1. Chapter 14

2. Transmission of Microorganisms
Contact with an infected person
Direct contact
Indirect contact
Contact with human carriers
Contact with animal or insect carriers
Contact with inanimate or airborne carriers

3. Direct Contact
This method involves handling, touching, coughing, sneezing, and blood or secretion contact

4. Direct Contact Handling / touching
Bacteria is readily transmitted by touching an infected area
Lack of proper hand washing contributes to infection

5. Direct Contact Coughing / Sneezing
Viral infections (flu, cold) are readily passed by not covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing
Droplets are inhaled by others and the infection spreads
Body fluids
Kissing, sexual contact, needle sticks, blood transfusions

6. Indirect Contact
This method implies that the infected person has been in contact with a contaminated substance (most often food)

7. Indirect Contact Handling articles
Laundering of contaminated bedding without washing hands
Eating food prepared by an infected person

8. Contact with human carrier
A carrier is someone who harbors a pathogen with or without developing any symptoms from the pathogen.
“Typhoid Mary”

9. Microorganism Invasion
Microorganisms can enter the body and may or may not cause infection. An infection will depend upon:
The kind of organism and it’s virulence
The number of organisms
The resistance or body defenses
The location of the invasion

10. Microorganism Invasion
Pathogenic organism may enter the body through several routes
the respiratory tract
the alimentary canal
the genitourinary tract
abrasions in the skin
mucous membranes of the eye

11. Health Care Procedures
Health care workers must be familiar with Standard Precautions
See page 274 and

12. Read
Open books to page 271
Read pages

13. Assignment Read pages 269-275 Define six Key Words listed on page 269
Answer review questions A (# 1-12) on page