Infection Control and Disease Infection Control and Disease PreventionPrevention
Infection ControlInfection Control Microorganism – a small living organism Microorganism – a small living organism
that is not visible to the naked eye; that is not visible to the naked eye; found everywhere in the environmentfound everywhere in the environment
Normal flora - plant life adapted for Normal flora - plant life adapted for living in a specific environment; living in a specific environment; important for maintaining certain body important for maintaining certain body processes; processes; non-non-pathogenic pathogenic
Pathogen - disease or infection causing Pathogen - disease or infection causing microorganism microorganism
Types of MicroorganismsTypes of Microorganisms
BacteriaBacteria• Simple, one-celled organisms that Simple, one-celled organisms that
multiply rapidlymultiply rapidly• Examples of disease caused by bacteria Examples of disease caused by bacteria
include gonorrhea, meningitis, strep include gonorrhea, meningitis, strep throat, botulismthroat, botulism
• Antibiotics are used to kill bacteriaAntibiotics are used to kill bacteria
Types of MicroorganismsTypes of Microorganisms
ProtozoaProtozoa• One-celled animal-like organisms One-celled animal-like organisms
often found in decayed materials and often found in decayed materials and contaminated watercontaminated water
• Cause diseases such as malaria, Cause diseases such as malaria, amebic dysentery, trichomonasamebic dysentery, trichomonas
Types of MicroorganismsTypes of Microorganisms FungiFungi• Simple, plant-like organisms that live Simple, plant-like organisms that live
on dead organic matteron dead organic matter• Yeasts and molds are two common Yeasts and molds are two common
forms that can be pathogenicforms that can be pathogenic• Cause diseases such as ring worm, Cause diseases such as ring worm,
athlete’s foot, yeast vaginitis, and athlete’s foot, yeast vaginitis, and thrushthrush
• Treated with antifungals Treated with antifungals
Types of MicroorganismsTypes of Microorganisms
Virus Virus • Smallest microorganism, visible only with an Smallest microorganism, visible only with an
electron microscope electron microscope • Cannot reproduce unless inside another Cannot reproduce unless inside another
living cellliving cell• More difficult to kill because resistant to More difficult to kill because resistant to
many disinfectants and are not affected by many disinfectants and are not affected by antibiotics.antibiotics.
• Cause diseases such as common cold, Cause diseases such as common cold, herpes, chicken pox, AIDS, Hepatitis herpes, chicken pox, AIDS, Hepatitis
TermsTerms Nosocomial infection - acquired by an Nosocomial infection - acquired by an
individual in a health care facilityindividual in a health care facility
Opportunistic infection - those that occur Opportunistic infection - those that occur when the body’s defenses are weak when the body’s defenses are weak (Pneumocystis carinii)(Pneumocystis carinii)
Disinfection – to cleanse (wounds, rooms, Disinfection – to cleanse (wounds, rooms, clothing, etc..) of infection clothing, etc..) of infection
Sterilization - Sterilization - The act or procedure of sterilizing
Chain of Infection Chain of Infection
Causative agent (or pathogen) - virus, Causative agent (or pathogen) - virus, bacteria, etc.bacteria, etc.
Reservoir - A place where the Reservoir - A place where the pathogen can live (human body, the pathogen can live (human body, the environment, fomites)environment, fomites)
Portal of exit - A way for the pathogen Portal of exit - A way for the pathogen to escape the reservoir in which it has to escape the reservoir in which it has been growing (body secretions)been growing (body secretions)
Chain of Infection Cont.Chain of Infection Cont. Mode of transmission - the way in which the Mode of transmission - the way in which the
pathogen is transmitted to another reservoir pathogen is transmitted to another reservoir or host where it can live (direct person-to-or host where it can live (direct person-to-person contact or direct contact with body person contact or direct contact with body secretions)secretions)
Portal of entry - the manner in which the Portal of entry - the manner in which the pathogen enters a new reservoir or host pathogen enters a new reservoir or host (break in the skin, respiratory or digestive (break in the skin, respiratory or digestive tract, circulatory system)tract, circulatory system)
Susceptible host - a person likely to get an Susceptible host - a person likely to get an infection or diseaseinfection or disease
How do we break the chain of How do we break the chain of infection????????infection????????
Standard PrecautionsStandard Precautions
Equipment and methods that prevent Equipment and methods that prevent the transmission of microorganisms the transmission of microorganisms from one person to another. from one person to another.
Prior to the diagnosis of AIDS, personal Prior to the diagnosis of AIDS, personal protective equipment was used only in protective equipment was used only in identified infectious processes.identified infectious processes.
Became universal with further study of Became universal with further study of AIDS as a disease.AIDS as a disease.
Standard PrecautionsStandard Precautions
Applies to Applies to all all patients at patients at allall times because times because not all diseases are readily observable.not all diseases are readily observable.
