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Chain of Infection. Infectious agent Reservoir host Portal of exit Route of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host. Chain of Infection. Infection Control. Defense mechanisms Scope of problem Nosocomial infection Handwashing Industrial illness Needlestick injuries.
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Chain of Infection • Infectious agent • Reservoir host • Portal of exit • Route of transmission • Portal of entry • Susceptible host
Infection Control • Defense mechanisms • Scope of problem • Nosocomial infection • Handwashing • Industrial illness • Needlestick injuries
Infection Control • Regulatory agencies • CDC • OSHA
Asepsis • The state of being free from disease-causing contaminants • Medical asepsis or clean technique • Free of living pathogenic microorganisms • Surgical asepsis or sterile technique • Absence of viable pathogenic organisms
Breaking the Chain • Breaking just one link, stops the infection
Break the Chain • ID source of infecting microorganism • Stop means of transmission • Protect susceptible host • Hand washing • Decontaminate surfaces and equipment • Avoid contact when contagion • Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Follow isolation precautions
Maximize Resistance • Provide good hygiene • Ensure proper nutrition and fluid intake • Decrease stressors that weaken the immune response
Normal Flora • Resident flora: microorganisms that normally inhabit specific sites of the human body • No problem in one area, infection in another • Transient flora: microorganisms that are not normally present • Can cause infection
Normal Flora • Use standard precautions • Hand washing • Removes transient flora • Diminishes resident flora
Standard Precautions • Follow at ALL times • Prevents contact with microbes • Blood • Body fluids, secretions, and excretions except sweat • Nonintact skin • Mucous membranes
Standard Precautions are • Hand washing • PPE • Patient-care equipment • Environmental control • Linen • Needle disposal
Isolation • Consequences to patient • Transmission-based precautions • Airborne precautions • Droplet precautions • Contact precautions • Neutropenic precautions
Methods toInhibit or Destroy Microbes • Bacteriostatic • Bacteriocidal or germicidal • Antiseptics- kill microorganisms • Disinfectants- kill microorganisms on non-living objects • Sterilization- kills all forms of microbial life
The Risks • Blood-borne pathogens • Hepatitis B • Hepatitis C • Hepatitis D • HIV
Tuberculosis (TB) • Airborne pathogen • Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis • No prevention • Skin test give for detection • Still a problem in the United States • Drug-resistant strains developing
Drug Resistant Organisms • Developed from overuse of antibiotics • Developed from patients who do not complete antibiotic treatment • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) • Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
Reporting exposure • Any exposure to blood or body fluids must be reported immediately • Written incident or injury report • Exposure Control Plan