Infection

Question 1

Infection

Answer 1

invasion of the body tissues by microorganisms with the potential to cause illness or disease

Question 2

Diseases

Answer 2

exist when microorganisms cause a detectable alteration in function

Question 3

Pathogens

Answer 3

microorganisms that cause diseases

Question 4

Body’s natural defenses

Answer 4

intact skin and mucus membranes
resident bacteria
cilia and phagocytes
tears
high acidity (low pH)

Question 5

intact skin and mucus membranes

Answer 5

1st line of defense, stops microbes from entering body

Question 6

resident bacteria

Answer 6

lives on the body, prevents other harmful microbes from growing (microbial antagonism)

Question 7

cilia and phagocytes

Answer 7

cilia filter and trap microbes and foreign particles in the upper respiratory tract
phagocytes ingest foreign material in alveoli (alveolar macrophages)

Question 8

tears

Answer 8

flush organisms out of eyes

Question 9

high acidity (low pH)

Answer 9

low pH deters microbial growth in stomach and vaginal area

Question 10

Factors increasing susceptibility of infection

Answer 10

age
heredity
stress
nutrition
treatments/tests
medications
preexisting diseases

Question 11

Age’s effect on susceptibility to infection

Answer 11

very young and very old at higher risk for disease

Question 12

Heredity’s effect on susceptibility to infection

Answer 12

can play role with genetic predisposition to diseas

Question 13

Stress’s effect on susceptibility to infection

Answer 13

increases blood cortizone which decreases inflammatory response and hampers the body’s ability to fight infection

Question 14

Nutrition’s effect on susceptibility to infection

Answer 14

inadequate nutrition can impede the creation of antibodies

Question 15

Medication’s effect on susceptibility to infection

Answer 15

may decrease production of wbc’s; decrease inflammatory response; destroy normal flora

Question 16

6 links of the chain of infection

Answer 16

infectious agent
reservoir
portal of exit from reservoir
means of transmission
portal of entry
susceptible host

Question 17

Infection stages

Answer 17

incubation period
prodromal stage
acute stage
convalescent stage

Question 18

Incubation period

Answer 18

pathogen begins replicating but doesn’t cause symptoms; can last hours to years

Question 19

Prodromal stage

Answer 19

generic symptoms appear

Question 20

Acute stage

Answer 20

maximum impact, specific symptoms appear, pronounced damage done to body tissues

Question 21

Convalescent stage

Answer 21

infection contained; pathogen eliminated; tissue damage repaired

Question 22

Normal white blood cell count

Answer 22

4,000-10,000 cells per microliter

Question 23

White blood cell count below 4,000

Answer 23

leukeopenia

Question 24

White blood cell count above 10,000

Answer 24

leukocytosis

Question 25

White blood cell differential

Answer 25

differentiates proportions of white blood cells

Question 26

Normal neutrophil levels

Answer 26

50-70%

Question 27

Normal basophil levels

Answer 27

0.4-1%

Question 28

Normal eosinophil levels

Answer 28

1-3%

Question 29

Normal monocyte levels

Answer 29

4-6%

Question 30

Normal leukocyte levels

Answer 30

25-35%

Question 31

Common culture smaples

Answer 31

wound blood urine sputum

Question 32

Serology

Answer 32

detects antibodies to certain organisms in blood

Question 33

Examples of antimicrobial agents

Answer 33

antibiotics antivirals antifungals

Question 34

PPE examples

Answer 34

gloves gown mask goggles

Question 35

Standard precautions

Answer 35

``` wash hands clean nonsterile gloves personal protective equipment respiratory hygiene no recapping needles proper handling of soiled equipment ```

Question 36

Airborne precautions

Answer 36

``` illnesses transmitted by droplets less than 5 microns in size, can travel more than 3 feet in the air gloves gown goggles respirator mask ```

