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Virulence
Ans:Ability of pathogen to invade and injure host (ability to produce disease)
non-specific (innate) immunity
Ans:first line of defense against invasion by pathogens
specific adaptive immunity
Ans:allows the body to make antibodies in response to a foreign organism (antigen)
Prevention of HAI
Ans:1. Hand washing
2. Sterile procedure
3. Skin integrity
Types of Healthcare Associated Infections
Ans:Iatrogenic infection
,exogenous infection
endogenous infection
Iantrogenic (HAI)
Ans:results from diagnostic procedure
Exogenous (HAI)
Ans:from microorganisms outside the body
Endogenous (HAI)
Ans:overgrowth of natural flora (opportunistic)
Who is at risk for infection?
Ans:Immunocompromised
Post operative
Indwelling device
Break in the skin
impaired circulation
chronic disease
crowded environments
,older adults
poor life choices
Common HAI infection routes
Ans:1. Surgical or trauma wound
2. Urinary
3. resp. Tract
4. bloodstream
Chain of Infection
Ans:1. Infectious agent
2. Reservoirs - where does the infectious agent reside
3. Portal of exit - how does pathogen leave the body (sneeze/cough)
4. Means of transmission - how exposed to another person
5. Portal of entry - how does pathogen enter a new host
6. Susceptible host - person at risk for developing infection
Means of transmission
Ans:1. Contact (Direct or indirect)
2. Droplet (sneeze, cough, talking), large particles
, 3. Airborne (cough, sneeze, exhaling), small particles suspended in air
4. Vector (animals/insects)
Stages of Infection
Ans:1. Incubation - the time between pathogen enters the body and first symptoms
2. Prodromal - General symptoms appear pathogen is multiplying (nonspecific like fatigue)
3. Illness - specific symptoms of pathogen appear (ex: strep = sore throat)
4. Convalescence - symptoms are gone, recovery lasts days to months
Infection control
Ans:Patient safety
Separate personal care items
Handling solid and fluid waste
Wound cleaning
Patient education
Cough etiquette
isolation and isolation precautions
surgical asepsis
Devices at risk for infection (HAI)