Infection Control- Chapter 9

Question 1

The presence of microorganisms on the body or on inanimate objects

Answer 1

What is Contamination

Question 2

What is the current term used in place of nosocomial infections?

Answer 2

Health care-associated infections

Question 3

List the types of pathogens and indicate which are most often associated with nosocomial infections

Answer 3

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, algae also chlamydiae, rickettsiae, and prions. Bacteria and viruses are the ones most often the sources of infection

Question 4

The number of microorganisms

Answer 4

Dose

Question 5

Dose high enough in which there are enough microorganisms to elicit an infection.

Answer 5

Ineffective dose

Question 6

The selectivity of the agent to cause disease. Ex. the location to which they cause disease, or some may cause disease in animals but not humans.

Answer 6

Host specificity

Question 7

The ability of an infectious agent to cause disease

Answer 7

Pathogenicity

Question 8

The relative power of a pathogen to cause disease. Severity expressed in terms of morbidity and mortality

Answer 8

Virulence

Question 9

What is the difference between reservoir and source

Answer 9

The reservoir is where the microorganism lives and reproduces and the source is the place from which the microorganism comes

Question 10

The person to whom the infectious disease is passed

Answer 10

What is Host

Question 11

Give an example of when the source and the reservoir are the same

Answer 11

The transmission of a common cold through a sneeze

Question 12

Give an example of when the source and the reservoir are different

Answer 12

Histoplasmosis. Chicken is the reservoir. The chicken’s fecal droppings (source) are deposited on soil and after drying, the wind carries the droppings to another location which is inhaled by a human.

Question 13

Explain what a portal of exit is and list three examples:

Answer 13

the site from which microorganisms leave the reservoir such as nose, mouth, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, blood and skin

Question 14

susceptible makes physical contact with the source of infection. Ex. Touching a patient while helping the patient get out of a wheelchair, kissing (mononucleosis)

Answer 14

Direct Contact

Question 15

an object is contaminated then comes into contact with and infects another person. Ex. needle stick, touching soiled linens

Answer 15

(Contact)Indirect

Question 16

rapid transfer of infectious agent through the air over short distances ex. transmission when someone coughs or sneezes close to another person’s face, suctioning of a patient

Answer 16

Droplet

Question 17

transmitted through a contaminated inanimate object known as a fomite to multiple persons. Ex. food, water, blood contaminated with HIV

Answer 17

Common Vehicle

Question 18

nuclei-evaporated droplets which are spread through the air and can spread long distances.

Answer 18

(Airborne)Droplet

Question 19

involves a vector such as a fly or mosquito ex. Zinka virus, malaria, lyme disease

Answer 19

Vectorborne

Question 20

List three environmental factors that contribute to health-associated diseases

Answer 20

Airflow, temperature, humidity, carpet, upholstered furniture, fresh or dried flowers

Question 21

Indicate the most common type of transmission route for each hepatitis

Answer 21

a. Hepatitis A—fecal contaminated hands or water
b. Hepatitis B-contact with blood and bodily fluids
c. Hepatitis C-blood transfusions, organ transplants, shared needles

Question 22

What virus is closely related to chicken pox and how are they related?

Answer 22

Shingles (HZ-herpes zoster), it is a recurrent or reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (chicken pox)

Question 23

Explain the difference between positive pressure isolation rooms and negative pressure isolation rooms and give examples of the types of diseases they are used for

Answer 23

Negative pressure-allows air to flow in but not out, protects those outside the room, used for TB, measles, and chicken pox p192
Positive pressure-keeps the airflow moving out of the room, protects the patient in the room used for stem cell transplants or other immunocompromised patients who need protection

Question 24

Define critical items and give examples

Answer 24

Products or instruments inserted into normally sterile areas of the body or into the bloodstream and must be sterile for use. Ex. needles, surgical instruments, urinary catheters and implants

Question 25

Define Simicritical items and give examples

Answer 25

Those items that contact mucosal surfaces but do not penetrate them. Preferable to sterilize but ok to disinfect. Ex. endoscopes, thermometers

Question 26

Define noncritical items and give examples

Answer 26

Do not ordinarily touch the patient or if so only touch intact skin so they do not need to be sterile. Ex. blood pressure cuff, bedpan, crutches, tabletops.

Question 27

What are the different methods for sterilizing?

Answer 27

Heat (Steam autoclaves, dry heat) 
Gas
Ozone
Radiation
Chemical Liquids

Question 28

List 5 viruses associated with cancer.

Answer 28

HPV:Cervical cancer
Hep B:Liver Cancer
Hep C:Liver Cancer
Epstein Barr Virus:Burkett’s Lymphoma, nasopharyngeal cancer
T-cell virus:T-cell leukemia
Herpes virus8:Kaposie Sarcoma

Question 29

Explain what a portal of entrance is and give 2 examples

Answer 29

Location through which the pathogens enter the new host. Ex. broken skin, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, through transplantation