FUNDA LAB || Notes on Asepsis

• Etiologic/Infectious Agent - a viable microorganism, that causes or may cause disease in humans or animals.
• Reservoir - natural habitat for the growth and multiplication of microorganisms.
• Portal of Exit - any route which enables a pathogen to leave the reservoir.
• Contact Transmission – occurs when there is physical contact between an infected person/contaminated object and another person.
• Droplet transmission – occurs when an infected person coughs

  and sneezes creating tiny drops which carry germs short distance

  (1-2m) to another person’s eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Airborne Transmission – occurs when small particles in the air

  containing virus are inhaled into a person’s respiratory system.
• Vector-Borne - infectious agents are transmitted by the

  blood-sucking insects. (mosquitoes,bugs,ticks).
• Vehicle-borne Transmission - indirect transmission of an

  infectious agent that occurs when a vehicle (or fomite) touches a

  person's body or is ingested.
• Portal of Entry - is the site through which microorganisms enter the

  susceptible host and cause disease/infection.
• Susceptible Host - person who is at risk of infection.
• Stages of Infection - describe what happens once a susceptible host

  has acquired a pathogen/microorganisms.
• INCUBATION - interval between the entrance of the

  pathogens/microorganisms into the body and the

  appearance of first symptoms.
• PRODROMAL - interval from the onset of non-specific signs and symptoms(low grade fever, malaise, fatigue) to the appearance of more specific signs and symptoms.
• ILLNESS - interval when the patient manifest signs and symptoms specific to the type of infection (eg. common colds is manifested by a sore throat, sinus congestion, rhinitis mumps is manifested by ear ache, high grade fever)
• DECLINE –stage where the immune system begins to bring microbial replication under control which lead to lessening of signs and symptoms associated with the disease.
• CONVALESCENT- this is the final stage of the disease process where the microbial replication is fully stopped and the person returns to the pre-illness stage(a person can return to their normal function.)
• ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE -refers to the practices or procedures used by nurses/midwives and other health care professionals to help prevent infection or interrupt the infection chain.