Question 37

Droplet precautions

Answer 37

``` droplets greater than 5 microns, only go out 3 feet, don't float in air. gloves gown goggles surgical mask ```

Question 38

Contact precautions

Answer 38

infection easily transmitted from direct contact gloves gown (goggles and mask if needed)

Question 39

Communicable

Answer 39

an illness that is directly transferable from one individual to another

Question 40

infectious disease

Answer 40

communicable disease transferable by microbes

Question 41

Virulence

Answer 41

severity and degree of communicability that a disease can produce

Question 42

Opportunistic pathonogens

Answer 42

microbes that only become pathogens under the right circumstances

Question 43

Sepsis

Answer 43

refers to the state of infecton

Question 44

Colonization

Answer 44

process by which strains of microbes become established flora

Question 45

Local infection

Answer 45

infection limited to a specific part of the body

Question 46

Systemic infection

Answer 46

local infections that have spread to multiple parts of the body

Question 47

Antiseptics

Answer 47

agents that inhibit the growth of certain microbes

Question 48

Disinfectants

Answer 48

agents that destroy vegetative microbes and leave spores

Question 49

Healthcare associated infections occur after __ hours in the hospital

Answer 49

48

Question 50

Most common types of healthcare associated infections

Answer 50

``` urinary tract infection (#1) surgical site infections pneumonia IV catheters/central lines C. diff associated diarrhea ```

Question 51

Iatrogeinc infections

Answer 51

infections caused by invasive procedures

Question 52

Most common organisms for nosocomial infections

Answer 52

E coli Enterococcus Staph aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Question 53

Ways to decrease risk of nosocomial infections

Answer 53

``` hand hygiene basic medical asepsis surgical/sterile technique standard precautions isolation techniques ```

Question 54

Important things about C diff

Answer 54

shed in feces (diarrhea) endospores can live on surface for long time treated with vancomycin hand washing with soap and hot water necessary contact precautions diagnosed by fecal culture appears in patients with prolonged antibiotic use

Question 55

Important things about MRSA

Answer 55

``` treated with vancomycin spread by direct contact patient must be isolated contact precautions if patient has had MRSA in past must always be isolated many carry MRSA without signs of illness diagnosed by culture ```

Question 56

Important things about VRE

Answer 56

spread by caregivers hands diagnosed via culture treated with antibiotics other than vancomycin contact isolation hand hygiene normally present in intestines and on female genitalia

Question 57

Important things about tuberculosis

Answer 57

``` airborne precautions N-95 respirator negative airflow room isolation TST and X-ray diagnosis prompt detection important immunocompromised patients (HIV+) ```

Question 58

Important things about ebola

Answer 58

``` direct contact with bodily fluids diagnosed by blood tests, IgM and ELISA fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, headache, hemorrhage PPE disposed of after use no skin exposed isolation inform hospital and CDC droplet precautions ```

Question 59

Preventing uti caused by catheter use

Answer 59

Insert catheters only for appropriate indications Leave catheters in place only as long as needed Ensure that only properly trained persons insert and maintain catheters Insert catheters using aseptic technique and sterile equipment (acute care setting) Follow aseptic insertion, maintain a closed drainage system Maintain unobstructed urine flow Comply with CDC hand hygiene recommendations and Standard Precautions Alternatives to indwelling urinary catheterization Use of portable ultrasound devices for assessing urine volume to reduce unnecessary catheterizations Use of antimicrobial/antiseptic-impregnated catheters

Question 60

Preventing infection of the blood from central lines

Answer 60

Remove unnecessary central lines Follow proper insertion practices Facilitate proper insertion practices Comply with CDC hand hygiene recommendations Use appropriate agent for skin antisepsis Choose proper central line insertion sites Perform adequate hub/access port disinfection Provide staff education on central line maintenance and insertion Chlorhexidine bathing Antimicrobial-impregnated catheters Chlorhexidine-impregnated dressings

Question 61

Preventing infections after surgery

Answer 61

Before surgery Administer antimicrobial prophylaxis in accordance with evidence-based standards and guidelines Treat remote infections-whenever possible before elective operations Avoid hair removal at the operative site unless it will interfere with the operation; do not use razors Use appropriate antiseptic agent and technique for skin preparation During Surgery Keep OR doors closed during surgery except as needed for passage of equipment, personnel, and the patient After Surgery Maintain immediate postoperative normothermia Protect primary closure incisions with sterile dressing Control blood glucose level during the immediate post-operative period (cardiac) Discontinue antibiotics according to evidence-based standards and guidelines