INFECTION CONTROL, SAFETY, FIRST AID, AND PERSONAL WELLNESS

• Infection


  Happens when microorganisms invade the body and cause injury or disease
• Types of infection


  • Communicable infections
  • Nosocomial and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
• Pathogen


  A disease-causing microbe (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or virus)
• The chain of infection

  • Infectious agent
  • Reservoir host
  • Portal of exit
  • Mode of transmission
  • Portal of entry
  • Susceptible host
• Infectious agent


  The pathogenic microbe responsible for causing an infection
• Reservoir


  Any site where the pathogen can multiply or merely survive until it is transferred to the susceptible host
• Reservoir for rabies


  • Dogs
  • Foxes
  • Raccoons
• Inanimate reservoirs


  • Air
  • Soil
  • Food
  • Milk
  • Water
  • Fomites (articles of clothing, bedding, utensils, and hospital equipment)
• Portal of exit


  Any route where blood, body fluids, excretions, or secretions leave the body
• Examples of portal of exit

  • Respiratory
  • GI
  • GU
  • Infected wound
  • Bloodstream
• Mode of transmission


  The way a pathogen is transmitted from one host to another
• Types of mode of transmission

  • Vertical transmission
  • Horizontal transmission (vector, direct contact, indirect contact, airborne, droplet)
• Vertical transmission


  Transmission from mother to child during the period immediately before and after birth
• Ways of vertical transmission

  • Breastfeeding via colostrum
  • Transplacental transmission
  • Direct contact during or after birth
• Horizontal transmission


  All other transmission means besides vertical transmission
• Vector transmission


  Transmission via a biological or inanimate source that aids in the transmission of infection from one host to another
• Direct contact transmission


  Transmission via skin-to-skin or mucous-to-mucous contact
• Direct contact transmission


  • Scabies
  • Skin infections
  • HIV/AIDS
• Indirect contact transmission


  Transmission of microbes from an infected source to a susceptible host via a contaminated intermediate object
• Indirect contact transmission


  • Wound surface to glove to next patient
  • Diaper to hand to next child
  • Infected child to sandbox to new child
  • Infected hair/scalp to comb to new host
  • Infected source to food/water to new host
• Airborne transmission


  Transmission via microbes that can be suspended in the air and inhaled
• Droplet transmission


  Transmission via particle droplets containing infectious agents, from coughing, sneezing or respiratory equipment, that land directly on mucous membranes
• Droplet transmission


  • Agent is coughed/sneezed into air and lands on a surface, then someone touches the surface and touches their nose/mouth/eyes
• Medical technologists are most susceptible to infection via contaminated blood and body fluids
• Standard and transmission-based precautions for bloodborne pathogens

  • Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) - Vaccination, blood and other body fluids, transmitted via needlestick and sexual contact
  • Hepatitis D Virus - No vaccine, blood and other body fluids, transmitted via needlestick and sexual contact
  • Hepatitis C Virus - No vaccine, blood and serum, infection occurs after large and multiple exposures
• Exposure control plan for needlestick/sharp object exposure

  1. Carefully remove sharp object

  2. Wash site thoroughly with soap and water for at least 30 seconds
• Exposure control plan for mucous membrane exposure

  1. Flush with water or saline for at least 10 minutes

  2. For eyes, use eyewash station

  3. Report immediately to supervisor
• For surface decontamination, use 1:10 bleach solution or other disinfectants
• Portal of entry


  Route by which pathogens gain access into a susceptible host
• Examples of portals of entry

  • Respiratory tract
  • GI tract
  • GU tract
  • Open wound
  • Eyes
  • Nose
  • Mouth
  • Bloodstream
• Susceptible hosts


  • Pregnant women
  • Infants
  • Geriatrics
  • AIDS/Immune deficiency
  • Cancer patients
  • Organ transplant patients
• Incubation period


  Time between arrival of pathogen and onset of symptoms
• Prodromal period


  Time when patient feels "out of sorts" but not experiencing actual symptoms
• Period of illness


  Time when patient experiences typical symptoms of the disease
• Convalescent period


  Time when patient recovers
• Types of carriers


  • Incubatory carrier
  • Convalescent carrier
  • Active carrier
  • Passive carrier
• Symptom


  Subjective evidence of disease experienced or perceived by the patient
• Sign


  Objective evidence of disease that a physician can observe and measure
• Types of diseases by duration

  • Acute disease
  • Chronic disease
• Types of diseases by transmission

  • Communicable disease
  • Noncommunicable disease
  • Contagious disease