Exam 4-Infection Flashcards
Definition
Infection
the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, which may be unapparent or the result of local cellular injury caused by metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication, or antigen-antibody response
Definition
Asepsis
freedom from and prevention of disease-causing contamination
Signs and Sx’s of
Localized Infection
- redness
- swelling
- warmth
- tenderness
- numbness/tingling
- loss of function in area
Signs/Sx’s of
Systemic Infections
- fever
- increased HR
- increased RR
- lethargy
- anorexia
- lymph node tenderness/enlargement
- muscle aches
- headache
- acute confusion (elderly)
Inflammation
Responses to acute inflammation
3
- vascular permeability
- cellular chemotaxis
- systemic response
Inflammation
Describe vascular permeability
inflammatory mediators (like histamine) cause blood vessels to dilate and be more permeable which causes fluid and WBCs to go to site of infection (creates warmth and swelling)
Inflammation
Describe Cellular Chemotaxis
when chemical signals from WBCs and other microbial agents attract platelets and other WBCs to the site of infection
Inflammation
Describe systemic response
Sx’s throughout whole body:
* fever
* pain
* swollen lymph nodes
* sleepiness
* wt loss
* Chemical mediators are responsible for most of these effects
Definition
Inflammation
a local response to cellular injury or infection that includes capillary dilation and leukocyte infiltration
Humoral immunity
WBC produces antibodies in response to antigens or pathogens
Cellular Immunity
defense the body does not recognize; WBCs directly attack antigens; helper T cells stimulate antibody production
Assessing for Infection
4
- Vital signs
- Assessment questions (asking about signs/sxs)
- Nutrition assessment
- Risk assessment (chronic disease, skin integrity, etc)
Definition
Colonization
when microorganisms are in or on the body but do not cause any signs/sxs
-basically a carrier
Examples of
Colonization
- TB
- MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus)
- C. Diff
- VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococcus)
Transmission Precautions
Types of Precautions
4
- contact
- droplet
- airborne
- protective isolation
Contact Precautions
Examples
- multidrug resistant organisms
- scabies
- HSV
- draining wounds
- C. Diff
Contact Precautions
PPE
gown and gloves
Airborne Precautions
Used when what?
when known or suspected contagious diseases can be transmitted by means of small dropets that can remain in the air for long periods of time
Airborne Precautions
Examples
- TB
- varicella
- disseminated herpes
Airborne Precautions
PPE
4
- gloves
- gown
- mask (N95)
- negative pressure room
Droplet Precautions
Used when what
when known or suspected contagious diseases can be transmitted though large droplets suspended in the air
Droplet Precautions
PPE
4
- gloves
- gown
- mask
- goggles
Droplet Precautions
Examples
- flu
- rubella
- mumps
- pneumonia
- diphtheria
Protective Isolation
Used when what?
when patients have a compromised immune system
Protective Isolation
Precautions that MAY be used (not always)
- filters
- masks
- meticulous handwashing
- no live items brought into the room
- positve pressure room
(all varies on patient)
Chain of Infection
The 6 components
- mode of transmission
- portal of entry
- susceptible host
- infectious agent
- source
- portal of exit
Definition and examples
Source of Infection
reservoir or host
* inanimate objects
* humans
* animals
Definitions and examples
Portal of exit
the means by which the pathogen escapes from the reservoir of infection
* emesis
* sputum
* urine
* stool
* blood
* wound drainage
* genital secretions
Definitions and Examples
Mode of Transmission
form of transport
* direct contact
* indirect contact (uses vehicle)
* airborne
* droplet
* vector borne (animal or insect carrying pathogen from host to host)
Definitions and Examples
Portal of Entry
means by which the microorganism enters the host
* GI tract
* GU tract
* Respiratory tracts
* Broken skin
Definitions and Examples
Susceptible Host
someone exposed to an infectious disease
Factors that INCREASE host susceptibility
- break in 1st line of defense
- illness/injury
- tobacco use
- substance abuse
- multiple partners
- chronic disease
- meds
- medical procedures
Factors at AFFECT susceptibility
- extremes in ages
- gender (depending on infection)
- obesity
- geographic area
- disabilities
- culture/ethnicity/religion
Staph Aureus
Characteristics
- hardy gram pos, round, form clusters
- can survive long periods on surfaces
- can colonize on skin, vagina, nares, and oropharynx as normal flora
- Leading cause of nosocomial and surgical wound infections
2 exmples of Staph Aureus
- MRSA
- VRSA
C. diff
Signs/Sx’s
- prolonged frequent diarrhea
- fever
- abd pain
C. Diff
Causes
- long term abx use
- prolonged use of PPI
- acquired from a different pt
C. Diff
Tx
- d/c abx
- hand hygeine
- bleach to disinfect
- rehydration
- metronidazole (to control diarrhea)
- fecal transplantation
Labs
Which ones assess for infection?
- CBC
- WBC diff
- C & S
- CRP
- ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
Normal Range
WBC
5-10,000 cells/ cubic mm
WBC diff breakdown
- neutrophils
- monocytes
- eosinophils
- basophils
Neutrophils
immature ones too
- 50-70% of WBCs
- short lived phagocytes
- immature ones are called bands
Lymphocytes
- the “brains” of the immune system
- associated with viral
- Tcells (immunity on/off)
- Bcells (produce antibodies)
CRP
- indicates inflammation
- has pro and anti-inflammatory actions
- helps identify foreign from self
ESR
range and indication
range: less than 20 mm/hr
indicates whether inflammation is present
