Infection Control & Principles Of Asepsis Flashcards
Definition of Asepsis
Absence of microorganisms
Includes:
- Medical
- Surgical
Examples:
Examples of surgical asepsis include the use of disposable sterile supplies, such as syringes, needles, and surgical gloves; and the use of reusable sterile equipment, such as surgical instruments
Definition of Infection
Invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
(Bacteria, virus)
Definition of Contaminated
Soiled with microorganisms
For example:
- Used injections, when a material is soiled it is considered contaminated
Definition of Disinfection
Reduction of microorganisms without destroying the spores
Definition of Spores
Inactive but viable state of microorganisms
Definition of sterile
Free from microorganisms but not the spores
Definition of pathogenicity
Ability to produce disease
Definition of Opportunistic pathogen
Pathogen that causes disease only to susceptible individuals
Susceptible individuals - Prone to getting the disease and has a weakened immune system
Definition of carrier
Person or animal that harbors an infectious agent and capable of transferring it to other persons.
For example:
- COVID-19 you might have no symptoms but you are carrying the infection
Definition of Colonization
Presence of microorganisms in the body secretions or excretions that does not cause illness.
For example:
- Sweat
- Blood
- Nasel
State the Chain of infection (6)
- Etiologic Agent
- Reservoir
- Portal of exit
- Mode of transmission
- Portal of entry
- Susceptible host
Description of Etiologic Agent
Disease- causing microorganisms including
- bacteria
- virus
- fungi
- parasites
Description of Reservoir
Is a place where microorganisms survive, multiply, and await transfer to a susceptible host.
- Human beings
- Animals
- Inanimate objects
- Plants
- General environment (air, water, soil)
The house of the microorganism
Description of Portal of Exit from Reservoir
After microorganisms find a site to grow and multiply, they need to find a portal of exit if they are to enter another host and cause disease
- Sputum - Phlegm
- Emesis - Vomit
- Stool
- Blood
When the microorganism gets stronger
Description of Common Portal of Exit
Respiratory: Droplets, sputum
GI tract: Vomitus, feces, saliva, drainage tubes
Urinary: Urine, urethral catheters
Reproductive: Semen, vaginal discharge
Blood: Open wound, needle puncture site
Description of Mode of Transmission
Contact transmission
Direct contact
- Involves immediate and direct transfer of microorganisms from person to person through touching, biting, kissing, or sexual intercourse.
Indirect contact
- Vehicle borne
- Vector borne - mosquitos
Examples of Contact Transmission
A. Colonization or infection with a multidrug-resistant organism
B. Enteric infections, such as Clostridium difficile
C. Respiratory infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus
D. H1N1 influenza: Infection can occur by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching the mouth or nose.
E. Wound infections
F. Skin infections (cutaneous diphtheria, herpes simplex, impetigo, pediculosis, scabies, staphylococci, and varicella zoster
G. Eye infection such as conjunctivitis
MNEMONICS
MRS WEE
M - ultidrug resistant organism
R - espiratory infection
S - kin infections *
W - ound infection
E - nteric infection - clostridium difficile
E - ye infection - conjunctivitis
SKIN INFECTIONS (VCHIPS)
V - aricella zoster
C - utaneous diphtheria
H - erpes simplex
I - mpetigo
P - ediculosis
S - cabies
Description of Indirect transmission
Vehicle borne transmission
Vehicle borne transmission
Any substance that serves as an intermediate means to transport and introduce an infectious agent into a susceptible host through a suitable portal of entry.
Examples:
Fomites (inanimate materials or objects)
- Handkerchiefs
- Toys
- Soiled clothes
- Cooking or eating utensils
- Surgical instruments or dressings
Description of indirect transmission
Vector borne transmission
Vector borne transmission
A vector is an animal or flying or crawling insect that serves as an intermediate means of transporting the infectious agent.
Transmission may occur by Injecting salivary fluid during biting or by depositing feces or other materials on the skin through the bite wound or a traumatized skin area.
