chapter 3

• Infection is a condition that results when a microorganism is able to invade the body, multiply, and cause injury or disease
• Microbes that can cause infection include: Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, and Viruses
• Pathogen is a microbe capable of causing disease
• Communicable infections are able to be spread from person to person
• CDC investigates and controls communicable diseases and epidemics
• NIOSH, part of CDC, is responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illness and injury
• Nosocomial & Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) are infections acquired in hospitals and other healthcare settings
• UTI is the most common type of HAI, accounting for 30%
• Well-established antibiotic-resistant bacteria include Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Chain of Infection components:

  • Infectious Agent (Pathogen): Bacteria, fungus, protozoan, rickettsia, virus
  • Reservoir: Location or area for rapid growth and multiplication like animals, humans, equipment, food, soil, water
  • Exit Pathway: Blood, exudates, excretions, secretions
  • Means of Transmission: Airborne, contact, droplet, vector, vehicle
  • Entry Pathway: Body orifices, mucous membranes, broken skin
  • Susceptible Host: Elderly, newborns, acutely/chronically ill, immunosuppressed, unvaccinated
• Infection-control program aims to protect patients, employees, visitors, and others by breaking the chain of infection
• Components of infection-control program include employee screening & immunization, evaluation & treatment, surveillance, and National surveillance system for healthcare workers (NaSH)
• Hand hygiene involves the use of alcohol-based antiseptic hand cleaners and handwashing
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) includes gloves, gowns, lab coats, masks, face shields, goggles, and respirators to protect from pathogens
• Isolation procedures include separating patients with transmissible infections, protective/reverse isolation for highly susceptible patients, and Universal Precautions (UP) where all individuals' blood and body fluids are considered infectious
• Biosafety refers to safe handling of biological substances that pose a risk to health, while Biohazard is anything harmful to health
• Blood-Borne Pathogens (BBP) include Hepatitis viruses (HBV, HCV), HIV, Cytomegalovirus, and Treponema pallidum
• Exposure routes for BBP include airborne, ingestion, non-intact skin, percutaneous, and permucosal
• Exposure incidents procedures for needlestick or other sharps injuries and mucous membrane exposure
• First aid for shock includes maintaining an open airway, calling for assistance, keeping the victim lying down with the head lower, attempting to control bleeding, and keeping the victim warm
• Personal wellness involves proper nutrition, rest and exercise, personal hygiene, back protection, and stress management