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Nursing Fundamentals > Unit 9 > Flashcards

Unit 9 Flashcards

1
Q

How does skin protect patients from infection?

A

Skin is the first line of defense
Intact skin provides protective layer

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2
Q

How does mucous membranes protect the patient from infection?

A

Secrete mucous for protection
Keep mucous membranes moist

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3
Q

How does Cilia in respiratory tract protect the patient from the infection?

A

Prevent particulates from entering the body

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4
Q

How does natural GI flora protect the patient from infection?

A

Limits overgrowth of other bacteria

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5
Q

How does the vaginal pH protect the patient from infection?

A

It inhibits bacteria growth

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6
Q

Immunity types

A

Nonspecific Immunity
Specific immunity

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7
Q

Nonspecific Immunity

A

Neutrophils and macrophages- WBCs- act as phagocytes and destroy microorganisms which helps protect the body
Do not attack a certain antigen

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8
Q

Specific Immunity

A

Antibodies and lymphocytes
Tailored towards particular types of invaders and activate WBCs to help destroy the infectious agent

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9
Q

What triggers an inflammatory response?

A

Body’s natural defense that is activated when the body is injured, when foreign substances are present, or when an infectious agent attacks

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10
Q

The inflammatory process

A
  1. Recognition of harmful stimuli by pattern receptors
  2. Inflammatory pathways activated
  3. Inflammatory markers released
  4. Inflammatory cells recruited
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11
Q

Infectious inflammatory response

A

Viruses, bacteria, and others microorganisms, such as fungi

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12
Q

Noninfectious inflammatory response

A

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

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13
Q

Systemic infections

A

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.

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14
Q

Local Infections

A

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

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15
Q

Scar tissue

A

Damaged tissue replaced by scar tissue.
Gradually new cells take on characteristics like old cells

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16
Q

Infectious Agent

A

Bacteria, fungi, parasite, prion, pathogens

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17
Q

Reservoir

A

Habitat for infectious agent to grow and reproduce
(People, insects, birds, animals, soil, water, food, medical equipment, IV fluids, feces)

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18
Q

Portal of exit

A

Means by which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir
(Ears, nose, mouth, skin, blood, bodily fluids)

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19
Q

Mode of transportation

A

Infectious agent moves from place to place
(contact, droplet, airborne, vehicle, and vector-borne transmission)

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20
Q

Portal of entry

A

Place where infectious agent can enter the body
(Ears, nose, mouth, or breaks in the mucous membrane or skin)

21
Q

Susceptible host

A

Required for infection to occur.
(Elderly, extremely young, immunocompromised)

22
Q

What type of patients are likely to be susceptible hosts?

A

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

23
Q

Two types of contact transmission

A

Direct contact transmission
Indirect contact transmission

24
Q

Direct contact transmission

A

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

25
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
26
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
27
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
28
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
29
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
30
Stages of infection
1. Incubation 2. Prodromal 3. Acute Illness 4. Period of decline 5. Period of convalescence
31
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
32
Prodromal Stage
2nd stage in infection Initial manifestations as the infectious agent replicates S&S are nonspecific: fever, aches, poor appetite, and malaise
33
Acute Illness stage
3rd stage of infection Manifestations of a specific infectious disease process become obvious Infection is considered severe at this stage
34
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
35
Period of Convalescence Stage
5th stage of infection Client returns to normal or “new normal”
36
When should a WBC count be tested?
When checking for infection or inflammation Elevated WBC count indicates infection
37
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
38
When should a chest X-ray be taken?
When Pneumonia or TB is suspected Consolidation or infiltrates is indicative of infection
39
When should throat cultures samples be collected?
When strep or another local throat infection is suspected Positive test indicated an infection
40
What nonspecific markers indicate an inflammatory response in blood tests?
Elevated C reactive protein Erythrocyte sedimentation rate Procalcitonin
41
Medical Asepsis
Clean technique The reduction of disease causing microorganisms
42
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
43
What is sterilization?
Eradicates all microorganisms including spores
44
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
45
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
46
Contact Precautiobs
Intended to help prevent transmission of infectious agent by direct or indirect contact PPE: gloves and gown at minimum
47
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
48
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
49
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

Nursing Fundamentals (7 decks)

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