INFECTION CONTROL

WHAT ARE PATHOGENS?

Microorganisms that invade and attack the tissue and cells of the body.•Virus: Smallest pathogen. Needs a host. •Bacteria: Single celled. •Fungus: Single or multicellular.

CHAIN OF INFECTION5-1 page 85

• Reservoir host• Portal of exit• Route of transmission• Portal of entry• Susceptible host

PROTECTION FROM PATHOGENS

• Physical Barriers: Skin and Mucous Membranes.• Chemical Barriers: Saliva, Stomach Acid, Fever.• Active Immunity: Body produces antibodies; after being exposed to pathogen (sick) or from a vaccine.• Passive Immunity: Mother to child.

BREAKING THE CHAIN OF INFECTION5-2 Page 86

• Kill the pathogen before it can invade the host.

• Change the environment. (Moist to Dry)

• (Temperature – Increase Temperature)

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONSWear gloves, goggles, gowns, and/or masksWash hands and other skin surfaces immediately following contaminationAvoid giving mouth to mouth CPR•Mouth to mask•Resuscitator bag•“Hands Only” CPRAvoid direct patient contact if YOU have open woundsCarefully and properly dispose of all sharp objects (needles, scalpel, etc.) in a puncture-resistant container.

CAUSES OF HEPATITIS BCaused by direct contact with infected blood.•Tattoo, acupuncture, body piercings,•semen, vaginal secretions, sharing needles for IV drug use

HEPATITIS B AND CBoth are chronic and sometimes fatal

Both attack the liver. Causing a decrease in liver function which will cause jaundice.

There is no vaccination for HCV

PREVENTING HEPATITIS B AND C

Practice universal precautions

Get HBV vaccination

CAUSES OF HIV (AIDS)Semen, vaginal secretions, sharing needles for IV drug use, birth to infected mother (breast milk through breast feeding)

Currently there are no known reports of HIV transmission through athletics

PREVENTION OF HIV (AIDS)Practice universal precautions

The only way to know if you are infected with HIV is to get a blood test for HIV

Individuals may be infected, have the virus, and be contagious for years (sometimes up to 10 years) without knowing it.

SKIN INFECTIONS AND DERMATOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

• MRSA (Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus

• Athletes Foot (Tinea Pedis)• Ring Worm (Tinea Corposis)• Herpes• Papilloma Virus (HPVV)• Impetigo

MRSACaused by a bacteria

Pimple or rash on the skin that swells and is warm

Gets worse everyday

With a pen, put dots around the rash to see if it is growing

ATHLETES FOOTCaused by a fungusRed rash that causes extreme itchiness. May be seen as smallpimples with yellow serum that leak when scratched.

Found between toes and at the bottom of the foot

Only skin infection or dermatological condition that can be treated will OTC medication

RING WORMCaused by a fungus

Is classified as a dermatophyte which produce a well defined itchy scaly red patch (ring).

Very contagious

Will disqualify an athlete from competition

HERPESCaused by a virus

Symptoms are: blisters, inflamed skin, and pain on the face, trunk, and genitalia.

Highly contagious

Will disqualify an athlete from competition if it is in an exposed area of the body.

PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV)Caused by a virus

Flesh colored lesion (whitish) with small dark spotsMost commonly seen as warts on the feet of athletes (plantar warts)

Very contagious

Some people are more susceptible than others

IMPETIGOCaused by a bacteria (staph and strep)

Redness, Itching, and soreness in high friction areas

Highly contagiousMost common in skin to skin competition (rugby, wrestling) and sports that require pads (friction)

Will disqualify an athlete from competition

THINKING IT THROUGH