chapter 27

• 1. infectious agent
• 2. reservior host
• 3. portal of exit
• 4. mode of transmission
• 5. portal of entry
• 6. susceptible host

wearing appropriate protective equipment and effective hand washing can break the chain of infection

. an alteration in the normal stucture or function of an organism or a cell

. causes specific clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings that set it apart

.  can be inherited , drug-induced, autoimmune , degenerative or infectious

. any disease caused by the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in the body is considered and infectious disease

fever

• bacterial
• viral
• parastic

hand washing

to maintain a healthcare environmnet that is as free as possible of pathogenic organisms the medical assistant must prevent or eliminate as many growth requirements as possible

• . nutrients
• . moisture
• . temperature
• . oxygen- aerobed or anaerobes
• . neutral ph = 7

is any organism that does not require oxygen for growth

is any organism that requires oxygen for growth

an infected patient

examples: people, insects, animals, water, food, contaminated insturments

how the pathogen exits the reservoir host

examples: coughing, sneezing, blood, product, specimen

standard precautions prevent spread

direct- contact with infected person or with discharges

examples: feces, urine, sputum , contaminated hands equipment or supplies , air borne, contaminated food or water

indirect- from droplets expelled with coughing, sneezing or speaking, vectors contaminated food or objects

can be controlled with sanitization, disinfection, sterilization

how the pathogen gaines entry to a new host

exposure to contaminated equipment , inhalation, broken skin

must be capable of supporting the pathogen

unvaccinated, weak , debilitated individual

smallest: obligate intracellular parasites palliative treatment

example: hepatitis B

obligate = can only live inside the blood cells

virus can not be treated with antibiotics, they are resistant to antibiotics

classified by their morpholgy, some produce spores , normal flora vs. pathogenic microbes

example: tuberculosis

unicellular parasites frequently transmitted by vectors

example: glardiasis

molds and yeast mycotic infections and tineas

example: candidiasis

similar to both viruses and bacteria carried by vectors

example: rocky mountain spotted fever

is one of the world's most significant public health problems ( MRSA)

whose presence were once easily treated with antibotics are growing increasingly resistant to the drugs

when an antibiotic is used inappropriately to treat an infection

decreasing the effectiveness of the drug

. prescribe antibiotic therapy only when it will benefit the patient

. bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics but viral inections, because they involve viral takeover of celluar DNA or RNA material cannot

. treat the patient with an antibiotic that is specific to the bacterial infection

. precribe the label-recommended dose and time interval for the medication

. intact skin

. mucous membranes protect underlying tissues and trap foreign substances

. cilia trap invading microbes

. sneezing and coughing expel organisms

. body secretions such as tears and sweat expel foreign substances from the body

. pH of many of the body's organs discourages microbial growth

1. chemotaxis: release of chemical agents attracts WBCs

2. ameboid movement: movement

3. diapedesis: seep out

4. phagocytosis: ingestion and digestion

WBCs are responsible for phagocytosis

dry surface is wet to seep through

. redness or erythema

. swelling or edema

. pain

. heat

lymphadenophathy: blood swollen

septicemia: infection in the blood stream

pyemia: pus high white cell count

. a plan must detail employee protection procedures

. include PPE

. traning

. follow-up

. labeling and disposal of biohazard waste

. must be reviewed and updated at least annually to incorporate the use of safer medical devices

. visibly soiled hands should be washied for a minimum of 15 seconds with antimicrobial soap and warm running water

. alcohol-base handrubs

70% to 80%

¼ inch

. barrier protection: gloves

. environmental protection: lysol

. housekeeping controls

. hepatitis B vaccination

. postexposure follow-up

• latex gloves
• face mask
• face shields
• protective glasses
• laboratory coats
• barrier gowns
• shoe covers
• mouth pieces
• resuscitation bags

. observe warning labels on biohazard containder and equipment

. minimize splashing, spraying and spattering of drops

. bandage any breaks on hands before gloving

. do not recap, bend, break or resheath contaminated sharps

. immediately after use dispose of sharp items in a labeled, leak proof, puncture- resistant biohazard container 

. must be available free of charge within 10 days of starting employment to all employees who are at risk

. intramuscular injection in three doses, second injection 4 weeks after the first and third injection 6 months after first

. employees have the right to decline declination form must be signed.

. postexposure follow-up involes immediate cleansing of the site

. completion of an exposure incident form

. confidential medical evaluation examination of the source ndividual and worker's blood

. health couseling and confidential treatment of all medical records 

create an environment as free of pathogens as possible to prevent reinfection or cross-infection

used when the patient's skin or mucous membranes are disrupted. prevents patient exposure to all microbes

warm running water and friction

inquired by the hospital staff to patient cross containiation

patient having infection

. process of killing pathogenic organisms or making them inactive

. not always effective against spores and viruses

. follow the manufacturer's guidelines

• bleach solution
• 1 part bleach
• 9 parts water

. insturments not thoroughly sanitized and organic matter inhibit or prevent action

. moisture on instruments dilutes disinfectant solution beyond effective concentraction

. solution left in an open container

. solutions not changed as recommended and expire

. not prepared properly

. recommended manufacturer's temperature for use and storage is not maintained

cleaining of contaminated articles or surfaces to reduce the number of microorganiasms to a safe level as dictated in public health guidelines

remove debris such as blood and other body fluids from insturments or equipment

must wear utility gloves to prevent possible personal contamination

completed immediately after use in a separated workroom or area to avoid cross-contamination

. complete destruction of all microorganisms

98.6° F

or

37° C

neutral