Infection Control Flashcards
normal flora
microorganisms that live on another organism that don’t cause disease.
pathogens
bacterium virus or other microorganism that can cause disease.
virulence
degree of pathology caused by the organism; extent of virulence is usually correlated with the ability of pathogen to multiply within the host.
sepsis
life threatening organ disfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection.
colonization
proliferation of microorganism on or within body site without detectable host immune response; no cellular damage or clinical expression.
infection
invasion of microorganisms in the body.
3 elements of transmission
source, susceptible host, way for pathogen to travel from source to host
requirements for infection
- existence of pathogen
- source of pathogen
- means to leave source
- mode of travel
- way to enter host
- susceptible host
infectious agents
bacteria, virus, fungi, parasites, prions
bacteria
one celled organism
virus
nucleic acid in protein shell
fungi
single/multi celled (yeast, mold, mushrooms)
parasite
organism lives within, upon, or at expense of another organism (host) and causes harm.
prions
disease producing protein without nucleic acid
nosociomial infection
hospital related infection
increased risk for nosocomial infection
More invasive procedures
Internally placed medical devices
Frequent healthcare personnel contact
In patients with compromised health
most common pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus
impetigo, toxic shock
Escherichia coli
foods
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Water borne bacteria; burn patients
resistent organisms
MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), VISA (vancomycin-intermediate staphylococcus aureus), VRE, C-diff, MDROs
MRSA
Contact transmission
Abscess
Purulent exudate-like a “head” or point
Can spread to circulatory system (sepsis) or to lungs causing pneumonia
VISA
contact transmission
VRE
contact and oral-fecal transmission
c-diff
Spore-forming bacteria
Contact and oral-fecal transmission
Frequently been on antibiotic regime
Severe diarrhea–> dehydration–>osmotic imbalance
MDROs
resistant to one or more antibiotics
contact transmission
Oral-fecal
Direct: touch infection
Indirect: infected person touches door and uninfected person touches the same door.
droplet transmission
Droplets larger than 5um in size
Coughing, bronchoscopy, suction
Don’t travel as far.
Tend to settle into upper respiratory system
airborne transmission
Droplets 5 um in size or smaller
Can travel farther
Can travel deeper into the respiratory system
common vehicle transmission
Single source where many people get infected
Common source among group of people (eating same food, drinking same water, same blood supply for transfusion)
standard precautions
- hand hygiene
- PPE
- proper handlikng of used linens
- proper handling and disposal of sharps
- use of hazardous waste bags and proper waste disposal
- proper handling and disinfection of patient-care equipment
- cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces.
isolation precautions
tier 1: standard precautions
tier 2: standard precautions and transmission-based precautions
transmission based precautions
Contact: objects and surfaces wash hands b4 and after and gloves
Droplets: masks, goggles/face shield, gown, and gloves
Airborne: negative pressure room (door closed, ventilation takes air out, air in through bottom of door), N95 respirator
Enhanced: combo of all precautions
host factors
age, underlying disease, meds, breaks in lines of defense, use of medical equipment
donning order
- hand hygiene
- gown
- face mask/respirator
- goggles/face shield
- gloves
doffing order
- gloves
- goggles/face shield
- gown
- mask/respirator
- hand hygiene
medical aseptic
Sterile gloves and technique
May use mask, gown, head cover
Creating and maintaining sterile field
