Infectious Diseases

Question 1

Immune System

Answer 1

A functional system that works in times of wellness & illness vs an organ system

Question 2

Immune System : Innate Immunity

Answer 2

Responds immediately to protect body from infection from foreign material.
Not specific to any type of pathogen

Question 3

Immune System : Adaptive Immunity

Answer 3

Acquired immunity that is specific to foreign pathogens & enhances innate system.
Antigen specific.

Question 4

Infectious Diseases

Answer 4

These factors can lead to a weakened immune system and place the pt.’s at risk for developing infectious diseases.

Question 5

Neutropenia

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Neutropenic Precautions

Answer 6

@ 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

Question 7

Health Care Associated Infections (HAI’s)

Answer 7

Infectious Diseases = leading cause of death in US hospitals at 103,000 deaths/year
Top 10 leading causes of death

Question 8

HAI’s Definition

Answer 8

HAI’s are infections pt.’s acquire during a hospital stay while receiving tx. for other conditions w/in a health care setting

Question 9

HAI’s : Nosocomial Infection

Answer 9

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

Question 10

1 Cause of infection is

Answer 10

Poor healthcare practices

Question 11

Poor Infection Control Practices

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDRO’s)

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Sepsis : Overview

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Sepsis leads to

Answer 14

Inflammation & decreased blood flow to vital organs.

Can lead to organ failure

Question 15

Common Infectious Diseases OT’s Treat

Answer 15

Shingles
Concentrated rash on trunk
Airborne or contact with blisters
Can lead to neuralgia, CNS problems: pneumonia, reye syndrome

Question 16

OT staff should not Tx if :

Answer 16

Pregnant, never had chicken pox or vaccine, or are immune compromised

Question 17

C-Diff (clostridium difficile) : Overview

Answer 17

Bacterium causing diarrhea or colitis 
Watery diarrhea 
Fever 
Nausea 
Appetite loss 
Abdominal tenderness 
PT's have decreased energy, strength, & Endurance

Question 18

C-diff & OT

Answer 18

OT’s must wash their hands w/ soap & water, hand sanitizer does not kill C-diff spores
Get through touching contaminated surfaces

Question 19

Hepatitis A

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Hepatitis B

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Hepatitis C

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

MRSA

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Gastroenteritis Norovirus

Answer 23

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

Question 24

OT & Infection Control

Answer 24

CLEAN
Adaptive equipment, monitoring equipment, transfer equipment, toileting, bathing & dressing
May need to modify pt. activities & watch for mental status changes.

Question 25

Autoimmune Diseases

Answer 25

The immune system cannot distinguish between healthy tissue & antigens
Low prevalence but > W (78%) then M are affected

Question 26

Autoimmune Diseases : Myasthenia Gravis

Answer 26

Breakdown of the muscles

Question 27

Autoimmune Diseases : Scleroderma

Answer 27

Hardening/stiffining of the skin

Question 28

OT Focus w/ Autoimmune Diseases

Answer 28

Activity modification, energy conservation strategies
Positioning, splinting, pain management, AE & DME
IADL performance, maximize self care independence