Chapter 4: Infection Control Flashcards
What is an infection?
Invasion and growth of microorganisms causing disease
What is a pathogen?
An organism or agent that causes infection
What’s the chain of Infection (6 elements)?
1) Infectious agent (source)
2)Resevoir (humans)
3) Port of exit from resevoir
4) means of transmission
5) Port of entry to host
6) Susceptible host
+it’s a continuous circle
What are the 5 means of transmission?
1) Direct or indirect contact
2) Droplet
3) Airborne
4) Bloodborne
5) Vector
What is direct contact transmission?
Physical contact with an infected person
What is indirect contact?
A host transmits a pathogen to a fomite and the susceptible host touches the fomite
What is a fomite?
Inanimate object that can carry infection
What are droplets? How far do they travel?
+droplets bigger than 5 micrometers generated by the source via coughing, sneezing talking
+travel less than 3ft.
+Don’t need a ventilator or air filter to prevent transmission
What is airborne transmission?
+Droplets smaller than 5 micrometers generated by host via coughing, sneezing, talking etc.
+Can travel far and linger in the air
+Need ventilator or air filter to prevent transmission
What is bloodborne transmission? Examples?
+Infectious microorganisms in blood that can cause disease
+HIV, Hep B, Hep C
What is vector transmission?
Organisms like tick, mice etc that carry infectious agents
What are 4 ways to prevent infectious transmission?
1) Handwashing for 15-20 seconds
2) PPE
3) Standard precautions
4) Isolating infectious patients
What’s included in PPE?
Gowns, glove, respirator, face mask, shoe cover, apron, face shield, goggles
Standard Precautions means what?
Use barrier protection and work practice controls to prevent contact between skin and mucous membranes and blood, other bodily fluids, and tissues from all persons
What are isolation control measures?
Separating infectious person from susceptible hosts