Infection Prevention and Control Flashcards
What are biological hazards that paramedics may encounter?
Pathogens, allergens, zoonoses, ectoparasites
Pathogens are microorganisms capable of causing disease. Allergens trigger immune responses, zoonoses are infections from animals to humans, and ectoparasites include mites, fleas, and bed bugs.
What is an allergen?
A substance that triggers an immune response, releasing chemicals like histamine
Allergic reactions can range from minor irritation to severe anaphylaxis.
Define zoonoses.
Infections transmitted from animals to humans
Examples include leptospirosis, brucellosis, anthrax, Zika virus, and Q fever.
What are ectoparasites?
Parasites that live on the outside of a host organism
Common ectoparasites include mites (scabies), fleas, and bed bugs.
What is the mode of transmission for scabies?
Skin to skin contact and shared bedding/clothing
Scabies causes intense itching and can lead to secondary infections.
What is the primary mode of transmission for fleas?
Transmitted through contact, primarily when humans swallow them
Human fleas are rare in New Zealand.
Bed bugs primarily feed on _______.
blood
While not known to transmit diseases, their bites can cause discomfort and allergic reactions.
What is direct person-to-person transmission?
Transmission requiring physical contact between an infected and a susceptible person
This can occur through touching, sexual contact, or exposure to body fluids.
What diseases are transmitted via droplet or airborne contamination?
Measles, tuberculosis, cold, and flu
Mucus secretions can make these diseases more contagious.
Define indirect transmission.
Transmission that occurs via an intermediary such as surfaces, food, water, or insects
This includes vector-borne diseases.
What is a vector in the context of disease transmission?
An organism that carries disease-causing microorganisms from one host to another
Examples include blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes.
What are the three risk factors for infectious biological hazards?
- Virulence of the pathogen
- Infectivity
- Survivability
Virulence refers to the damage caused, infectivity to transmission ability, and survivability to how long the pathogen can survive outside a host.
What are the four broad classes of microorganisms that can interact with humans?
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Parasites
Pathogens are a subset of these microorganisms capable of causing disease.
What is the structure of viruses?
A nucleic acid core (RNA or DNA) surrounded by a protein layer called a capsid
Some viruses also have an envelope.
How do bacteria replicate?
Autonomously, lacking an organized nucleus
Bacteria contain both RNA and DNA and can survive in various environments.
What are the characteristics of fungi?
- Eukaryotic
- Diverse in form and reproduction
- Cell wall made of chitin
They can be single-celled (yeasts) or multicellular (moulds).
How can protozoa be transmitted?
Both directly and indirectly
Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that can survive in various environments.
What is the purpose of standard precautions in infection control?
To be used for all patient interactions to prevent infection spread
Includes hand hygiene, appropriate PPE, and respiratory hygiene.
What are contact precautions?
Precautions taken when interacting with infected persons through direct or indirect contact
Involves wearing gloves and a disposable apron.
What is required for droplet precautions?
Wearing a medical mask and eye protection when interacting with infected individuals
Patients should also wear a mask and follow respiratory hygiene.
What do airborne precautions entail?
Wearing a P2 or N95 particulate respirator
These precautions are used for diseases spread by small particles that can be inhaled.
