Chapter 10 Infection Control
Definitions Infection control Infectious disease Pathogens
Signs and Symptoms of Infections Generalized or systemic –Affecting whole body Localized –Affecting one area of body
Question Which of the following may be signs or symptoms of a localized infection? A.Fever, headache, and increased pulse rate B.Vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue C.Red, swollen, draining wound
Answer C. Red, swollen, draining wound Localized –Affecting one area of body –Signs and symptoms: Red, swollen, and warm to touch area Drainage Pain
Answer C. Red, swollen, draining wound Generalized or systemic infection may cause fever, headaches, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased pulse and respirations
Microbiology Microscope Microbiology Germ theory Communicable or contagious disease Contaminated Normal flora (continued)
Microbiology Immune response Antibiotic Opportunistic infection Aerobic Anaerobic Hosts (continued)
Microbiology Symbiosis Neutralism Parasitic Parasite Microbes
Question True or False: –Microorganisms that are aerobic require oxygen to live.
Answer True Aerobic microorganisms –Require oxygen to live Anaerobic microorganisms –Do not require oxygen to live
Microbes Bacteria Viruses Fungi Rickettsia Protozoa
Question True or False: –Protozoa are the smallest of the microbes.
Answer False Viruses –Smallest microbes
Chain of Infection Infectious agent Reservoir host Portal of exit Route of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host (continued)
Chain of Infection
Defense Mechanisms Cilia Cough and sneeze Tears Hydrochloric acid Mucous membranes Rise in body temperature Increase in leukocytes
Scope of the Problem Nosocomial infection (HAI or health care- associated infection) Industrial illness Needlestick injuries Handwashing –Most important procedure for preventing health care-acquired infections
Handwashing for Patient Care
Infection Control Regulatory agencies –CDC –OSHA
Question True or False: –A patient is admitted to the hospital for an infected leg. This would be called a nosocomial infection.
Answer False Nosocomial infection –Infection occurs while patient receiving health care
Asepsis –Also known as aseptic technique Medical asepsis –Clean technique Surgical asepsis –Sterile technique
Breaking the Chain of Infection Breaking just one link stops infection Six elements summarized –Source of infecting microorganism –Means of transmission –Susceptible host
How to Break Chain Decrease source of microorganisms –Wash hands –Decontaminate surfaces and equipment –Avoid contact when contagious Prevent transmission of microorganisms –Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) –Follow isolation precautions (continued)
How to Break Chain Maximize resistance –Provide good hygiene –Ensure proper nutrition and fluid intake –Decrease stressors that weaken immune response
Question True or False: –The chain of infection must be kept intact to stop an infection from being transmitted.
Answer False Breaking chain of infection prevents transmission
Normal Flora Transient flora Resident flora Standard precautions Handwashing –Removes transient flora –Diminishes resident flora
Standard Precautions Follow at all times Potential fluid sources of microbes: –Blood –Body fluids, secretions, and excretions Except sweat –Nonintact skin (continued)
Standard Precautions Potential fluid sources of microbes: –Mucous membranes –Any identified body fluids Handwashing PPE Patient-care equipment (continued)
Standard Precautions Environmental control Linen Needle handling and disposal
Isolation Transmission-based precautions –Airborne –Droplet –Contact Neutropenic Consequences to patient, staff, and visitors Impact on facility
Question Which of the following activities is the most critical in preventing the spread of infections? A.Wearing gloves B.Wiping down surfaces C.Handwashing
Answer C. Handwashing Number one prevention tool: –Good handwashing
Methods to Inhibit or Destroy Microbes Bacteriostatic Bactericidal or germicidal Antiseptics Disinfectants Sterilization
Surgical Asepsis Also known as sterile technique Eliminates presence of pathogens from objects and areas Sterile field
Risks Blood-borne pathogens –Hepatitis B –HIV –Tuberculosis (TB) –Drug-resistant infections
Question Which of the following methods is bacteriostatic? A.Sterilization B.Using an antiseptic for cleaning C.Using a disinfectant for cleaning
Answer B. Using an antiseptic for cleaning Bacteriostatic –Methods that only inhibit growth of microorganisms What antiseptic does Bactericidals kill microorganisms –Include sterilization and disinfectants
Hepatitis Virus Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Hepatitis D Hepatitis E
Human Immunity Virus HIV and AIDS –Carriers –Transmission –Symptoms –Treatment –Prevention
TB Airborne pathogen Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis No prevention Skin test give for detection Latent TB infection and TB disease Still problematic in U.S. Drug-resistant strains developing
Question Which of the following patients would test positive with a TB screening test? A.Latent TB infection B.Active TB disease C.Both latent TB infection and active TB disease
Answer C. Both latent TB infection and active TB disease Both latent TB infection and active TB disease will test positive –But only someone with active TB disease can transmit it to others
Other Infectious Organisms Ebola virus Bird flu –H5N1 avian influenza Mad cow disease –Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) West Nile virus Swine flu –H1N1 influenza
Drug-Resistant Organisms Developed from overuse of antibiotics Developed from patients who do not complete antibiotic treatment (continued)
Drug-Resistant Organisms Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) –Health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) –Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)
Question Which of the following diseases is transmitted by mosquitoes? A.West Nile virus B.Mad cow disease C.H1N1
Answer A. West Nile virus West Nile virus –Transmitted by mosquitoes Mad cow disease –Presumably transmitted by eating infected meat H1N1 –Primarily transmitted human-to-human
Reporting Exposure Must immediately report any exposure to blood or body fluids Write incident or injury report Refer to exposure control plan