Chain of infection

Question 1

Break chain: 1st Aetiological agent

Answer 1

Kill the pathogen:
– Antibiotics
– Antivirals
– Disinfectants – Heat

Remove the pathogen:
– Biohazard waste – Burning
– Burial

Question 2

Break chain: 2nd Reservoir (Where pathogens hang out)

Answer 2

Eliminate the reservoir (sources)
e.g. food, animals, people

Isolate the reservoir from the at-risk population

• Treat the reservoir – vaccine, filtration
  of water supplies

Question 3

Break chain: 3rd Portal of Exist

Answer 3

*Block the pathogen as it leaves the reservoir e.g. cough etiquette; care with body fluids

• Remove access – prevent humans from accessing contents of reservoir
• Eliminate outlet from reservoir –
  e.g. spill prevention

Question 4

Break chain: 4th Method of transmission

Answer 4

Standard precautions
* Transmission precaution

Question 5

Break chain: 5th Portal of entry to susceptible host

Answer 5

• Care for your skin
• Beware of sharps
• Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• DON’T touch your eyes, nose, mouth or other mucus membranes unless you have JUST washed your hands

Question 6

Break chain: 6th susceptible Host. must reach someone that is susceptible to it in order to produce disease

Answer 6

• Employing appropriate precautions to protect those with low immunity
• Vaccination – herd immunity
• Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)