Lecture 7 - Infections and misc safety

Question 1

What are the six components to the infection cycle?

Answer 1

1. Infectious agents
2. Reservoir host
3. Portal of exit
4. Route of transmission
5. Portal of entry
6. Susceptible host

Question 2

What are infectious agents?

Answer 2

Disease causing microorganisms (aka pathogens)

Question 3

What are examples of infectious agents?

Answer 3

• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Fungi
• Parasites

Question 4

What is a reservoir host? and what are examples of reservoirs?

Answer 4

“Individual” housing the pathogen
- animals
- water
- air
- soil
- humans

Question 5

What is the difference between a reservoir and a carrier?

Answer 5

A carrier is someone who has the pathogen but aren’t showing any signs or symptoms but can still transmit the disease.

Question 6

What is a portal exit? and what are examples?

Answer 6

How the pathogen leaves the reservoir host.
- breaks in skin
- respiratory secretion
- reproductive secretions
- blood
- feces

Question 7

What is the route of transmission? and what are some examples?

Answer 7

Method in which the pathogen moves from the reservoir host to a new host.
- direct contact (food, air, fluids, insects…)

Question 8

Which are the most difficult and hazardous route of transmission to handle?

Answer 8

• Aerosols
• Inhalation

Question 9

What is the portal of entry and what are examples?

Answer 9

Susceptible areas of the body in which a pathogen can use to enter the body.
- mucous membranes
- wounds
- mouth
- nose
- skin
- Vascular sys + urinary tract

Question 10

What are susceptible hosts?

Answer 10

An individual who can’t fight a pathogen from invading the body, multiplying causing an infection.
- lack of immunity
- lack physical resistance

Question 11

What are factors that could effect someones ability to resist infection?

Answer 11

• age
• immune competence
• medication
• nutritional status
• pregnancy
• metabolic disorders
• malignancy

Question 12

What are nosocomial infections?

Answer 12

Infections acquired during the process of receiving health care, that was not present prior to admission.

Question 13

What are the classifications of nosocomial infections? and describe each one.

Answer 13

• Exogenous : Pathogen in health care enviro
• Endogenous : Norm microbe with opportunistic factors
• Iatrogenic : Direct result of a procedure (surgery)

Question 14

What are the 4 moments of hand hygiene?

Answer 14

1. Before patient or patient enviro contact
2. Before aseptic procedure
3. After body fluid exposure risk
4. After patient or patient enviro contact

Question 15

What are 5 precautions to take when using automated analyzers?

Answer 15

• Reagents are stored according to requirements
• Tubing and connections are in place before operating
• Using a clear plastic safety shield
• use gloves
• Disinfect all lines are per manufacturer recommendations

Question 16

What are 5 precautions when using a microtome?

Answer 16

• use automated microtome when possible
• make sure its in the locked position when securing the paraffin blocks
• handle microtome knives by handles
• Avoid distractions
• secure carbon dioxide cylinders near microtomes when freezing

Question 17

What are 5 precautions when using cryostats?

Answer 17

• Keep cover closed during cutting
• wear gloves
• Routinely decontaminate the cryostat
• Decontaminate the cryostat contents frequently
• Defrost + decontaminate cryostat weekly

Question 18

What are 3 precaution when using an electrophoresis apparatus?

Answer 18

• Use electrophoresis equipment with interlocks to interrupt current flow when box opened
• verify integrity of tank regularly
• Discourage accidental contact by placing away from high traffic areas .