NUFT 204 - Asepsis and Infection
Control
What are viruses? Give examples. ANS: smallest infectious agent
examples: EBV, hepatitis
What are bacteria? Give examples ANS: single celled microorganism that reproduces quickly
examples: streptococcus, E.coli
What are protozoan? Give examples. ANS: 1. singled celled microorganisms found in soil
2. most don't cause disease
example: toxoplasma gondii (can cause toxoplasmosis); P. falciparum (causes malaria)
What is fungi? Give example. ANS: 1. microorganism with complex cell structure
2. most don't cause disease
example: candida (can cause infection)
What are parasites? Give example. ANS: microorganisms that cause disease
When one has an infection, what is important to figure out? ANS: what type of microorganism is
causing the infection
What class of medication is used to treat bacterial infections? ANS: antibiotics
,What can be checked for on a culture in a lab that is determined to be bacterial is origin? ANS:
antibiotic sensitivity
What class of medication is used to treat virus infections? ANS: antivirals
What class of medication is used to treat fungal infections? ANS: antifungals
Describe the disease process (aka the chain of infection). ANS: 1. microorganism in reservoir host
-place to survive, multiply, and await transfer to susceptible host
-revivor host are considered carriers (ie asymptomatic but infected)
-common reservoirs are humans, animals, insects, food, water, and organic material on inanimate
objects (fomites)
-specific environments are needed for microorganism to thrive (ie proper temp, pH, moisture level,
oxygen level, and amount of light)
2. after growing and multiplying, microorganism exists the revivor in order to enter a new susceptible
host
-common portals of exit are blood, skin/mucous membranes, respiratory tract, GI tract, GU tract, and
transplacental
3. microorganism is transferred to susceptible host
-can be transmitted in several ways (ie airborne, contact, droplet, vehicles, vectors)
-best prevention is hand hygiene
4. microorganism enters susceptible host
-uses same route as for exiting
, 5. susceptible host becomes infected
-susceptibility varies based on defenses against infection and certain risk factors that affect susceptibility
(ie age, nutritional status, stress, hygiene, indwelling devices, genetic predisposition, use of
immunosuppressive drugs, presence of chronic disease, etc.)
-strength and number of microorganisms as well as virulence affects susceptibility to infection
During infection, damage to the host is caused by what? ANS: microorganisms...
1. depleting host's nutrients
2. reproducing themselves
3. making body cells the target of the body's own defense
4. producing toxins
What can occur of one's defenses are not functioning properly? ANS: person will become susceptible to
invasion and infection
What is immunity? ANS: resistance to pathogens and the disease they cause
-immunity is pathogen specific
What are our lines of natural defenses? ANS: 1. intact skin
2. normal flora
3. staying healthy by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly
What is an infection? ANS: presence of a pathogen in or on the body
What are nonspecific defenses? ANS: 1. mechanisms that protect use against pathogens in general
Control
What are viruses? Give examples. ANS: smallest infectious agent
examples: EBV, hepatitis
What are bacteria? Give examples ANS: single celled microorganism that reproduces quickly
examples: streptococcus, E.coli
What are protozoan? Give examples. ANS: 1. singled celled microorganisms found in soil
2. most don't cause disease
example: toxoplasma gondii (can cause toxoplasmosis); P. falciparum (causes malaria)
What is fungi? Give example. ANS: 1. microorganism with complex cell structure
2. most don't cause disease
example: candida (can cause infection)
What are parasites? Give example. ANS: microorganisms that cause disease
When one has an infection, what is important to figure out? ANS: what type of microorganism is
causing the infection
What class of medication is used to treat bacterial infections? ANS: antibiotics
,What can be checked for on a culture in a lab that is determined to be bacterial is origin? ANS:
antibiotic sensitivity
What class of medication is used to treat virus infections? ANS: antivirals
What class of medication is used to treat fungal infections? ANS: antifungals
Describe the disease process (aka the chain of infection). ANS: 1. microorganism in reservoir host
-place to survive, multiply, and await transfer to susceptible host
-revivor host are considered carriers (ie asymptomatic but infected)
-common reservoirs are humans, animals, insects, food, water, and organic material on inanimate
objects (fomites)
-specific environments are needed for microorganism to thrive (ie proper temp, pH, moisture level,
oxygen level, and amount of light)
2. after growing and multiplying, microorganism exists the revivor in order to enter a new susceptible
host
-common portals of exit are blood, skin/mucous membranes, respiratory tract, GI tract, GU tract, and
transplacental
3. microorganism is transferred to susceptible host
-can be transmitted in several ways (ie airborne, contact, droplet, vehicles, vectors)
-best prevention is hand hygiene
4. microorganism enters susceptible host
-uses same route as for exiting
, 5. susceptible host becomes infected
-susceptibility varies based on defenses against infection and certain risk factors that affect susceptibility
(ie age, nutritional status, stress, hygiene, indwelling devices, genetic predisposition, use of
immunosuppressive drugs, presence of chronic disease, etc.)
-strength and number of microorganisms as well as virulence affects susceptibility to infection
During infection, damage to the host is caused by what? ANS: microorganisms...
1. depleting host's nutrients
2. reproducing themselves
3. making body cells the target of the body's own defense
4. producing toxins
What can occur of one's defenses are not functioning properly? ANS: person will become susceptible to
invasion and infection
What is immunity? ANS: resistance to pathogens and the disease they cause
-immunity is pathogen specific
What are our lines of natural defenses? ANS: 1. intact skin
2. normal flora
3. staying healthy by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly
What is an infection? ANS: presence of a pathogen in or on the body
What are nonspecific defenses? ANS: 1. mechanisms that protect use against pathogens in general