Gloves should be worn ANYTIME there is Gloves should be worn ANYTIME there is ANY possibility of coming into contact with ANY possibility of coming into contact with a patients’ body fluids.a patients’ body fluids.
• It is NEVER wrong to put on gloves!!!!!It is NEVER wrong to put on gloves!!!!!
Standard PrecautionsStandard Precautions
The HCP should choose what barriers The HCP should choose what barriers to wear when caring for a patient to wear when caring for a patient based on:based on:– the activity performed (vital signs)the activity performed (vital signs)– the patients illness, andthe patients illness, and– the amount of exposure to blood and the amount of exposure to blood and
body fluids body fluids Ex: gown and goggles if patient is coughing, Ex: gown and goggles if patient is coughing,
bleeding, or has drainage from wounds or bleeding, or has drainage from wounds or body orifices.body orifices.
Standard PrecautionsStandard Precautions All sharps (needles, razors, etc.)
should be disposed of immediately in biohazardous puncture proof sharps containers located in each room.– Red, plastic container
All unknown spills or waste should be treated as potentially hazardous.
Types of IsolationTypes of Isolation
Airborne PrecautionsAirborne Precautions - - used for used for patients known (or suspected) to be patients known (or suspected) to be infected with pathogens transmitted by infected with pathogens transmitted by small particles small particles of evaporated droplets of evaporated droplets that contain microorganisms.that contain microorganisms.
Diseases: rubella, tuberculosis, and Diseases: rubella, tuberculosis, and shingles. shingles.
Types of Isolation Cont.Types of Isolation Cont. Droplet PrecautionsDroplet Precautions - must be followed - must be followed
for a patient known (or suspected) to be for a patient known (or suspected) to be infected with pathogens transmitted by infected with pathogens transmitted by large particle large particle droplets expelled during droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing. coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing.
Diseases: flu, Neisseria meningitis, Diseases: flu, Neisseria meningitis, pertussis, some types of pneumonia, pertussis, some types of pneumonia, and diphtheria. and diphtheria.
Types of Isolation Cont.Types of Isolation Cont. Contact PrecautionsContact Precautions - must be followed for - must be followed for
any patients known or suspected to be any patients known or suspected to be infected with microorganisms that can be infected with microorganisms that can be transmitted by either direct or indirect transmitted by either direct or indirect contact. contact.
Diseases: GI, respiratory, or skin infection Diseases: GI, respiratory, or skin infection caused by a multi-drug resistant organism caused by a multi-drug resistant organism (MRSA), incontinent patients infected with E. (MRSA), incontinent patients infected with E. coli, patients with lice or scabies, and patients coli, patients with lice or scabies, and patients with a staph infection. with a staph infection.
Isolation precautions include the Isolation precautions include the use of gloves, gowns, and disposable use of gloves, gowns, and disposable equipment.equipment.
Types of Isolation Cont.Types of Isolation Cont. Protective or Reverse IsolationProtective or Reverse Isolation - refers to - refers to
methods used to protect certain patients from methods used to protect certain patients from organisms present in the environment. Protective organisms present in the environment. Protective isolation is used mainly for immunocompromised isolation is used mainly for immunocompromised patients, or those whose body defenses are not patients, or those whose body defenses are not capable of protecting them from infections. capable of protecting them from infections.
ExamplesExamples: organ transplant patients, burn patients, : organ transplant patients, burn patients, patients receiving chemotherapy, and patients patients receiving chemotherapy, and patients whose immune systems have failed (e.g. AIDS). whose immune systems have failed (e.g. AIDS).
PrecautionsPrecautions include frequent disinfecting of the include frequent disinfecting of the patient’s room and the use of gloves, gowns, and patient’s room and the use of gloves, gowns, and masks. masks.
Body’s Defense MechanismsBody’s Defense Mechanisms
Mucous membranesMucous membranes CiliaCilia Coughing and sneezingCoughing and sneezing Stomach acidStomach acid TearsTears White blood cellsWhite blood cells FeverFever InflammationInflammation
Inflammatory ResponseInflammatory Response TheThe Inflammatory Response Inflammatory Response is a is a
defensive action which takes into account defensive action which takes into account fluids, hormones, and cells. fluids, hormones, and cells.
Some symptoms relating to this response Some symptoms relating to this response are redness, heat, swelling, and pain.are redness, heat, swelling, and pain.
Other signs of infection include foul smell Other signs of infection include foul smell from drainage, fever, fatigue, rash, from drainage, fever, fatigue, rash, nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite. nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite.
Personal Protective Equipment
Gloves Masks Gowns
Standard Precautions Standard Precautions
Standard Standard precautionsprecautions
Transmission-Transmission-based based precautions precautions – Blood and body Blood and body
fluids fluids – Personal Personal
protective protective equipmentequipment
Medical Asepsis Medical Asepsis
Hand washingHand washing
Removing Contaminated Removing Contaminated GlovesGloves