Infection Control Flashcards
Microbe/Microorganism
Small organism not visible to naked eye
Nonpathogens
Microorganisms that are part of the normal flora of body. Maintain body processes
Pathogens
Cause infection and disease
Aerobic
Requires oxygen to live
Anaerobic
Live and reproduce without oxygen
Six main types of microorganisms
Bacteria, Protozoa, fungi, rickettsia, viruses, helminths
Bacteria
- Simple, one-celled organisms.
- Multiply rapidly.
- classified by shape and arrangement
Cocci
Round or spherical bacteria
Diplococci
Cocci that occur in pairs
- (gonorrhea, meningitis, pneumonia)
Streptococci
- Cocci in chains
- (strep throat, rheumatic fever)
Staphylococci
- Cocci in clusters or groups.
- Most common pyogenic (pus-producing) microorganisms.
Bacilli
- Rod-shaped bacteria.
- Occur single, pairs, chains.
- Have flagella.
- Form spores.
- (TB, tetanus, whooping cough)
Flagella
Thread-like projections that allow microorganisms to move (in bacilli)
Superbugs
Bacteria resistant to several drugs.
Protozoa
- One-celled animal-like organisms.
- Found in decayed materials, animal or bird feces, contaminated water, insect bites.
- Many contain flagella.
- Pathogenic cause malaria and more
Fungi
- Simple plant-life organisms.
- Live on dead organic matter.
- Yeast and mold can be pathogenic.
- Ringworm, athlete’s foot, etc.
- antifungal medication used to treat NOT antibiotics
Rickettsiae
- Parasitic organisms (must live in cells of other organisms) .
- Found in fleas, lice, ticks.
- Transmitted through bites.
- Typhus fever.
- Antibiotics to treat
Viruses
- Smallest microorganisms, only visible under an electron microscope.
- Can’t reproduce unless inside another cell.
- Spread through blood and other secretions/fluids.
- Difficult to kill due to resistance.
- Not affected by antibiotics.
- Common cold, measles, chicken pox, influenza.
Viruses that infected animals and mutated to affect humans
- SARS(coronavirus variant)
- West Nile virus(mosquito borne)
- Monkeypox(monkeys and rodents)
- Ebola(primates)
- H5N1(birds)
- H1N1/swine flu(hogs. Global pandemic in 2009)
Main viral disease of major concern
Hepatitis B(serum hepatitis), Hepatitis C, Acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)
Hepatitis B
- Caused by HBV.
- Transmitted by blood, serum, other secretions.
- Affects liver, can lead to destruction or scarring of liver cells.
- Vaccine available and required to be provided to health care workers (can refuse)
Hepatitis C
- Caused by HCV.
- Transmitted by blood and blood containing fluids.
- Many asymptomatic cases.
- Can cause serious liver damage.
- No preventive immunization.
AIDS
- Caused by human immunodeficiency virus.
- suppresses immune system
- people who have cannot fight off cancers and infections that would not affect the average person
- no cure or vaccine
Helminths
- multicellular parasitic organisms
- commonly called worms or flukes
- transmitted when eggs or larvae are ingested through contaminated food or through bites of infected insects
- some can penetrate the skin to enter
- hookworm, ascariasis, trichinella spiralis, enterobiasis, pork tapeworm
Endogenous infection/disease
Originates within the body (congenital, metabolic, tumors)
Exogenous infection/disease
Originates outside the body(radiation, chemical agents, trauma, electric shock, temperature extremes)
Hospital-acquired or healthcare-associated infection (HAI)
- formerly known as nosocomial infections
- acquired by individuals in a healthcare facility
- usually present in the facility and transmitted by workers
- many of these pathogens are anti-biotic resistant, can cause serious infections(staphylococcus, enterococci)
- infection preventionists run programs to prevent these infections
Opportunistic infections
- Occur when body’s defenses are weak
- usually do not occur in individuals with intact immune systems
- candidiasis, Kaposi’s sarcoma
Chain of Infection
Conditions that must be met for disease to occur and spread:
1. Infectious agent
2. Reservoir
3. Portal of exit
4. Mode of transmission
5. Portal of entry
6. Susceptible host
Breaking the chain of infection will stop the spread of disease
Infectious agent
Any pathogen that can cause a disease
Reservoir
- An area where an infectious agent can live
- body, animals, environment, fomites(objects contaminated with infectious material)
Portal of exit
- A way for the infectious agent to escape the reservoir
- Urine, feces, saliva, blood, tears, discharge, draining wounds, etc.