Infection Control Flashcards
Epidemology
study of the cause of disease
Microorganism
(m/o) tiny living creatures unseen by the naked eye
Pathogen
m/o capable of causing disease
Normal Flora
Necessary/ Beneficial m/o that live on or w/ in the body
Fomite
A non-living object that can absorb & Transmit infection through direct contact
Vector
An animal or insect that can transmit disease
Sterilization
Complete Destruction of m/o
Disinfection
Cleaning method to reduce amount of m/o
Sanitation
Cleaning process to reduce amount of m/o on skin
5 diff requirements for m/o
Oxygen, Lack of O2, Moisture, Nutrition, Temperature, Darkness, or Ph
Smallest and most Dangerous m/o
Viruses
What causes resistant bacteria to build up?
Overuse of antibiotics
Parasite
Organisms that live on or w/ in another organism
Infection
Invasion of the body by a pathogenic microorganism & the body is unable to fight it off
what is the “chain of infection”
- Infectious Agent
- Resovior Host
- Portal Of Exit
- Means of transmission
- Portal of entry
- Suspectable host
5 stages of infectious diseases
1.) Incubation- time between exposure and 1st symptom
2.) Prodomal- initial Stage
3.) Acute- Diseases reaches peak
4.) Declining- Symptoms subside
5.) Convalescent- Symptoms disappear
define contact transmission
Directly touching or coming into contact w blood or body fluids
define droplet transmission
Disease spread through infected particles, from a sneeze or cough
define airborne transmission
Tiny Particles that get suspended in the air when someone laughs, talks, sneezes or coughs (can remain contagious In the air for several hours)
define vertical transmission
From Mother to Baby, may be in Utero, during birth, or through breast milk
Immunity
Resistance or Protection from disease within the body
Anti-Gen
the “germ” that enters the body
Antibody
“soldier” that is produced by the body to fight the anti-gen
Bacteria
Simple & Easily Identifiable m/o
Fungi
Consists of Yeast & Mold
Oral/ Fecal
Consumption of contaminated hands, food or H2O
