Exam 2 Module 3 Flashcards
chapter 20, promote asepsis part 1
What is infection?
Invasion of and multiplication in the body by a pathogen.
What are the goals of infection prevention and control?
- Protect patients from infections
- Meet professional standards and guidelines
- Protect yourself and others from diseases
- Reduce the severity of illness and complications resulting from infection
What does HAI stand for?
Healthcare-associated infections.
What is a nosocomial infection?
Infections acquired in the hospital.
What is the approximate prevalence of HAIs among hospitalized patients?
Approximately 1 of every 31 hospitalized patients.
Which infection is considered one of the most common and serious among HAIs?
Clostridium difficile.
What are some reasons for the high incidence of healthcare-related infections?
- Many care providers can transmit pathogens
- Ill patients are vulnerable to infection
- Invasive procedures can introduce microbes
What is the primary goal of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding HAIs?
To keep patients from acquiring healthcare-associated infections.
What is the difference between transient flora and resident flora?
- Transient flora are temporary and can be removed by handwashing
- Resident flora are permanent inhabitants of the skin
List the four factors that determine whether a person develops an infection.
- Virulence of the organism
- Host environment
- Number of organisms
- Host defenses
What is a reservoir in the context of infection?
A source of infection where pathogens survive and multiply.
What are the two types of reservoirs?
- Living organisms
- Nonliving reservoirs
What is the ideal temperature for most pathogens?
35°C (95°F).
True or False: Most pathogens can survive in the highly acidic environment of the stomach.
False.
What is the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in infection control?
Committed to reducing healthcare-associated complications and improving infection response.
What is the significance of the Joint Commission’s Goal 7 for 2020?
To reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
Fill in the blank: The largest groups of pathogens are _______.
[bacteria, viruses, and fungi]
What are multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs)?
Pathogens that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics.
What does QSEN stand for?
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses.
What is the role of normal flora in the human body?
- Aid in digestion
- Synthesize vitamins
- Limit growth of harmful bacteria
What can happen to normal flora under certain conditions?
They may become pathogenic.
Name one example of an anaerobic organism.
Clostridium tetani.
What are microorganisms that live on or in the human body without causing harm called?
Normal flora
Normal flora can be beneficial or essential for human health and well-being.
Where do the two types of normal flora come from?
- Transient flora
- Resident flora
Transient flora are acquired from contact with objects or people, while resident flora are permanent inhabitants.
What do normal flora do in the intestine?
- Aid in digestion
- Synthesize vitamin K
- Release vitamin B12, thiamine, biotin, niacin, and riboflavin
These functions are essential for maintaining health.
How do normal flora limit the growth of harmful bacteria?
By competing for available nutrients
This competition helps maintain a balance in the microbial community.
What are pathogens?
Microorganisms capable of causing disease
The largest groups of pathogens are bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Name less common pathogens.
- Protozoa
- Helminths (commonly called worms)
- Prions
Prions are infectious protein particles causing neurological diseases.
When can normal flora become pathogenic?
When a patient is vulnerable to disease or they enter regions of the body they do not normally inhabit
For example, Escherichia coli can cause infection when in the urinary tract.
What are the six links in the chain of infection?
Reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host, and infectious agent
Define a reservoir in the context of infection.
A source of infection—a place where pathogens survive and multiply.
What are some examples of living reservoirs?
- Humans
- Animals
- Insects
- Carriers
What is a carrier?
A person capable of defending themselves from active disease but harboring pathogenic organisms without symptoms.
List examples of nonliving reservoirs.
- Soil
- Water
- Food
- Environmental surfaces
What characteristics of environments are supportive to microbes?
- Nutrients
- Moisture
- Temperature
- Oxygen
- pH and electrolytes
- Light
At what temperature do most pathogens thrive?
35°C (95°F)
True or False: Most pathogens require a moist environment to survive.
True
What is the ideal pH range for most pathogens?
5 to 8
Fill in the blank: Many bacteria and most protozoa and fungi are ______.
aerobic
What is an example of an anaerobic organism?
Clostridium tetani
causes tetanus when a spore enters the body through an open wound.
How does a fever help the body fight infection?
It can inhibit and even kill invading pathogens.
What role does ultraviolet light play in infection control?
It is used to remove pathogens from surgical instruments and disinfect drinking water.
remove pathogens such as Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and viruses from surgical instruments and other objects. It is also used to disinfect drinking water
What happens to the survival of pathogens when patients take antacids?
Stomach pH increases, removing the acidic defense and allowing organisms to multiply.
What is an example of a pathogenic bacteria that can multiply in food left at room temperature?
Salmonella enteritidis
Why is the human body considered the most common reservoir for pathogens?
It provides a warm, moist, dark environment.
pathogens require moisture for survival except for —
spores that live without water (e.g., the Bacillus and Clostridium species, both of which cause foodborne disease).
What is a portal of exit?
A route through which a pathogen exits a reservoir, commonly through body fluids.
What is the most frequent portal of exit for human or animal reservoirs?
Body fluids.
How does the body expel pathogens from the respiratory system?
Coughing and sneezing.
What are common ways pathogens exit the gastrointestinal system?
Vomiting and diarrhea.
What role do wounds, bites, and abrasions play in pathogen transmission?
They provide an exit for body fluids that transport pathogens.
What are common healthcare-related exit routes for pathogens?
Puncture sites, drainage tubes, feeding tubes, and IV lines.
What is the most frequent mode of transmission of infection?
Contact (direct or indirect).
What is direct contact in the context of infection transmission?
Physical contact, sexual intercourse, or contact with wound drainage.
What is indirect contact?
Contact with a fomite, a contaminated object that transfers a pathogen.
Give examples of fomites.
- Shoes
- Eyeglasses
- Stethoscopes
- Contaminated needles.