N
1. Infectious Agent
2. Reservoir
3. Portal of Exit
4. Mode of Transmission
5. Portal of Entry
6. Susceptible Host
What is the Chain of Infection?
Goal: Reduces the number of microorganisms
Key Action: Hand hygiene, barrier techniques.
What is Medical Asepsis (Clean Technique)?
Goal: Eliminates ALL microorganisms & spores
Constraint: contamination occurs if a sterile object touches any non-sterile object.
What is Surgical Asepsis?
The most effective way to break the chain of infection.
What is Hand hygiene?
- Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, Protozoa
(Action: Diagnosis & rapid identification)
What are Infectious Agents?
The absence of pathogenic microorganisms
What is Asepsis?
A place where microorganisms survive, multiply, & await transfer
What is Reservoir?
(Organisms enter the body through the same routes they use for exiting) - Blood, GI/GU tract, Skin/Mucous membranes, Respiratory tract, Reproductive tract
What is Portals of Exit & Entry?
- Contact
- Droplet
- Airborne
What are Modes of Transmission?
Risk Factors Profile: Age (very young/old), Nutritional Status, Stress, Chronic Disease (Immune deficiency, impaired circulation), Medical Therapy (Chemotherapy, steroids), Hospital-Acquired Risks: Invasive procedures (IVs, Catheters)
What is a Susceptible Host?
is used to protect the patient, to keep germs out.
What is Reversed Isolation?
Normal Flora (Skin/Gut) > System Defenses (Cilia, Saliva, Acidic Gastric Fluid) > Inflammation (Vascular reaction delivering fluid/blood to repair tissue)
What are Natural Defenses?
- Redness (Erythema
- Warmth
- Edema (swelling)
- Pain at site
What are Localized signs of Infection?
- Fever, Fatigue, Nausea/vomiting, Enlarged Lymph Nodes, Generalized Aches
What are Systemic signs of Infection?
Lab Data: WBC count>10,000
What is an Indication of Infection?
Standard for routine decontamination
What is Alcohol-based Hand Rub hand hygiene?
Mandatory for... Visibly soiled hands, Spore-forming organisms (e.g., C.Diff)
What is Soap & Water hand hygiene?
1. Before touching a patient
2. Before clean/aseptic procedure
3. After body fluid exposure risk
4. After touching a patient
5. After touching patient surroundings
What are 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene?
Used for ALL patients, regardless of diagnosis
Principle: Assume ALL blood & body fluids are infectious.
What is Standard Precautions?
- Contact Precautions
- Droplet Precautions
- Airborne Precautions
- Protective Environment (Reverse Isolation)
What is Isolation Precautions?
1. Gown
2. Mask
3. Goggles/Face shield
4. Gloves (last)
What is Donning?
1. Gloves (most contaminated)
2. Goggles
3. Gown
4. Mask (Protects airway longest)
What is Doffing?
Healthcare-Associated Infections
What does HAIs stand for?
Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms
What does MDROs stand for?
Organisms resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics
What are MDROs?