Infectious Diseases Flashcards
Immune System
A functional system that works in times of wellness & illness vs an organ system
Immune System : Innate Immunity
Responds immediately to protect body from infection from foreign material.
Not specific to any type of pathogen
Immune System : Adaptive Immunity
Acquired immunity that is specific to foreign pathogens & enhances innate system.
Antigen specific.
Infectious Diseases
These factors can lead to a weakened immune system and place the pt.’s at risk for developing infectious diseases.
Neutropenia
Condition characterized by low # of nutrophills in blood (decreased white blood cells) causing a pt. to be at risk for developing infectious diseases.
- blood cancer, HIV
- chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Aplastic anemia
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Autoimmune disease
Neutropenic Precautions
@ risk for fungus bacteria Handwashing, Personal protective gear No raw or uncooked foods No fresh flowers (d/t mold & fungus) Pt. requires good dental care, shoes, & needs to avoid exposure to other pt. No hot tubs
Health Care Associated Infections (HAI’s)
Infectious Diseases = leading cause of death in US hospitals at 103,000 deaths/year
Top 10 leading causes of death
HAI’s Definition
HAI’s are infections pt.’s acquire during a hospital stay while receiving tx. for other conditions w/in a health care setting
HAI’s : Nosocomial Infection
Aquired in the hospital Does not include those being admitted w/ pneumonia or HIV. They had no known infection at time of infection. 1st- UTI d/t caths 2nd- Surgical cites 3rd- Issues w/ lines
1 Cause of infection is
Poor healthcare practices
Poor Infection Control Practices
Health care workers are not following proper guidelines for hand hygiene and glove wearing Artifical or long nails transmit bacteria Contaminated equipment (stethescopes, BP cuffs, etc.) Isopropyl alcohol is the best cleaning agent for equipment.
Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDRO’s)
Typically transmitted from 1 pt. to the next by health care workers.
>70% of bacteria that cause HAI are MDRO’s that are resistant to at least 1 of the drugs that are commonly used to treat them.
Sepsis : Overview
Systemic inflammatory response where spread of infection from initial site into bloodstream occurs.
Cause by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungus infection.
Generally occurs in those critically ill.
Sepsis leads to
Inflammation & decreased blood flow to vital organs.
Can lead to organ failure
Common Infectious Diseases OT’s Treat
Shingles
Concentrated rash on trunk
Airborne or contact with blisters
Can lead to neuralgia, CNS problems: pneumonia, reye syndrome
OT staff should not Tx if :
Pregnant, never had chicken pox or vaccine, or are immune compromised
C-Diff (clostridium difficile) : Overview
Bacterium causing diarrhea or colitis Watery diarrhea Fever Nausea Appetite loss Abdominal tenderness PT's have decreased energy, strength, & Endurance
C-diff & OT
OT’s must wash their hands w/ soap & water, hand sanitizer does not kill C-diff spores
Get through touching contaminated surfaces
Hepatitis A
Transmitted by Hep A virus, in areas of poor sanitation usually through contaminated food or water.
Strep A transmitted by stool
Sx (jaundice, abd pain, fever, fatigue, diarrhea)
Very rare: fewer than 20K cases/year
Most people are vaccinated
Once you get hep A you can not get it again
Eating or drinking in pt. care area is risky
Poor hand hygiene
Hepatitis B
Liver disease cause by HBV virus
Spread through intimate contact either sexually or birth mother to fetus
Can cause a lifetime scarring or cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure & death
Spread when blood of infected person enters body of non-infected person.
All healthcare workers should be vaccinated against HBV
Wear protective clothing around body fluids
Hepatitis C
Common, sexually transmitted
Liver disease caused by VC in blood of people w/ the disease.
Leads to chronic liver infection, cirrhosis & need for a liver transplant.
MRSA
Bacteria that causes staph infections but is resistant to penicillin, amoxicillin, methicillin etc.
Can infect community healthy people w/ skin infections that look like boils or pimples with draining pus
Hospital- based those w/ weak immune systems
1/3 cases occur during hospitalizations
Causes blood infections, pneumonia surgical site infections.
Infection spread by hand contact w/ pt.’s or devices
Gastroenteritis Norovirus
Highly contagious viruses that cause vomiting & diarrhea
Quick onset with fatigue, malaise, myalgia, cramps & nausea
Wear protective gloves, handwashing
Spread by fecally contaminated food or drink or by contact w/ surfaces in contact w/ feces or vomit
OT & Infection Control
CLEAN
Adaptive equipment, monitoring equipment, transfer equipment, toileting, bathing & dressing
May need to modify pt. activities & watch for mental status changes.
Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system cannot distinguish between healthy tissue & antigens
Low prevalence but > W (78%) then M are affected
Autoimmune Diseases : Myasthenia Gravis
Breakdown of the muscles
Autoimmune Diseases : Scleroderma
Hardening/stiffining of the skin
OT Focus w/ Autoimmune Diseases
Activity modification, energy conservation strategies
Positioning, splinting, pain management, AE & DME
IADL performance, maximize self care independence
