Infection Control Flashcards
What are infections?
Diseases caused by microbiological agents
What are microbiological agents?
Organism that are too small to be seen with the naked eye
What are the other names for microbiological agents?
Microorganisms, microbes or germs
How do most infections occur?
As the result of microorganism entering the body through a wound or the respiratory systems
Do all microorganism cause disease?
No, some are essential to human life
What microorganisms are essential to human life?
Microbes that aid in digestion
What are pathogens?
Infectious microorganisms that cause disease
What is idiopathic?
A disease where the cause or origin is unknown
What is iatrogenic?
Diseases that result from contact from a healthcare provider
What are 4 types of microorganisms?
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Protozoan parasites
What type of microorganisms are bacteria?
Microscopic, single celled microorganisms
What are types of bacteria?
TB, Strep throat, bacterial pneumonia, salmonella and Lyme disease
How are bacteria classified?
By their rod shaped, spiral and spherical appearance under a microscope
Where do bacteria reside?
In a host as a group or cluster called a colony
What can be used to fight bacterial infections?
Antibiotics
What are antibiotics?
Man-made or naturally occurring substances which are used to destroy microorganism within the body
How do antibiotics work?
With the patient’s immune system to fight the infection and control the spread of illness
What are viruses?
The smallest microorganism that are known to produce disease in human
Where can viruses live?
Only inside a living cell and need a host to survive and replicate
What are examples of viruses?
HIV, AIDS, Mumps, Measles, mononucleosis, Herpes, Hepatitis, common cold and influenza
What are used to fight viruses?
Only a few antivirals exist, antibiotics will not work
What does multiplication of the virus depend on?
The health of the host
How long can viruses live?
May lie formant for extended periods of time and then manifest in illness
What are the two forms of fungi?
Yeast and molds
What regions of the body are usually affected by fungi?
In moist-covered regions of the body
What are examples of fungi?
Ringworm, mold, athlete’s foot and tinea nigra
What are protozoon parasites?
An organism that spends part of its existence on or in another organism
What are examples of Protozoan parasites?
Malaria, pinworms, tapeworms, malaria and trichomonas vaginalis
What are features of protozoan parasites?
They are neither plant nor animal, are larger than bacteria and can ingest food particles
Where do protozoan parasites live?
On or in other organism at expense of the host
What solutions do the EPA recommend that areas of patient surface contact be cleaned with?
Sodium hypochlorite + water and prepared commercial solutions
What is the sodium hypochlorite + water ratio?
1:10 (1 part bleach to 10 parts water)
What is encounter?
The contact of the organism with the host
What is entry?
The entrance of a microbe into the body
How does a microbe enter the body?
Through the respiratory or digestive systems
What is spread?
The propagation of infectious organisms
How are diseases spread?
Through sneezing or coughing
What is multiplication?
The increase in the number of microbes
During what period does multiplication occur?
Incubation period
What is damage?
Destruction that the microbe causes to the host
What is an outcome?
A result of the infectious agent’s encounter with the host
What are the 3 outcomes of a disease?
- the host eliminates the infectious agent
- the infectious agent overcomes the host and causes disease
- the host and the infectious agent live in harmony
What is the chain of infection?
Pathogens -> Reservoir -> Portal of Exit ->Source -> Fomite
What are pathogens?
Infectious agents including bacteria, viruses and fungi
What is a reservoir?
A habitat of organisms (where they grow and reproduce)
What is a portal of exit?
The primary route of escape for the organism
What is the source?
Person with or incubating the disease
What is a fomite?
An inanimate object, such as clothing, or table that harbors pathogenic microrganisms
What are examples of fomites?
Xray table, soiled linen, needles, clothing
What are the stages of the infectious process?
- Incubation or Latent period
- Prodromal stage
- Active or full phase
- Convalescence phase
What is the latent period?
Pathogens enter the host but there are no apparent signs of the illness or clinical symptoms
What is the prodromal stage?
Early signs and symptoms of the disease are present
What is the active phase?
Complete symptoms are manifested in the patient
What is the convalescence phase?
Period of recovery
How long can the convalescence stage last?
A few days to months depending on the illness
What are the methods of transmission of infection?
Direct and indirect