Infection Control- Chapter 9 Flashcards
The presence of microorganisms on the body or on inanimate objects
What is Contamination
What is the current term used in place of nosocomial infections?
Health care-associated infections
List the types of pathogens and indicate which are most often associated with nosocomial infections
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, algae also chlamydiae, rickettsiae, and prions. Bacteria and viruses are the ones most often the sources of infection
The number of microorganisms
Dose
Dose high enough in which there are enough microorganisms to elicit an infection.
Ineffective dose
The selectivity of the agent to cause disease. Ex. the location to which they cause disease, or some may cause disease in animals but not humans.
Host specificity
The ability of an infectious agent to cause disease
Pathogenicity
The relative power of a pathogen to cause disease. Severity expressed in terms of morbidity and mortality
Virulence
What is the difference between reservoir and source
The reservoir is where the microorganism lives and reproduces and the source is the place from which the microorganism comes
The person to whom the infectious disease is passed
What is Host
Give an example of when the source and the reservoir are the same
The transmission of a common cold through a sneeze
Give an example of when the source and the reservoir are different
Histoplasmosis. Chicken is the reservoir. The chicken’s fecal droppings (source) are deposited on soil and after drying, the wind carries the droppings to another location which is inhaled by a human.
Explain what a portal of exit is and list three examples:
the site from which microorganisms leave the reservoir such as nose, mouth, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, blood and skin
susceptible makes physical contact with the source of infection. Ex. Touching a patient while helping the patient get out of a wheelchair, kissing (mononucleosis)
Direct Contact
an object is contaminated then comes into contact with and infects another person. Ex. needle stick, touching soiled linens
(Contact)Indirect
rapid transfer of infectious agent through the air over short distances ex. transmission when someone coughs or sneezes close to another person’s face, suctioning of a patient
Droplet
transmitted through a contaminated inanimate object known as a fomite to multiple persons. Ex. food, water, blood contaminated with HIV
Common Vehicle
nuclei-evaporated droplets which are spread through the air and can spread long distances.
(Airborne)Droplet
involves a vector such as a fly or mosquito ex. Zinka virus, malaria, lyme disease
Vectorborne
List three environmental factors that contribute to health-associated diseases
Airflow, temperature, humidity, carpet, upholstered furniture, fresh or dried flowers
Indicate the most common type of transmission route for each hepatitis
a. Hepatitis A—fecal contaminated hands or water
b. Hepatitis B-contact with blood and bodily fluids
c. Hepatitis C-blood transfusions, organ transplants, shared needles
What virus is closely related to chicken pox and how are they related?
Shingles (HZ-herpes zoster), it is a recurrent or reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (chicken pox)
Explain the difference between positive pressure isolation rooms and negative pressure isolation rooms and give examples of the types of diseases they are used for
Negative pressure-allows air to flow in but not out, protects those outside the room, used for TB, measles, and chicken pox p192
Positive pressure-keeps the airflow moving out of the room, protects the patient in the room used for stem cell transplants or other immunocompromised patients who need protection
Define critical items and give examples
Products or instruments inserted into normally sterile areas of the body or into the bloodstream and must be sterile for use. Ex. needles, surgical instruments, urinary catheters and implants
