Patient Care Week 4

Question 1

Who is susceptible to infection?

Answer 1

• patients
• run-down health care workers
• anyone with compromised health

Question 2

Immunocompromised patients

Answer 2

• neutropenia
• HIV
• hepatitis A,B and C virus
• leukemia
• tuberculosis
• radiation therapy
• chemo therapy
• age related
• heredity
• nutritional status
• stress
• inadequate rest/exercise
• health history: diabetes, heart disease, liver or kidney failure and lung disease

Question 3

3 major lines of defense against disease

Answer 3

1. Hair, skin, mucous membranes, tears
2. Inflammatory reaction( white blood cells ingest invading particles)
3. Immune system(antibodies react to specific antigens aka. Foreign bodies)
   
   • organ transplant patients

Question 4

It is one of the RT’s responsibilities to prevent the spread of infection…

Answer 4

• from patient to patient
• from patient to personnel
• from hospital to ones home environment

Question 5

What is asepsis?

Answer 5

To be free of infection

Use of aseptic technique
- means to carry out procedures that control the growth and spread of microorganisms(mo’s)

Question 6

What is medical asepsis?

Answer 6

Refers to the destruction of mo’s after they leave the body

We use medical asepsis every day

• at home when we wash our hands, wash dishes, and disinfect bathrooms
• isolation is a form of medical asepsis

Question 7

What is surgical asepsis?

Answer 7

Refers to the destruction of mo’s and their spores, before they enter the body
- I.e. Skin prep before surgery

Question 8

What is a microorganism?

Answer 8

A microscopic organism

Includes bacteria, fungi, viruses, prions(proteins) and Protozoa

Question 9

What is a bacteria?

Answer 9

Single-called mo’s that rapidly divide

Question 10

What is a virus?

Answer 10

The smallest sub cellular microorganism known

It has DNA

Question 11

What are prions?

Answer 11

The smallest microbe discovered in 1983

Does not have DNA

Proteins

Question 12

What are fungi?

Answer 12

A group such as mushrooms, yeast and molds that reproduce through spores

Question 13

What are spores?

Answer 13

Forms of bacteria that are relatively resistant to

• heat
• cold
• lack of water
• toxic chemicals
• radiation

Question 14

What are Protozoa?

Answer 14

Subkingdom comprised of unicellular organisms

Most are free-living, but some lead mutualistic, communalistic, or parasitic lives

Can be ingested and transmitted through contaminated feces

Hand-washing and stool precautions recommended

Question 15

What is rickettsiae (singular: Rickettsia)?

Answer 15

• specific shape
• multiply only in host cells
• live in gut lumen of fleas, ticks, lice and mites
• transmitted through bites
• low incidence in sanitized areas where rodent and insect populations are controlled
• aka: valley fever, typhus fever or Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Question 16

Requirements for M.O survival

Answer 16

Warmth
Food
Water or moisture
Usually 02 (some are anaerobic)

Thrive in dark and damp areas

Question 17

What is an endogenous infection?

Answer 17

An infection produced within or caused by factors within the organism

Examples:

Infection caused by normal bacteria in the digestive tract

Reactivity on of organism present in a dormant state such as TB

Question 18

What is an ectogenous infection?

Answer 18

An infection caused by organisms not normally found in the body; the mo’s have gained entrance into the body

Question 19

What is a nosocomial infection?

Answer 19

An infection acquired during hospitalization (staph, respiratory virus, etc)

• about 10% of patients hospitalized become infected (~2 million/yr)
• common sites: urinary tract, respiratory tract, surgical wounds
• 30% UTI’s per year
• HAI: hospital acquired infection

Question 20

What is the RT’s role in minimizing nosocomial infections?

Answer 20

1. Cleanliness( cleaning, dusting, hand washing, etc)
2. Disinfection: the destruction of pathogens using chemicals
3. Sterilization(surgical asepsis): the destruction of all organisms and their spores using heat, gas, or chemicals to make them germ free

Question 21

What are the six factors in the cycle of infection?

Answer 21

• pathogenic organism (infectious agent)- MO’s capable of causing disease
• reservoir of infection- human being, food, water, plant, etc
• portal of exit- route through which blood, body fluids, excretions leave the body
• means of transmission- direct or indirect
• portal of entry- wound,nose,mouth,intestines,urinary tract
• susceptible host

Question 22

What are the four main routes of transmission and the two categories they fall in?

Answer 22

Direct contact: the host is touched directly by the infected person or animal
• vector: an animal in whose body the infectious organism lives and multiplies
- mosquitos- malaria
- fleas- bubonic plague
- ticks- lyme’s disease
- dogs, bats- rabies

Indirect contact:
• fomite: an object that has been contaminated with infectious organisms
• vehicle: any medium that transports microorganisms
• airborne transmission
• spores: especially hazardous because they can live under adverse conditions

Question 23

What is the CDC?

Answer 23

The centers for disease control

Responsible for setting standards regarding transmissible diseases
• Ebola virus
• mad cow

Question 24

Define asepsis

Answer 24

To be free of infection

Question 25

Define aseptic technique

Answer 25

To carry out procedures that controls the growth and spread of microorganisms.

Question 26

Define Surgical asepsis

Answer 26

Refers to the destruction of mo’s and their spores, before they enter the body. Used in caring for open wounds in surgery. Sterilization is required here. Surgical asepsis is used to prevent mo’s from entering the body.

Question 27

Microorganism

Answer 27

A microscopic organism.