2025/2026 GRADED A+
Medical Asepsis - -Clean technique
-Practices used to remove or destroy microorganisms and to prevent their spread from
one person or place to another person or place
Chain of Infection - -Way to explain how infection is passed around from one host to
another host
-For an infection to occur and spread, each of the 6 links must be present
What are the 6 links in the chain of infection? - 1. Causative agent
2. Reservoir
3. Portal of Exit
4. Mode of Transportation
5. Portal of Entry
6. Susceptible host
Causative Agent - -Link #1 in chain of infection
-A harmful germ that causes an infection (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite)
Reservoir - -Link #2 in chain of infection
-Place where harmful germs live, grow, and increase in numbers
-Blood, skin, mouth, stomach, intestines, nose, throat, lungs
Portal of exit - -Link #3 in chain of infection
-Any way or route that harmful germs escape from the reservoir
-Ex.) nose, mouth, GI tract, skin
Mode of Transportation - -Link #4 in chain of infection
- How harmful germs travel or get around from place to place
-Number one way is by our hands
-Direct and Indirect contact, animal/insect bites, eating or drinking water that is infected
with harmful germs
Direct contact - -Mode of transportation for germs through direct contact with body fluids
where germs live
-Ex.) blood, sputum, pus or wound fluid, saliva, stool, vomit
Indirect contact - -Mode of transportation that harmful germs travel by
-Ex.) germs on hands than touching an object or someone else
Portal of Entry - -Link #5 in chain of infection
-Any opening on a person's body that allows harmful germs to enter
-Portals of entry are also portals of exit
Susceptible Host - -Link #6 in chain of infection
, -Person who does not have an infection now, but is at risk for becoming next person to
get infected from harmful germs bc for some reason cannot fight off infection
-Cannot fight infection because age, chronic illness, not proper vaccinations, open cuts
or skin breakdown, fatigue, poor nutrition, stress
Healthcare-associated infection - -An infection that a resident gets while staying or living
in a health care setting
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - -An agency of the federal government in
charge of the control and prevention of disease in our country
-Developed a two-level way to prevent and control infections in health care
Standard Precautions - -1st level of CDC prevention to control infections
-Basic tasks that health care workers must do when caring for EACH and EVERY
RESIDENT in order to prevent and control the spread of infection
-ALL body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucus membranes are treated as if they were
infected
Why must standard precautions be used with every resident? - -Residents have
infections that no one knows about
-Resident may be infected and not show signs or symptoms
-Without practicing standard precautions you can get the infection and pass it along to
others
Hand hygiene - -Washing hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs
What is the number one way to stop the transmission of infection? - Hand hygiene
Point of Care - -Should perform hand hygiene at point of care
-Point of care when resident, NA, and care of treatment involving resident contact
occurs
When should hand hygiene be performed? - 1. Before touching resident
2. Before performing a clean or aseptic procedure
3. After any body fluid exposure risk
4. After touching a resident
5. After touching resident surroundings
Personal Protective Equipment - -A group of items used by a NA to block harmful germs
from getting on skin and clothes
-mask, eye-wear, gown, gloves
Transmission-Based Precautions - -2nd level to prevent and control infections
-Specific tasks and measures must be taken when caring for residents who are infected
or may be infected with specific types of infections