Infectious Disease Flashcards
What is colonization?
The presence of microorganisms without causing host interference or interaction.
What is infection?
A condition where a microorganism interacts with the host, showing clinical evidence of infection.
What is infectious disease?
A condition where the infected host experiences a decline in wellness due to the infection.
What are major sources of information for nurses regarding infectious diseases?
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), State & Local Public Health Departments
What are the two main vaccination programs in the U.S.?
Children’s Vaccination Program
Adult Vaccination Program
Name three vaccines recommended for healthcare workers.
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
Hepatitis B Vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccine
What are the benefits of vaccination for healthcare workers and patients?
Reduces hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)
Protects healthcare workers from exposure
Prevents disease outbreaks in healthcare settings
What are the two types of infection control precautions?
Standard Precautions (Tier 1) and Transmission-Based Precautions (Tier 2)
What are standard precautions used for?
All patients to prevent HAIs
What are transmission-based precautions used for?
Patients with known or suspected infections
What are the key components of Standard Precautions (Tier 1)?
Hand hygiene, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Safe handling of sharps and patient equipment, Proper patient placement
What are the Transmission-Based Precautions (Tier 2)?
Contact, Contact Enteric, Droplet, Airborne Precautions, Neutropenic
What do contact precautions require?
Gloves & gown, patient-dedicated equipment
What do contact enteric precautions require?
Soap & water handwashing, gloves & gown
What do droplet precautions require?
Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
What do airborne precautions require?
N95 mask, negative pressure room, eye protection
What do neutropenic precautions require?
No raw foods, no plants, no sick visitors
What diseases require Contact Precautions?
C. difficile
MRSA
VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus)
What diseases require Droplet Precautions?
Influenza (Flu)
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Meningitis
What diseases require Airborne Precautions?
Tuberculosis (TB)
Measles
Chickenpox (Varicella)
COVID-19
What are the symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease?
High fever, Severe diarrhea (5L per day), Body aches, Internal bleeding
How is Ebola virus spread?
Through blood/body fluids, infected bats
What is the primary risk of Zika Virus infection during pregnancy?
Microcephaly (birth defect) in newborns
What are the symptoms of Zika virus?
Fever, rash, headache, joint pain
What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus?
Fever, Headache, Neurological symptoms (in severe cases)
What is Legionnaires’ Disease?
Affects the lungs, causes pneumonia
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Highly contagious, paroxysmal cough, droplet transmission, vaccine-preventable.
What are the Five P’s of STI prevention?
Partners
Prevention of Pregnancy
Protection from STIs
Practices
Past History of STIs
Syphilis
Progresses through primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary stages; treated with Penicillin G IM
Chlamydia & Gonorrhea in women
Can cause PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), infertility, and ectopic pregnancy
Chlamydia & Gonorrhea in men
Penile discharge, burning during urination
What is the nursing assessment for an STI patient?
Check for rashes, lesions, drainage, inguinal lymph nodes, genitalia, rectal, mouth, and throat; women need abdominal and uterine exams
What is the primary nursing intervention for infectious diarrhea?
Hydration!
What are the signs of mild dehydration?
Dry oral mucous membranes
Increased thirst
How is mild dehydration treated?
50 mL/kg oral fluids over 4 hours
What are the signs of moderate dehydration?
Sunken eyes, loss of skin turgor,
increased thirst, and dry oral
mucous membranes
How is moderate dehydration treated?
100 mL/kg oral fluids over 4 hours
What are the signs of severe dehydration?
Rapid, thready pulse, cyanosis, cold extremities, rapid breathing, lethargy or coma
How is severe dehydration treated?
IV replacement until
hemodynamic and mental
status return to normal then
treat with oral fluids
What foodborne pathogens are associated with infectious diarrhea?
Norovirus – Cruise ships, LTC facilities
Salmonella – Eggs & chicken
E. coli – Beef, vegetables contaminated with animal wastewater
Cholera – Contaminated shellfish
What are potential complications of an untreated infectious disease?
Septicemia, sepsis, or septic shock, dehydration, abscess formation, endocarditis, infectious disease-related cancers, infertility, congenital abnormalities
