Immune and Asepsis Notes Flashcards
Standard precautions apply to what in hospitals
Blood
All body fluids, excretions, and secretions except sweat
Nonintact skin (broken skin)
Mucus membranes
What type of room does a pt with airborne precautions go into?
Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) - its a room with negative pressure and discharges the air outside or through filtration system
What type of rom does a pt with droplet or contact precautions go into?
A private room and nurse must wear normal mask if working with 3ft of pt
What must you wear in a private room with a pt who has contact precautions?
Gloves
Gown
What type of mask do you wear in a private room with a pt who has airborne precautions?
N95 respirator mask
Droplets from sneezing or coughing contain microorganisms that can travel how far?
1 meter or 3ft
List the principles of surgical asepsis
All objects used in a sterile field must be sterile
Sterile objects become unsterile when touched by unsterile objects
Sterile objects out of sight and below waist level are considered unsterile
Sterile objects can become unsterile by exposure to airborne microorganisms
Fluid flow in the direction of gravity
What are phagocytes?
Cells that ingest microorganisms, dead cells, and foreign particles
What are the 5 major functions of skin?
Protects underlying tissues from injury by preventing the passage of microorganisms
Regulates body temperature
Sebum (an oily substance that is secreted lubricating hair and skin, prevents hair from becoming brittle, and decreases water loss from skin when external humidity is low)
Transmits sensations through nerve receptors that are sensitive to pain, temp, touch, and pressure
Produces and absorbs vitamin D in conjunction with the sun
What does temperature do for the skin and body?
Warm or hot baths dilate superficial arterioles, bringing more blood and nourishment to the skin
What is the purpose of bathing pts?
Remove microorganisms
Stimulate circulation
Promote well being
Produce relaxation and comfort
Eliminate body odors
Medicated baths(therapeutic bath) are for which type of pts?
For pts with dry, itchy skin, from sunburn, hives, skin diseases etc.
What is passive immunity?
Host rx natural or artificial antibodies produced by another source (nursing from mother or injection of immune serum)
What is active immunity?
Host produces antibodies in response to natural antigens (e.g. infectious microorganisms) or artificial antigens (e.g. vaccines)
The B cells produces which antibody molecule class of immunoglobulin that is indicative of a current infection?
IgM
What is the temperature of the water used for the bed bath?
43C - 46C OR 110F to 115F
What are cleansing baths?
Given for hygiene purposes
A sitz bath (therapeutic type of bath) is for which pts?
Soothing and healing the perineum
At minimum when and how many times do you change bath water?
1 time = initial body bath
2nd time the water is changed before cleaning perineal area
High WBC (leukocyte) counts are indicative to which type of infection?
Bacterial
LOW WBC (leukocyte) counts are indicative to which type of infection?
Viral
List the 4 types of microorganisms
Bacteria
Fungi
Virus
Parasites
Define virulence
How powerful a microorganism can produce a disease
Define communicable disease
A disease than can spread from one individual to another
Describe what happens in colonization
Strains of microorganisms become resistant (viva la resistance) to flora. DOES NOT CAUSE DISEASE.
Define systemic infection
Microorganisms spread and cause damage to different parts of the body
Why do we wash hands between pts?
To get rid of microorganisms on hands and to prevent cross contamination
Define a local infection
Microorganisms stay in one part of the body
Define nosocomial infection
They are infections that originate in the hospital during the pts stay or manifest in the pt after discharge
Define acute infection
appears suddenly or last for a short amount of time
Define chronic infection
Occurs slowly over a long period of time and lasts for months or years
Where can you get a HAI from?
Surgical site
Catheters
UTIs
Central IV sites
Blood stream infections
GI infections
List the body’s types of nonspecific defenses
Skin (#1)
Low pH in the vagina
High acidity in the stomach
Resident flora in the intestine
High pH in urine
Saliva
Tears
How do nurses prevent the spread of microorganisms?
Through hand hygine
Where do you beak the chain of infection?
Portal of exit
Mode of transmission
In the phase of method of transmission, an indirect transmission can be vector-borne. An example of a vector borne transmitter is
A mosquito (or animal, flying, or crawling insect)
A compromised host is a ____________ host
susceptible
Describe what a carrier of an infectious agent is and their significance
Human or animal that does not show s/s of infection or disease
The three types of methods of transmission of
Direct
Indirect
Airborne
Describe indirect transmission
Vehicle or vector borne
- Vehicle borne transports microorganisms
- Vector borne is a animal or insect that serves as a means of transport
Describe direct transmission
Direct transfer of microorganisms
Describe airborne transmission
Droplets or dust
List the body’s types of specific defenses
Antibodies (Immunoglobulins)
Passive and active immunity
Cell mediated (Lymphocytes)
What is an antigen?
A substance that induces a state of sensitivity of immune responsiveness
Can you be allergic to something you have never been exposed to before?
No
Describe what antibody mediated defense is?
Its a circulating immunity, defenses reside in B lymphocytes and are mediated by antibodies produced by B cells
defend primarily against bacterial and viral infections
Describe the difference between active and passive immunity
In Active immunity antibodies are produced by the body in response to an antigen. Antibodies are formed when there is an active infection.
With passive immunity, antibodies are produced by another source.
In a cell-mediated defense, the three types of T cells are
- Helper T cells (help the function of immune system)
- Cyto{cell} toxic T cells (attack and kill microorganisms)
- Suppressor T cells (suppress the function of helper and cytotoxic T cells)
What are the 3 stages of inflammatory response?
Vascular and cellular response (vascular permeability appear - swelling and pain)
Exudate production (puss or dead phagocytic cells)
Reparative phase
Which stage of the inflammatory response includes regeneration?
Third stage - Reparative phase
What is granulation?
What does it look like?
In the 3rd stage or reparative stage of the inflammatory response, where regeneration occurs, granulation is where damaged tissues are replaced with a fragile, gelatinous connective tissue appearing red or pink due to the newly formed capillaries.
Inflammation is characterized by 5 signs which are:
Pain
Swelling
Redness
Heat
Impaired function
A scar is also called a _____________.
Cicatrix
An elevated WBC count will indicate which type of infection?
Acute infections Tissue necrosis (e.g., myocardial infarction [MI]) Collagen diseases
Factors that increase host susceptibility are
stress
nutrition
fluids (to promote urine production and output [flushing microorganisms out of the urethra])
Modes of transmission are
Direct
Indirect
Airborne
Standard precaution is exercised in situations where the nurse is exposed to:
Blood
All body fluids, excretions, and secretions except sweat
Nonintact skin (broken skin)
Mucus membranes
Standard precautions for a pt with airborne precautions include:
The pt will be in a negative pressure private room
Nurse will wear a N95 respirator mask
Standard precautions for a pt with droplet precautions include:
Private room for pt
Mask for nurse
Standard precautions for a pt with contact precautions include:
Private room for pt
Nurse would wear: gloves and gown
Describe the psychosocial needs of a pt who is in isolation
Sensory deprivation - lack of stimuli in the environment [no normal communication with others]
Feeling inferiority - pts may feel dirty or less valued [alters self-esteem]
Nursing interventions for pts in isolation include
Regular communication
Orient the pt to the day, meal schedule/ surroundings
Bring toys for children
Variety of foods
If a pt has a puncture wound by stepping on a nail, this method of infection transmission is
Vehicle borne (indirect mode of transmission)
If a pt has a surgical wound infection, which mode of transmission is it?
HAI - Surgical instruments can serve as vehicle borne modes of transmission
