Microorganisms & The Chain of Infection
This component of the chain of infection is any place where a pathogen can survive, grow, or multiply (e.g., human body, animals, standing water).
What is a reservoir?
The practice known as "clean technique" aimed at reducing the number and transfer of pathogenic microorganisms.
What is medical asepsis?
This type of PPE is worn when entering an area where droplet microorganisms may be present (flu, pneumonia, pertussis).
What is a surgical mask?
The body's first line of physical defense against pathogenic invasion.
What are intact skin and mucous membranes?
At home, dirty wound care dressings should be placed into this before being thrown into the standard household trash.
What is a heavy-duty plastic bag (double-bagged and securely tied)?
These non-living intermediate objects, such as contaminated bedrails, door handles, or stethoscopes, transfer pathogens from person to person.
What are fomites?
The exact minimum time required to scrub hands with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled.
What is 15 seconds?
The correct sequence for DOFFING (removing) Personal Protective Equipment.
What is Gloves → Goggles/Face Shield → Gown → Mask/Respirator?
The body's second line of defense, characterized by localized vascular response, cellular exudate, and systemic fever/leukocytosis.
What is the inflammatory response / phagocytosis?
Household bleach diluted with water in a 1:10 ratio serves as an inexpensive, recommended disinfectant for non-critical household surfaces.
What is Household Bleach solution?
Microorganisms naturally present in or on the human body that help prevent the overgrowth of harmful pathogens.
What is Normal Flora?
The technique used to completely eliminate all microorganisms, including spores, from an area or object.
What is surgical asepsis (sterile technique)?
Type of transmission-based isolation requiring a negative pressure room and an N95 respirator mask (used for Tuberculosis, Measles, and Varicella). Consist of smaller droplets and particles at greater distances
What are Airborne Precautions?
Immunity obtained when a person recovers from a disease and produces their own antibodies against future re-infection.
What is Naturally Acquired Active Immunity?
A puncture-resistant, leak-proof container that must be replaced when it reaches 2/3 to 3/4 full, never overfilled or force-packed.
What is a sharps container?
Proteinaceous infectious particles that lack nucleic acid and cause neurodegenerative diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
What are prions?
If a sterile field becomes wet from liquid poured during a procedure, this must be done immediately because the field is now contaminated via capillary action (wicking).
What is discarding the contaminated field/supplies and setting up a new sterile field?
The protective device specifically designed to filter out 95% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, fit-tested for healthcare workers.
What is an N95 respirator mask?
The stages of an infection in order of occurrence.
What are the Incubation period, Prodromal stage, and Illness stage (followed by Convalescence)?
Important nursing intervention to reduce feeling isolated, anxious, or sensory-deprived in patients placed under strict isolation transmission precautions.
What is providing sensory stimulation, explaining the purpose of isolation, and scheduling regular check-ins?
Obligate intracellular parasites (such as tick-borne organisms causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever) that require a living vector to transfer between hosts.
What is Rickettsia?
Alcohol-based hand rubs fail to eliminate this spore-forming bacterium, requiring soap and water washing instead.
What is Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)?
The most common multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) encountered in clinical settings
What are MRSA, VRE, ESBLs, and C. diff (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus, Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases, gonorrhea GNR, Clostridium difficile, Streptococcus pneumonia.
Medical treatments such as prolonged high-dose broad-spectrum antibiotics or immunosuppressive chemotherapy often predispose patients to secondary infections from this type of microorganism.
What are Fungi (e.g., Candida / yeast infections)?
Nursing actions such as strict hand hygiene, proper catheter care, standard aseptic wound care, turning immobile patients q2h, and early removal of invasive devices prevent these infections acquired during medical care.
Answer: What are Health Care-Associated Infections (HAIs / Nosocomial infections)?