LESSON 2 Flashcards
A/An _____ happens when a microorganism invades the body, multiplies, and causes injury or disease.
Infection
A/An ____ is a disease-causing microbe which could be classified as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or virus.
pathogen
What are the two types of infections:
(1) communicable infections
(2) nosocomial and healthcare-associated infections (HAI)
This type of infection can spread from person to person
Communicable infections
This type are usually caused by infected personnel, patients, visitors, food, drug, or equipment while a patient is in the hospital or other healthcare facilities.
Nosocomial and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
How can an infection escalate to an epidemic?
All components or links should be favorable to the pathogenic microbe.
What are the six links of the chain of infection?
(1) Infectious (causative) agent
(2) Reservoir
(3) Exit pathway
(4) Means of transmission
(5) Entry pathway
(6) Susceptible host
SIX LINKS OF THE CHAIN OF INFECTION: Pathogenic microbe such as virus, bacteria, fungus, protozoa, and rickettsia
Infectious (causative) agent
SIX LINKS OF THE CHAIN OF INFECTION: Source of the agent of infection or place where the microbe could grow, survive, and multiply, which could be in humans, animals, food, water, soil, or equipment
Reservoir
SIX LINKS OF THE CHAIN OF INFECTION: A way or manner wherein an infectious agent can leave the reservoir host, which could be through secretions and exudates, tissue specimens, blood, feces, or urine
Exit pathway
SIX LINKS OF THE CHAIN OF INFECTION: Airborne, direct (touching or kissing) or indirect contact (contaminated objects), droplets (coughing or sneezing), vector (insect, anthropod, or animal), and vehicle (food, water, or drugs)
Means of transmission
SIX LINKS OF THE CHAIN OF INFECTION: The way an infectious agent enters a host, which includes body orifices, mucous membranes, and breaks in the skin
Entry pathway
SIX LINKS OF THE CHAIN OF INFECTION: Someone who is prone to infection, especially the elderly, newborn babies, patients who are immune-suppressed or unvaccinated, and those suffering from acute or chronic illness
Susceptible host
What are the set of procedures to break the chain of infection called?
Infection Control Program
An infection -control program has four main functions:
- to protect patients, employees, and visitors from infection
- to screen employees for infectious diseases and to require immunization when needed
- to provide evaluation and treatment to health workers who have been exposed to infections while performing their duty
- to monitor employees and patients who are at risk of infection and to collect data from patients and health workers who have been exposed to such danger
This must be followed at all times. These include ensuring that proper hand hygiene is practiced consistently using alcohol-based antiseptic hand cleaners, and that the personal protective equipment (PPE) is clean and properly donned and removed.
Infection-control methods or procedures
This is an essential part of standard precautions in the healthcare setting because it is an effective way to prevent infections that can be transmitted from the patient and healthcare personnel during the procedure.
Hand hygiene
There are two methods for hand hygiene:
- routine hand washing
- hand antisepsis
How and when do you do the routine hand washing? (5)
(1)uses plain soap and water
(1) when hands are visibly dirty
(3) after known exposure to Clostridium difficile, Bacillus anthracis, and infectious diarrhea during norovirus outbreaks
(4) before eating
(5) after using the restroom
What and how do you do a hand antisepsis? (3)
(1) an antimocrobial soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer to remove transient microorganisms
(2) alcohol-based hand sanitizer is preferred when hands are not visibly dirty
(3) put the sanitizer on hands, rub the hands together for about 20 seconds or until it feels dry
How many seconds do you need to scrub and rub your hands when performing the routine hand-washing technique?
15 seconds
The personal protective equipment (PPE) includes: (7)
(1) gloves
(2) gowns
(3) lab coats
(4) masks
(5) face shields
(6) goggles
(7) respirators
Phlebotomists should always wear _____ during blood collection and when handling specimen. These are worn to prevent contamination of the hands and reduce chances of transmission of microorganisms from personnel to patients.
Gloves
What is the proper order of Donning the PPE (maam Rajane discussion)?
Lab gown —> Mask —> Goggles —> Headcap —> Gloves
What is the proper order of Doffing the PPE (maam Rajane discussion)?
Gloves —> Headcap —> Goggles —> Lab gown —> Mask
Why is it that anyone who enters the nursery area or neonatal ICU should follow the infection-control procedure?
Newborns are most susceptible to infections because of their underdeveloped immune system