PMLS L2

• CLSI - clinical and laboratory standards institute
• OSHA - occupational safety and health administration
• BBP - blood-borne pathogen
• HAI - healthcare associated infection
• LAI - laboratory associated infection
• CDC - center for disease control and prevention
• NIOSH - national institute of occupational safety and health
• hazcom - hazards communication
• MSDS - material safety data sheets
• PPE - personal protective equipment
• HIV - human immunodeficiency virus

  HCV - hepatitis c virus

  HBV - hepatitis b virus
• Infection – colonization by a pathogen and establishing residence inside the body.
• Pathogen – a microbial element that causes disease
• Infectious/Communicable disease – development of pathological

  manifestations from infectious agents (pathogens) that can be transmitted from one person to another.
• Nosocomial/Healthcare Associated Infection – Infection caused by a personnel, patients, visitors, food , drug, or equipment while a patient is in the hospital.
• chain of infection - infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, suscpetible host
• INFECTIOUS AGENT

  ➢ aka causative agent

  ➢ Pathogenic agent responsible for causing disease
• RESERVOIR

  ➢ Source of an infectious agent

  ➢ “a place where microbes can survive, grow and multiply
• Human reservoir hosts (patients, HCWs or visitors) with an active, incubation and chronic carrier state or even normal microbiota.
• Fomites (inanimate objects) are major source of

  infectious agent depending on the following factors:

  1. amount of contamination

  b. viability of microbe

  c. virulence of microbe

  d. time of contamination
• PORTAL OF EXIT

  ➢ Exit pathway for the IA to leave the host
• MEANS OF TRANSMISSION

  ➢ method by which IA uses to travel from the reservoir to a susceptible host
• 5 means of transmission: airborne, droplet, contact, vector-borne, vehicle
• AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION

  ➢ Dispersal of IA that are typically less than 5 μm and can remain infective for a longer period of time (INHALATION)
• airborne transmission - Generated by sneezing, coughing, talking

  and activities that generate aerosol

  ➢ AIIRs: Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms (patients); N 95 and respirators (HCWs)
• airborne transmission - e.g. of agents: Mycobacterium

  tuberculosis, rubeola and varicella
• DROPLET TRANSMISSION

  ➢ Transfer of IA to mucous membranes of the susceptible host via infectious particles (> 5μm or larger) and cannot be suspended in air
• Infectious droplets travels less than 10mm
• CONTACT TRANSMISSION

  ➢ Direct Contact: physical transfer (touching or kissing or sexual activity)
• contact transmission - Indirect Contact: contact with fomites (inanimate objects) Includes computers, pencils, pen, doorknob,

  faucet handle and contaminated hands
• VECTOR-BORNE

  ➢ transfer of IA with the use of insect, arthropod or animal

  ➢ e.g. mosquitoes and fleas
• VEHICLE TRANSMISSION

  ➢ transfer via food, water, drugs and other activities (blood transfusion)
• PORTAL OF ENTRY - “the site of entry to the susceptible host”

  Entry Points: body orifices, mucous membranes and breaks in the skin
• Invasive procedures: catherization, venipuncture and capillary puncture
• SUSCEPTIBLE HOST

  ➢ someone who has decreased ability to fight infection
• susceptible host:

  • Age (newborns and elderly)
  • Health Status (vaccinated vs. unvaccinated)
  • Immune Status (hospitalized and/or immunocompromised)
• “A typical infection control program implements procedure aimed at (1) breaking the chain of infection, (2) monitors and collects data of all infections occurring in the institution, and (3) institutes special precautions in the event of outbreaks of specific infection.”
• Screening of illnesses of the HCWs prior to employment

  e.g.

  • Tuberculosis (Purified Protein Derivative and X-ray examination);
  • Hepatitis B Infection (HBsAg and HBsAb);
  • Syphilis Infection (Rapid Plasma Reagin or Anti-TP);
  • Salmonella or other diarrheal infection and skin diseases
• HAND HYGIENE – most important means of preventing the spread of infection
• ROUTINE HAND WASHING - Soap (antimicrobial soap), water