2. Learning Goals:  Understand principles of infection control are essential to all healthcare workers  Provide a basic knowledge of how disease is transmitted  Main emphasis on prevention of disease

3. Microbes – small living organisms  Invisible to the naked eye  Microscope must be used to see them  Found everywhere in the environment  Found on and in the human body Many are part of the normal Flora of body May be beneficial in maintaining body processes Flora – plant life for living in a specific environment

4.  Called non-pathogens when not harmful to the body  Some cause infections and disease  Called pathogens (germs) when able to harm the body  Sometimes non-pathogenic microorganisms can become pathogenic

5.  Bacteria  Protozoa  Fungi  Rickettsiae  Viruses

6.  Simple one celled organism  Multiply rapidly  Classified by shape and arrangement

7.  Round or spherical in shape  Diplococcic (pairs of cocci)  Gonorrhea, meningitis, pneumonia  Streptococci (chain of cocci)  Strep throat, rheumatic fever  Staphylococci (clusters, or groups of cocci)  Boils, wound infections, toxic shock  Pus producing

8.  Rod Shaped  Occur singly, in pairs or in chains  May have flagella (tail-like) Projections that allow it to move  Ability to form spores  Ex: TB, tetanus, whooping cough, typhoid

9.  Spiral or corkscrew shape  Includes comma-shaped vibrio and corkscrew spirochete  Disease include syphilis and cholera  (Vibrio- common in food borne infection, eating under cooked seafood)

10.  Used to kill bacteria  Some strains of bacteria have become anti-biotic resistant  When anti-biotic resistant, the antibiotic is no longer effective against the bacteria

11.  One celled, animal like organism  Found in decayed materials and contaminated water  May have flagella for movement  Some are pathogenic (infectious agent leading to sickness in host)

12.  Simple plant like organism  Live on dead and organic matter  Yeast and molds  Can be pathogenic  Antibiotics do not kill  Antifungal medications  Athlete’s foot, yeast infections

13.  Parasitic Microorganisms  Can not live outside cells of another organism  Transmitted to humans by the bites of insects (ie: fleas, lice, ticks, mites)  Antibiotics are effective against them  Typhus fever, Rocky mountain spotted fever - tick borne disease that can be fatal in humans

14.  Smallest of microorganism  Must use electron microscope to see  Must be inside another living cell to reproduce  Spread human to human by blood or body secretions  Difficult to kill  Don’t respond to antibiotics  Resistant to disinfectants  Cause many diseases in humans – Hepatitis & AIDS

15.  Ideal environment: warm, dark, moist  Need source of food and moisture  Need for oxygen varies  Human body is ideal supplier of all requirements

16.  Some produce poisons called toxins  Some cause allergic reactions  Others attack and destroy the living cells they invade  Endogenous – originates inside body  Exogenous – originates outside of body  Nosocomial – Infection inquired in Healthcare facility  Opportunistic – Infections that occur when the body’s immunity is suppressed or weak

18. 1. Causative (Infectious) agent  Pathogen must be present  Examples include bacteria 2. Reservoir  Place where causative agent can live  Examples: human body, animals and the environment 3. Portal of Exit  Way for causative agent to escape from the reservoir  Examples: urine, feces, saliva, blood, tears, mucous discharge, sexual secretions and draining wounds

19. 4. Mode of Transmission  Must be transmitted to another reservoir or host where it can live  Direct Contact: spread by physical (hands) or sexual contact  Indirect Contact: from contaminated substances to the person (food, air droplets, insects, clothing, instruments 5. Portal of Entry  Way to enter a new reservoir or host  Examples: breaks in skin or mucous membranes, respiratory tract, circulatory system, genitourinary tract

20. 6. Susceptible Host  Individual who can contract the disease  If a larger number of pathogens invade the body or the body defenses are weak, then the individual (susceptible host) can become sick with infection or disease If any part of the chain of infection is broken, the spread of disease or infection can be stopped

21.  Mucous Membranes  Cilia  Coughing & Sneezing  HCL (hydrochloric acid) in stomach  Tears  Fever  Inflammation response – leukocytes  Immune response – antibodies and cell secretion

22.  Eliminate any step in the chain of infection  Follow standard practices to interrupt or break chain  Remember pathogens are everywhere  Prevention is a continuous process

23.  Major way to break the chain of infection  Asepsis: absence of disease-producing microorganisms or pathogens  Contaminated: any object or area that may contain pathogens  Major Goal: maintaining cleanliness and eliminating or preventing contaminations

24.  Hand Washing  Good personal Hygiene  Disposable gloves  Proper cleaning of instruments and equipment  Thorough cleaning of environment

25.  Prevent or slow growth of pathogenic organisms  Not effective against spores and viruses  Used on skin  Examples: Alcohol and betadine

26.  Destroys or kills pathogenic organisms  Not always effective  Chemical disinfectants are used  Can irritate or damage skin  Used on objects not people  Examples : Bleach solution

27.  Destroys all microorganisms  Steam under pressure, gas radiation and chemicals  Autoclave is the most common

28.  Important for healthcare workers to know and use proper aseptic techniques  Prevents spread and transmission of diseases