Chain of Infection
The microorganism that causes disease.
Infectious agent
Infection transmission in which the pathogen moves directly from one host to another.
Direct contact
This is considered the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection.
Hand hygiene
Reducing disease-causing microorganisms to safer levels.
Sanitization
The absence of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.
Asepsis
The place where the microorganism lives and grows.
Reservoir or host
Infection transmission through objects, food, air, soil, clothing, or equipment.
Indirect contact
Proper hand washing should last at least this long.
20 seconds
Using antimicrobial agents on nonliving objects or surfaces to destroy or deactivate microorganisms.
Disinfection
Clean technique that reduces the number of microorganisms and helps prevent their spread.
Medical asepsis
The route a pathogen uses to leave its reservoir or host.
Portal of exit
Insects, rodents, or other small animals that carry pathogens from one host to another.
Vectors
Hands should be washed with soap and water when they look like this.
Visibly dirty or contaminated
Killing all microorganisms and their spores.
Sterilization
Sterile technique used to prevent contamination of open wounds and maintain a sterile field.
Surgical asepsis
The way a pathogen travels from one person or place to another.
Mode of transmission
Blood from one person directly contacts another person’s open wound. This is an example of this type of transmission.
Direct contact
Hands should be washed with soap and water after doing this.
Using the restroom
This machine uses hot, pressurized steam to sterilize equipment.
Autoclave
The process of using an antiseptic to prevent or inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.
Antisepsis
A person who is more likely to develop an infection because of age, illness, or weak resistance.
Susceptible host
A patient touches contaminated equipment and then touches their mouth. This is an example of this type of transmission.
Indirect contact
This type of hand product may be used when hands are not visibly dirty and the situation allows it.
Alcohol-based hand rub
These are the three main levels of cleaning used in healthcare facilities.
Sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization
The sequence of events that allows infection to move from one source or host to another.
Chain of infection