infection control
What are Standard Precautions?
The minimum set of precautions used on all patient contacts, regardless of their suspected infectious status.
What is sepsis?
The life-threatening condition that results from an abnormal and counterproductive host response to an infection, causing damage to tissues and organs.
What are saliva and droplets?
The primary route of transmission for Mumps, a disease characterized by fever, headache, and swollen parotid glands.
What is Septic Shock?
A low systolic blood pressure, defined by the eText as below 90 mmHg, is a sign of this late-stage complication of sepsis.
What is malaise?
A general term for the feeling of discomfort or weakness that often precedes or accompanies an infectious illness.
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
This common airborne disease, suspected in a patient with night sweats and weight loss, requires the use of a HEPA or N-95 respirator.
What is Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)?
A patient exhibiting a temperature of 102.5 F and a heart rate of 115 beats per minute meets two criteria for this inflammatory syndrome.
What is Pneumonia?
A patient with fever, cough, and pain upon inspiration, who presents with an altered mental status, may be suffering from this common lung infection.
What is 101 F (38.3 C)
A patient meets two SIRS criteria if their temperature is above this common threshold or below 96.8 F (36 C)
What is fever (or hyperthermia)?
This sign, often a hallmark of significant infection, can cause warm, flushed skin and should prompt an assessment for SIRS.
What is the incubation period?
The time from exposure to a microbe until the first signs and symptoms of disease appear.
What is vasodilation or "leaky" capillaries?
The physiologic change that occurs in septic shock due to chemicals secreted by the body, leading to a sudden drop in blood pressure.
What is Hepatitis B?
A viral infection of the liver that has no specific cure but is highly preventable through vaccination.
What is the Quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA)?
This assessment tool uses a respiratory rate over 22, an altered mental status, and a systolic BP of 100 mmHg or less to predict increased mortality in septic patients.
What are petechiae?
The common name for the tiny, dark red or purple spots on the skin caused by bleeding under the surface, which can be seen in severe meningococcal sepsis.
What are virulence, dose, route, and body's resistance?
The four factors that determine whether an exposure to an infectious disease will result in illness.
What are the Genitourinary Tract and Skin?
The two specific locations in the body (besides the lungs and GI tract) commonly associated with a source of sepsis due to devices or infections.
What is Influenza (The Flu)?
This viral infection requires antiviral medication to be started within 48 hours of symptom onset to be most effective.
What is notify the receiving emergency department that the patient is septic (giving a sepsis alert)?
One of the most important things an EMT can do for a stable septic patient after providing supportive care, especially regarding hospital communication.
What is tachypnea (or rapid breathing)?
This breathing pattern, defined as a respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute, is one of the key SIRS criteria.
What is Measles?
A highly infectious viral disease, also known as rubeola, characterized by fever, cough, and small Koplik spots on the inner cheeks.
What is severe sepsis?
This term is no longer used in modern sepsis definition because it did not differentiate patients or predict who was at higher risk of death.
What is a skin infection?
This condition, which can be caused by long-term intravenous catheters or pressure sores, is one of the most common causes of sepsis.
What is tachycardia (or high heart rate)?
Aside from fever/chills and altered mental status, this is a common heart-related sign of sepsis, defined as a heart rate over 90 beats per minute.
What is lactic acidosis?
In late septic shock, poor perfusion can cause the skin to appear pale, cool, and sometimes mottled due to this common late-stage metabolic finding.