Examples:
- Leptospirosis - Rat
- Schistosomiasis - Snail
- Shellfish poisoning - Shellfish
- Filariasis - Worms
- Dengue - Mosquito
- Malaria
Description of Airborne Transmission
- Droplet nuclei or residue or evaporated droplets suspended in air during coughing or sneezing or carried on dust particles
- It may involve droplets or dust
- Droplet nuclei, the residue of evaporated droplets emitted by an infected host such as someone with tuberculosis, can remain in the air for long periods
- Dust particles containing the infectious agent (e.g., C. difficile, spores from the soil) can also become airborne. The material is transmitted by air currents to a suitable portal of entry, usually the respiratory tract, of another person
Examples:
- Measles
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Disseminated varicella zoster
- Tuberculosis
Mnemonic of the airborne transmission
My Chicken Hez TB / MTV
My - Measles
Chicken - Chicken Pox / Varicella
Hez - Herpes Zoster/ Shingles
TB (tuberculosis)
OR
M - easles
TB
V - aricella-Chicken Pox / Herpes Zoster-Shingles
Examples of Droplet Transmission
A. Adenovirus
B. Diphtheria (pharyngeal)
C. Epiglottitis
D. Influenza, including H1N1 influenza
E. Meningitis
F. Mumps
G. Mycoplasmal pneumonia or meningococcal pneumonia
H. Parvovirus B19
I. Pertussis
J. Pneumonia
K. Rubella
L. Scarlet fever
M. Sepsis
N. Streptococcal pharyngitis
Think of SPIDER-MAN
S - sepsis
S - scarlet fever
S - streptococcal pharyngitis
P - parvovirus B19
P - pneumonia
P - pertussis
I - influenza
D - diphtheria (pharyngeal)
E - Epiglottitis
R - rubella
M - mumps
M - meningitis
M - mycoplasma or meningeal pneumonia
An - Adenovirus
Description of Portal of Entry to the Susceptible Host
Before a person can become infected, microorganisms must enter the
- Mucous membrane
- Non-intact skin
- GI tract
- GU tract
- Respiratory tract
Description of Susceptible Host
Any person who is at risk for infection
- Immunosuppressed children / elderly
- Chronically ill clients
- Clients with trauma or injury
Steps of infectious process
Infections follow a progressive course:
- Incubation stage
- Prodromal stage
- Illness stage
- Convalescent stage
Description of the the Incubation Stage
Interval between entrance of pathogen into body and appearance of first symptoms.
Example:
- Chickenpox - 14 to 16 days after exposure
- Common cold - 1 to 2 days
- Influenza - 1 to 4 days
- Measles - 10 to 12 days
- Mumps - 16 to 18 days
- Ebola - 2 to 21 days
Description of Prodromal stage
Interval from onset of nonspecific signs and symptoms (malaise, low-grade fever, fatigue) to more specific symptoms.
Example:
- Herpes simplex begins with itching and tingling at the site before the lesion appears.
Description of illness stage
Interval when patient manifests signs and symptoms specific to type of infection.
Example:
1. Strep throat is manifested by sore throat, pain, and swelling
- Mumps is manifested by high fever, parotid and salivary gland swelling
Description of Convalescent stage
Interval when acute symptoms of infection disappear
length of recovery depends on severity of infection and patient’s host resistance and recovery may take several days to months.
Description of Health Care Associated Infections
- A. K. A nonsocomial infections and / or hospital acquired infections
- Acquired in a hospital or other health care facility that were not present or incubating at the time of a client’s admission
How to break the chain of infection
Decrease source of microorganisms
- Wash hands
- Decontaminate surfaces and equipment
- Avoid contact when contagious
Prevent transmission of microorganisms
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Follow isolation precautions
Maximize resistance
- Provide good hygiene
- Ensure proper nutrition and fluid intake
- Decrease stressors that weaken immune response
Breaking the chain of infection (2)
- Standard precautions
- Use of PPE (module)
- Aseptic Techniques (module) - Transmission-based Precautions
description of transmission-based precaution
Used in addition to standard precautions for patients with suspected infection with pathogens that can be transmitted by
- airborne
- droplet
- contact routes
Description of airborne precautions
- used for patients who have infections that spread through the air such as tuberculosis, varicella (chicken pox), rubeola (measles), and possibly severe acute respiratory syndrome .
- Focus on diseases that are transmitted by smaller droplets, which remain in the air for longer periods of time.
Description of droplet precautions
- Focus on diseases that are transmitted by large droplets (greater than 5 microns) expelled into the air and by being within 3 feet of a patient. (ex rubella, mumps, diphtheria)
- Droplet precautions require the wearing of a surgical mask when within 3 feet of the patient, proper hand hygiene, and some dedicated-care equipment.
Description of contact precautions
- used for direct and indirect contact with patients and their environment.
- Direct contact refers to the care and handling of contaminated body fluids
- Contact precautions require a gown and gloves.
- Indirect contact involves the transfer of an infectious agent through a contaminated intermediate object such as contaminated instruments or hands of health care workers.
- Observe Contact Precautions in the presence of excessive wound drainage, fecal incontinence, or other discharges from the body that suggest an increased potential for extensive environmental contamination and risk of transmission.
- Place patient in a private room if available.
- Wear PPE whenever you enter the room for all interactions that may involve contact with the patient and potentially contaminated areas in the patient’s environment.
