Fundamentals: Chapter 28

Question 1

What is an infection?

Answer 1

the invasion of a susceptible host by pathogens or microorganisms, resulting in disease

Question 2

What is colonization?

Answer 2

the presence and growth of microorganisms within a host but without tissue invasion or damage

Question 3

What is a communicable disease?

Answer 3

an infectious disease that can be transmitted directly from one person to another

Question 4

What is a symptomatic infection?

Answer 4

the pathogens multiply and cause clinical signs and symptoms

Question 5

What is an asymptomatic infection?

Answer 5

the pathogens multiply but clinical signs and symptoms are not present

Question 6

What is the chain of infection?

Answer 6

• An infectious agent
• A reservoir (natural habitat)
• A port of exit
• A mode of transmission
• A port of entry
• A susceptible host

Question 7

What are microorganisms?

Answer 7

bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa

Question 8

What is a reservoir?

Answer 8

a place where microorganisms survive, multiply, and await transfer to a susceptible host

Question 9

What is the ideal temperature for most human pathogens?

Answer 9

20° to 43° C (68° to 109° F)

Question 10

What is bactericidal?

Answer 10

A temperature or chemical that destroys bacteria

Question 11

What is bacteriostasis?

Answer 11

the slowing of growth and reproduction of bacteria

Question 12

What pH do most microorganisms prefer?

Answer 12

5.0 to 7.0

Question 13

List different modes of transmission:

Answer 13

Contact (direct or indirect)

Droplet

Airborne

Vehicles

Vector

Question 14

What is droplet contamination?

Answer 14

Large particles that travel up to 3 feet during coughing, sneezing, or talking and come in contact with susceptible host

Question 15

What is airborne contamination?

Answer 15

Droplet nuclei or residue or evaporated droplets suspended in air during coughing or sneezing or carried on dust particles

Question 16

What are the stages of infection?

Answer 16

Incubation Period

Prodromal Stage

Illness Stage (Full Stage of illness)

Convalescence

Question 17

Describe the incubation period of infection

Answer 17

Interval between entrance of pathogen into body and appearance of first symptoms (organism grows and mulitplies; time varies)

Question 18

Describe the prodromol stage of infection

Answer 18

Interval from onset of nonspecific signs and symptoms to more specific symptoms

Question 19

Describe the illness stage of infection

Answer 19

Interval when patient manifests signs and symptoms specific to type of infection

Question 20

Describe the convalescence stage of infection

Answer 20

Interval when acute symptoms of infection disappear (time varies)

Question 21

What is the difference between a localized infection and a systemic infection?

Answer 21

In a localized infection, the patient usually experiences localized symptoms such as pain, tenderness, and redness at the wound site.

In a systemic infection, the entire body instead of just a single organ or part is affected.

Question 22

What is micturation?

Answer 22

urination

Question 23

What causes a suprainfection?

Answer 23

develops when broad-spectrum antibiotics eliminate a wide range of normal flora organisms, not just those causing infection

Question 24

What is inflammation?

Answer 24

The cellular response of the body to injury, infection, or irritation (brings fluid, blood products, and nutrients)

Question 25

What happens during the inflammatory response?

Answer 25

1 Vascular and cellular responses 2 Formation of inflammatory exudates 3 Tissue repair

Question 26

What are exudates?

Answer 26

fluid and cells that are discharged from cells or blood vessels [e.g., pus or serum]

Question 27

What is phaygocytosis?

Answer 27

a process that involves the destruction and absorption of bacteria

Question 28

What is leukocytosis?

Answer 28

an increase in the number of circulating WBCs

Question 29

What is the normal range for serum WBC?

Answer 29

5,000 to 10,000/mm3

Question 30

What is the range for serum WBC during inflammation?

Answer 30

15,000 to 20,000/mm3 and higher

Question 31

What is the cause of fever during an infection?

Answer 31

the phagocytic release of pyrogens from bacterial cells, which causes a rise in the hypothalamic set point

Question 32

What are the 3 types of exudate?

Answer 32

serous (clear, like plasma) sanguineous (containing red blood cells) purulent (containing WBCs and bacteria)

Question 33

How is exudate usually cleared away?

Answer 33

lymphatic drainage

Question 34

What are the 3 healing stages in tissue repair?

Answer 34

defensive, reconstructive, and maturative

Question 35

What are iatrogenic infections?

Answer 35

a type of HAI from a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure

Question 36

What are exogenous infections?

Answer 36

comes from microorganisms found outside the individual

Question 37

What are endogenous infections?

Answer 37

part of the patient's flora becomes altered and an overgrowth results

Question 38

What are major sites for HAI's?

Answer 38

surgical or traumatic wounds, urinary and respiratory tracts, and the bloodstream

Question 39

What is the term for an age-related decline in immune system function?

Answer 39

immune senescence

Question 40

What is the most common cause of communicable illness in young or middle-age adults

Answer 40

Viruses

Question 41

How does a patient's nutrition influence the susceptibility to infections?

Answer 41

A reduction in the intake of protein and other nutrients such as carbohydrates and fats reduces body defenses against infection and impairs wound healing

Question 42

How does stress influence the susceptibility to infections?

Answer 42

If stress continues or becomes intense, elevated cortisone levels result in decreased resistance to infection

Question 43

What is a sign of a pulmonary infection?

Answer 43

a productive cough with purulent sputum

Question 44

What is a sign of a UTI?

Answer 44

cloudy, foul-smelling urine

Question 45

What is aseptic technique?

Answer 45

practices/procedures that help reduce the risk for infection

Question 46

What is medical asepsis

Answer 46

clean technique, includes procedures for reducing the number of organisms present and preventing the transfer of organisms

Question 47

What is isolation?

Answer 47

the separation and restriction of movement of ill persons with contagious diseases

Question 48

What is surgical asepsis?

Answer 48

sterile technique prevents contamination of an open wound, serves to isolate the operative area from the unsterile environment, and maintains a sterile field for surgery

Question 49

What is the difference between colonization and infection?

Answer 49

colonization is normal and infection is an out of control growth

Question 50

What is an example of communicable disease that is asymptomatic?

Answer 50

Hepatitis C

Question 51

What is the best way to stop the chain of infection?

Answer 51

Break one of the links in the chain

Question 52

What laboratory data indicate infection?

Answer 52

Elevated WBC Increase in specific types of WBC Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate Presence of pathogen in urine blood, sputum or during cultures

Question 53

What are normal floras?

Answer 53

microorganisms on skin surface, deep layers of skin, saliva, oral mucosa, GI & GU tracts

Question 54

What are the 3 normal defenses against infection?

Answer 54

Normal Flora Body System Defenses Inflammation

Question 55

What is the difference between transient and resident bacteria?

Answer 55

Transient are passed from person to person and do not normally reside on person. Resident bacteria are normal flora