15

needs little or no oxygen to thrive.

Question 16

Port of Exit

Answer 16

sites such as blood, skin and mucous membranes, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, and transplacental (mother to fetus)

Question 17

modes of transmission

Answer 17

Direct- person to person (fecal, oral) physical contact between source and susceptible host (touching patient feces and then touching your inner mouth or consuming contaminated food)

Indirect- personal contact of susceptible host with contaminated inanimate object(needles or sharp object, dressings, environment)

droplet- large particles that travel up to 3 feet during coughing sneezing, or talking and come in contact with susceptible host.

airborne- droplet nuclei or residue or evaporated droplets suspended in air during coughing or sneezing or carried on dust particles.

vehicles- contaminated items, water, drugs, solutions, blood, food (improperly handled, stored, or cooked; fresh or thawed meats.)

vector- external mechanical transfer (flies) mosquitos, louse, flea, tick

Question 18

course of infection

Answer 18

Incubation period- interval between entrance of pathogen into body and appearance of first symptoms.

Prodromal stage-interval from onset of nonspecific signs and symptoms to more specific symptoms

illness stage- interval when patient manifests signs and symptoms specific to type of infection

convalescence- interval when acute symptoms of infection disappear.

Question 19

what is the major route of transmission for pathogens?

Answer 19

unwashed hand of health care works. other sources of transmission are equipment such as stethoscope, blood pressure cuff or bedside commode.

Question 20

susceptibility

Answer 20

Individuals degree of Resistance to pathogens.

Question 21

what are symptoms of a localized infection (wound infection)

Answer 21

pain, tenderness, and redness.

Question 22

systemic

Answer 22

an infection that affects the body instead of just a single organ. fatal if undetected and untreated.

Question 23

normal defenses against infection

Answer 23

skin,- provides barriers to microorganism and antibacterial activity

mouth,- provides mechanical barrier to microorganism.

eye,- provides mechanisms to reduce entry or assist in washing away particles containing pathogens, thus, reducing dose of organism.

respiratory tract,- traps inhales microbes and sweeps them outward in mucus to be expectorated or swallowed.

urinary tract,- washes away microorganism on lining of bladder and urethra.

gastrointestinal tract,-prevents retention of bacterial contents

vagina. -inhibit growth of many microorganism

Question 24

normal floras

Answer 24

microorganism that normally reside on the surface and deep layers of skin, in the saliva and oral mucosa, and in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary the intestines.

Question 25

Suprainfection

Answer 25

secondary infection usually caused by an opportunistic pathogen.

Question 26

Inflammation

Answer 26

cellular response of the body to injury, infection, or irritation.

Question 27

what are the factors that trigger inflammation

Answer 27

physical agents, chemicals agents, or microorganisms

Question 28

physical agents that trigger inflammation

Answer 28

Mechanical trauma, temperature extremes, and radiation

Question 29

Chemical agents that trigger inflammation

Answer 29

external and internal irritants such as harsh poisons or gastric acid

Question 30

what is the inflammatory response?

Answer 30

After tissues are injured a serious of well-coordinated occurs.

• vascular and cellular responses
• formation of inflammatory exudates
• tissue repair

Question 31

Vascular and cellular responses

Answer 31

“injury causes tissue damage and possibly necrosis. As a result the body releases chemical mediators that increase the permeability of small blood vessels; and fluid, protein, and cells enter interstitial spaces. The accumulation of fluid appears as localized swelling (edema).”

“The cellular response of inflammation involves white blood cells (WBCs) arriving at the site.”

Question 32

Phagocytosis

Answer 32

process that involves the destruction and the absorption of bacteria. through this process specialized WNC called neutrophils and monocytes ingest and destroy microorganism or other particles.

Question 33

Leukocytosis

Answer 33

an increase in the number of circulating WBCs

Question 34

what Is a normal serum WBC count?

Answer 34

5000 to 10000 normal

15000 to 20000 during inflammation.

Question 35

what causes fever?

Answer 35

phagocytic release from bacterial cells, which causes a rise in the hypothalamic set point.

Question 36

Inflammatory exudate

Answer 36

accumulation of fluid and dead tissue cells and WBCs may be serous- clear like plasma
purulent- containing WBCs and bacteria
sanguineous- containing red blood cells

exudate is cleared away through lymphatic drainage. Platelets and plasma proteins such as fibrinogen form a meshlike matrix at the site of inflammation to prevent its spread

Question 37

Tissue repair

Answer 37

when there is injury to tissue cells, healing involves the defensive reconstructive and maturative stages.

Question 38

what is granulation tissue and when is it present?

Answer 38

soft, pink, fleshy projection of tissue that form during the healing process in a wound not healing by primary intention.

Question 39

Health care-associated infection (HAIs)

Answer 39

infection that was not present or incubating at the time of admission to a health care setting. They occur as the result of invasive procedures, antibiotic administration, the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms, and breaks in infection prevention and control activities.

Question 40

Iatrogenic infections

Answer 40

type of HAI from a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure

Question 41

“If an infectious disease can be transmitted directly from one person to another, it is a:

a) Susceptible host.
b) Communicable disease.
c) Port of entry to a host.
d) Port of exit from the reservoir”

Answer 41

b) communicable disease

“Any disease that can be transmitted from one person or animal to another by direct or indirect contact or by vectors.”

Question 42

“Which is the most likely means of transmitting infection between patients?

a) Exposure to another patient’s cough
b) Sharing equipment among patients
c) Disposing of soiled linen in a shared linen bag
d) Contact with a health care worker’s hands”

Answer 42

d)”Contact with a health care worker’s hands”