Unit 9 Flashcards
How does skin protect patients from infection?
Skin is the first line of defense
Intact skin provides protective layer
How does mucous membranes protect the patient from infection?
Secrete mucous for protection
Keep mucous membranes moist
How does Cilia in respiratory tract protect the patient from the infection?
Prevent particulates from entering the body
How does natural GI flora protect the patient from infection?
Limits overgrowth of other bacteria
How does the vaginal pH protect the patient from infection?
It inhibits bacteria growth
Immunity types
Nonspecific Immunity
Specific immunity
Nonspecific Immunity
Neutrophils and macrophages- WBCs- act as phagocytes and destroy microorganisms which helps protect the body
Do not attack a certain antigen
Specific Immunity
Antibodies and lymphocytes
Tailored towards particular types of invaders and activate WBCs to help destroy the infectious agent
What triggers an inflammatory response?
Body’s natural defense that is activated when the body is injured, when foreign substances are present, or when an infectious agent attacks
The inflammatory process
- Recognition of harmful stimuli by pattern receptors
- Inflammatory pathways activated
- Inflammatory markers released
- Inflammatory cells recruited
Infectious inflammatory response
Viruses, bacteria, and others microorganisms, such as fungi
Noninfectious inflammatory response
Physical triggers: burns, frostbite, foreign bodies that have entered the body, trauma, injury, and radiation
Chemical triggers: irritants (fluoride, nickel), fatty acids, alcohol, toxins, and glucose
Biological triggers: damaged cells
Psychological: Excitement
Systemic infections
Start as local and then move into the bloodstream, from which they infect the whole body.
Fluid contains dead tissue cells and WBCs drains into lymph system
Intravenous antibiotics and careful monitoring are both needed to treat systemic infections.
Local Infections
Confined to one area of the body
Causes redness (from dilation of arterioles), warmth, edema, pain, loss of use
Can be treated with tropical and oral antibiotics
Scar tissue
Damaged tissue replaced by scar tissue.
Gradually new cells take on characteristics like old cells
Infectious Agent
Bacteria, fungi, parasite, prion, pathogens
Reservoir
Habitat for infectious agent to grow and reproduce
(People, insects, birds, animals, soil, water, food, medical equipment, IV fluids, feces)
Portal of exit
Means by which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir
(Ears, nose, mouth, skin, blood, bodily fluids)
Mode of transportation
Infectious agent moves from place to place
(contact, droplet, airborne, vehicle, and vector-borne transmission)
Portal of entry
Place where infectious agent can enter the body
(Ears, nose, mouth, or breaks in the mucous membrane or skin)
Susceptible host
Required for infection to occur.
(Elderly, extremely young, immunocompromised)
What type of patients are likely to be susceptible hosts?
Elderly, Extremely young, Immunocompromised
Factors that increase host susceptibility:
-Age
-Underlying disease
-HIV/AIDS
-Malignancy (cancer)
-Transplants
-Medication (immunosuppressants)
-Surgical procedures
-Radiation therapy
-Indwelling devices
Two types of contact transmission
Direct contact transmission
Indirect contact transmission
Direct contact transmission
When microorganisms move directly from the infected person to another person
Ex: Client’s blood coming in contact with an open abrasion on a nurse’s skin
Indirect contact transmission
From an infected person to another person via a contaminated object or person
Ex: Nurse not performing hand hygiene or not cleaning equipment in between clients and spreading microorganisms from infected client to uninflected client
Droplet transmission
Occurs when infectious droplets from a client travel through the air and come in contact with the mucosa of another person
Sneezing, coughing, singing, laughing, and talking are all activities that can disperse droplets into the air
Procedures such as CPR, e dot Rachael intubation, and chest physiotherapy can disperse droplets into the air as well
Diseases: Influenza, rhinovirus, group A strep, pertussis, adenovirus
Airborne Transmission
Occurs when small particulates found in the air move into the airspace of another person and carry infectious agents, these particulates remain in the air and can travel long distances
Disease: Measles, Varicella, TB
Vehicle transmission
Transmission from contaminated intel’s multiple persons, such as produce
Ex: Lettuce being contaminated with Ecoli and getting everyone who eats it sick
Vector borne transmission
Insects, birds, animals carrying microorganisms from one location or person to others, they are not infected with the pathogen themselves but can carry it
Ex: mosquitoes with the Zika virus, rats with the plague
Stages of infection
- Incubation
- Prodromal
- Acute Illness
- Period of decline
- Period of convalescence
Incubation Stage
First stage of infection
May not have any viable S&S but changes in pathology occur
Incubation period is different for each infectious agent- can last for seconds, hours, days, or weeks
Prodromal Stage
2nd stage in infection
Initial manifestations as the infectious agent replicates
S&S are nonspecific: fever, aches, poor appetite, and malaise
Acute Illness stage
3rd stage of infection
Manifestations of a specific infectious disease process become obvious
Infection is considered severe at this stage
Period of Decline Stage
When manifestations begin to subside as the number of infectious agents in the body decrease
Clien begins to feel better and regain strength and function
Period of Convalescence Stage
5th stage of infection
Client returns to normal or “new normal”
When should a WBC count be tested?
When checking for infection or inflammation
Elevated WBC count indicates infection
When should a UA with C&S be collected?
When suspecting UTI and C&S is appropriate to determine the specific organism
Bacteria, leukocyte esterase, nitrites are indicative of infection
When should a chest X-ray be taken?
When Pneumonia or TB is suspected
Consolidation or infiltrates is indicative of infection
When should throat cultures samples be collected?
When strep or another local throat infection is suspected
Positive test indicated an infection
What nonspecific markers indicate an inflammatory response in blood tests?
Elevated C reactive protein
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Procalcitonin
Medical Asepsis
Clean technique
The reduction of disease causing microorganisms
Surgical Asepsis
Prevent transmission of pathogens to the clients
Must use when performing surgical procedures
Ensures that items such as gloves and equipment are sterile
What is sterilization?
Eradicates all microorganisms including spores
What is disinfection?
Clean so that almost all microorganisms are eradicated
High Level disinfection: only some spores remain
Low Level disinfection: most vegetative bacteria are destroyed, but some spores, fungi, and viruses may still remain
Standard precautions
Universal precautions
The infection prevention practices applied to all clients, whether or not they are known to have an infectious agent
PPE may be used depending on the situation
Contact Precautiobs
Intended to help prevent transmission of infectious agent by direct or indirect contact
PPE: gloves and gown at minimum
Droplet precautions
Intended to prevent spread of infectious agent that can spread through droplets
Patient should be isolated or placed in room with a patient that has the same infection
PPE: Surgical mask, gown, and gloves
Airborne Precautions
Intended to prevent spread of infectious agent that can spread through the air
Patient should be placed in private room, with the door closed and have negative pressure ventilation
PPE: N95, gown, and gloves
Protective isolations
Used during the first 100 days after a hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Typically plants, or fresh fruits and veggies are not allowed in the room
Private room with positive pressure
