Week 1 Nursing Flashcards
Infection
▪ Infection is invasion of bodily tissue by pathogenic microorganisms that proliferate, resulting in tissue injury that can progress to disease.
▪ A patient with an infection may have localised or systemic symptoms.
▪ Infection is one of the leading causes of preventable death in hospitals
Colonisation
▪ The presence of microorganisms (colonisation) on/in the body does not necessarily mean infection.
▪ For an infection to develop an infectious microorganism must be able to:
– Colonise (grow and multiply)
– Move from one source to another
– Overcome a hosts defence systems
– Damage cells, tissue and body systems
Flora
▪ Resident flora are microorganisms that are always present on or in the host, usually without altering the health of the host.
– Handwashing with soap and water usually does not remove these microorganisms.
– Considerable friction and an antimicrobial wash is required to remove resident flora.
▪ Transient flora are microorganisms that are episodic and usually do not continually live on or in the host.
– Handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol based hand rub is usually sufficient to remove transient flora.
– Transient flora is usually acquired from direct contact with microorganisms on environment surfaces or patients.
Importance of Infection Control
- 11.8m people were hospitalised in Australia 2020-21
- Infection is one of the major reasons that we seek care
- Healthcare associated infection (HAI) is the most common complication affecting patients in hospital.
- Hospitalised people are more susceptible to infections
- HAI can have long-term consequences and in some cases may prove fatal.
Vulnerable Patient Populations
- ICU Patients
- Oncology Patients
- Burns Patients
- Paediatric Patients
- Pregnant Women
- Surgical Patients
Identify modes of transmission.
▪ Contact transmission – direct contact with infectious blood or body substances.
▪ Droplet transmission – infectious agent in large droplets (respiratory secretions / splash).
▪ Airborne transmission – infectious agent in aerosols and are inhaled.
▪ Food-borne transmission – consumption of contaminated food.
▪ Water-borne transmission – consumption of contaminated water.
▪ Vector-borne transmission – carried by a vector e.g. mosquito bites etc.
Infectious Agent
- Ebola Virus
- E.Coli Bacteria
- Candida Albicans Fungus
- Rubella Virus
Reservoir
pH- the acidity of the environment affects the viability of the pathogen
Portal of Exit from Reservoir
- Coughing
- Sneezing
Personal Protective Equipment
▪ Gowns
▪ Gloves
▪ Mask
▪ Eye Protection
Method of Transmission
Primary method of transmission of infection is via the hands of health care professionals.
Hospital Associated Infection (HAI)
Contracted by patients during a hospital admission.
Iatrogenic Infections - The result of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures provided to the patient.
Exogenous HAI
An infection from an organism that is external to the persons own normal flora.
Endogenous HAI
When part of a patients own normal flora in one body site is able to multiply and move into other body site.
Role of the Nurse or Midwife
▪ Prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases
▪ To break linkages in the chain of infection.
▪ This can effectively be achieved through the implementation of standard and additional precautions.
