Infection Prevention and Control

invasion of a susceptible host by pathogens or microorganisms resulting in disease

If a microorganism is present or invades a host, grows and/or multiplies but does not cause infection

viral meningitis and pneumonia

• If an infectious disease can be transmitted from one person to another
• Chicken Pox
• MRSA
• Tb
• STI

• An infectious agent or pathogen
• •A reservoir or source for pathogen growth
• •A portal of exit from the reservoir
• •A mode of transmission
• •A portal of entry to a host
• •A susceptible host

Microorganisms or Causative Agents

(normal flora) are permanent residents of the skin, where they survive and multiply without causing illness.

Transient microorganisms attach to the skin when a person has contact with another person or object during normal activities.

Ability of microorganism to survive in and outside of host

• Skin and Mucous Membranes- break in skin
• Respiratory Tract-sneeze or cough
• Urinary Tract - urine
• Gastrointestinal tract- kissing, bowel elimination
• Reproductive tract- sex
• blood

• Direct transmission
• -touching patients feces and then eating. (ew)
• -Hep A

• Indirect
• -needles, sharp objects, dressings
• -Hep B, Hep C, HIV

• Droplet
• -coughing, sneezing
• -influenza, rubella, and bacterial meningitis

• -airborne
• -coughing sneezing
• -Tb, Chicken Pox, measles

• Contaminated items
• Water
• Drugs
• Solutions
• Blood
• Food (improperly handled)

• External mechanical transfer (flies)
• Internal transmission (parisite)
• lice, flea, tick, mosquito

ie a wound infections) the patient experiences localized symptoms, like pain or redness to the wound area

An infection that affects the entire body instead of just a single organ or part is systemic and can become fatal if undetected and untreated.

• Incubation
• Prodomal
• Illness
• Convalescence

• Interval between entrance of pathogen into body and appearance of first symptoms
• (e.g., chickenpox, 10 to 21 days post exposure; common cold, 1 to 2 days; influenza, 1 to 5 days; mumps, 12 to 26 days).

• Interval from onset of nonspecific signs and symptoms (malaise, low-grade fever, fatigue) to more specific symptoms.
• During this time, microorganisms grow and multiply, and client may be capable of spreading disease to others.
• For example, herpes simplex begins with itching and tingling at the site before the lesion appears.

• Interval when client manifests signs and symptoms specific to type of infection.
• For example, strep throat is manifested by sore throat, pain, and swelling; mumps is manifested by high fever, parotid and salivary gland swelling.

• Interval when client manifests signs and symptoms specific to type of infection.
• For example, strep throat is manifested by sore throat, pain, and swelling; mumps is manifested by high fever, parotid and salivary gland swelling.

the state of producing or being able to produce pathological changes and disease

• Normal Body Flora
• Intact Skin
• Linings of nasal passage ways
• Inflammatory Response

A protective vascular reaction that delivers fluid, blood products, and nutrients to an area of injury. The process neutralizes and eliminates pathogens or dead (necrotic) tissues and establishes a means of repairing body cells and tissues.

• 1. vascular and cellular responses: rapid vasodilatation occurs, which allows more blood near the location of the injury
• 2. inflammatory exudate: Accumulation of fluid and dead tissue cells and WBCs forms an exudate at the site of inflammation. Exudate may be serous (clear, like plasma), sanguineous (containing red blood cells), or purulent (containing WBCs and bacteria).
• 3. tissue repair:Damaged cells are eventually replaced with healthy new cells.

• A type of HAI (Health-care Acquired Infection) from a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.
• For example, following a gastrointestinal endoscopy the client developed a P. aeruginosa infection.

A post-operative infection

can occur when part of the client's flora becomes altered and an overgrowth results. For example, a client is placed on several antibiotics in the hospital setting and develops C. difficile infection as a result.

• Age
• Heredity
• Cultural Practices
• Nutritional Status
• Stress
• Rest and Exercise
• Inadequate defenses
• Personal Habits
• Environmental Factors
• Immunization/disease history
• Medical Therapies

• WBC count
• Urinalysis
• Iron level
• Blood Cultures
• Wound, Sputum, and throat cultures
• Sedimentation Rate
• Differential Count (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils)

• Nutrition
• Hygiene
• Immunizations
• Adequate Rest and Exercise

• Hand washing
• Soap or alcohol based scrub?
• Cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing

• or clean technique, includes procedures used to reduce the number of organisms present and prevent the transfer of organisms.
• Hand hygiene, using clean gloves to prevent the transfer of organisms from one client to another or to prevent direct contact with client blood or body fluids, and cleaning the environment routinely are examples of medical asepsis

• hand washing, wearing gloves, mask, eye protection and gown.
• These precautions apply to blood , secretions, excretions, non-intact skin and mucous membrane to prevent nosocomial infections.

describes a process that eliminates many or all microorganisms, with the exception of bacterial spores, from inanimate objects

is the complete elimination or destruction of all microorganisms, including spores.

Private room, negative-pressure airflow of at least 6-12 air exchanges per hour via HEPA filtration; mask or respiratory protection device(N95 Respirator)

• Private room or cohort clients; refer to the facility policy for cohorting clients
• Mask or respirator is required; refer to facility policy

Private room or cohort clients; refer to the facility policy for cohorting clients; gloves, gowns>

Private room, positive-pressure room with 12 or more air exchanges per hour, HEPA filtration for incoming air, respirator mask, gloves, and gowns

• sterile technique prevents contamination of an open wound, serves to isolate the operative area from the unsterile environment, and maintains a sterile field for surgery.
• Surgical asepsis includes procedures used to eliminate all microorganisms, including pathogens and spores, from an object or area.
• In surgical asepsis an area or object is considered contaminated if touched by any object that is not sterile.