Disease Transmission Chapter 19

Question 1

6 Links of infection chain

Answer 1

• infection agent
• reservoir
• portal of exit
• mode of transmission
• portal of entry
• susceptible host

Question 2

Name some reservoirs

Answer 2

Humans, animals, food ,water,bio burden, contaminated surfaces.

Question 3

Infection Agent

Answer 3

A pathogen must be present. Organism must also be virulent. (Virulence the strength of an organisms ability to cause disease)

Question 4

Portals of entry

Answer 4

Mouth and nose (airborne)

Needle stick, cut and human bite (blood borne)

Question 5

4 things that make a host susceptible?

Answer 5

• poor health
• chronically fatigued
• under extreme stress
• weaked immune system

Question 6

Acute Infection

Answer 6

Symptoms are often quite severe and appear soon after the initial infection occurs EX Cold

Question 7

Chronic infection

Answer 7

The microorganism is present for a long period: sometimes for life.

Question 8

Latent Infection

Answer 8

Persistent infections that’s symptoms can come and go

EX; Cold sores

Question 9

Opportunistic Infection

Answer 9

Caused by normally non pathogenic organisms:

occurs in individuals whose resistance is decreased or weakened

Question 10

Direct transmission

Answer 10

Occurs when someone comes in direct contact with the infectious lesion infected body fluids EX; Blood, saliva, semen, Vaginal substances

Question 11

Indirect transmission

Answer 11

Involves the transfer of organisms to susceptible person through for example the handling of contaminated instruments or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching face mouth and eyes.

Question 12

Airborne transmission

Answer 12

Spread of disease through droplets of moisture containing bacteria or viruses aka:droplet infection

Question 13

Parenteral transmission

Answer 13

Needlestick injuries human bites cuts abrasions or any breaking in the skin

Question 14

Blood-borne transmission

Answer 14

Involves indirect and direct contact with blood and other bodily fluid

Question 15

Food and water transmission

Answer 15

Occurs when food hasn’t been cooked refrigerated Properly or water that has been contaminated with human or animal faecal matter is consumed

Question 16

Fecal oral transmission

Answer 16

When sanitation procedures such as hand washing after using the toilet are not followed and then the person now infected with one of the many pathogens in fecal matter touches another person, surface or food

Question 17

Difference between inherited and acquired immunity?

Answer 17

Inherited Immunity is present at birth where as acquired Immunity is developed over a persons life time.

Question 18

What is the difference between naturally acquired an artificial acquired immunity

Answer 18

Naturally acquired immunity occurs when a person has contracted and is recovering from a disease where as artificially acquired immunity antibodies are introduced in the body by immunization or vaccination

Question 19

How can a patient infect a member of the dental team?

Answer 19

-direct contact of the patient’s blood or saliva (touching)
-Droplet infection through eyes nose and mouth can occur when team member inhales aerosol generated by the dental hand-piece or your air-water syringe
– indirect contact touches a contaminated surface or instrument

Question 20

Five ways to prevent disease transmission from patient to dental team member

Answer 20

– Gloves
– Handwashing
– Masks
– Rubber dams
– Patient mouth rinses

Question 21

How how could the dental team member infect patient?

Answer 21

Very unlikely to happen but can result if dental team member has lesions on the hands or hands are cut while in patients mouth this would transfer microorganisms

Question 22

Four ways to prevent dental team to patient infections

Answer 22

– Masks
– Gloves
– Handwashing
– Immunization

Question 23

How could patient to patient transmission occur?

Answer 23

No cases have been documented in dentistry. For transmission to be possible contamination from instruments used on one patient must be used on another patient.

Question 24

Five ways to prevent patient to patient transmission

Answer 24

– instrument sterilization
– Surface barriers 
– Handwashing
– Gloves
– use of sterile instruments

Question 25

How could the dental office spread the infections to the community?

Answer 25

– Contaminated impressions sent to the dental lab
-Contaminated equipment sent out for repair
– Transportation of micro organisms out of the office on the dental team’s clothing or hair

Question 26

Three things to prevent dental office to community disease transmission?

Answer 26

Handwashing, Changing clothes before leaving the office, and disinfecting impressions and contaminate equipment before such items leave the office.

Question 27

How could the community affect the patients at the clinic?

Answer 27

Micro organisms could enter the dental office through the water that supplies the dental unit. Waterborne organisms colonize inside the dental unit waterlines and as water flows through the handpiece air water syringe and ultrasonic scaler a patient could swallow contaminated water.

Question 28

Reservoirs

Answer 28

A place where micro organisms normally live and reproduce