Chapter 3 Test Study Guide: Infection
Control, Safety, First Aid, and Personal
Wellness
The Global Spread of Disease
Endemic: a disease that belongs to a particular area, people, or
country and can commonly be found there
Outbreak: a sudden increase in cases of a disease in an area beyond
what is expected, or an infection in a new area
Epidemic: when an outbreak of a disease spreads rapidly and affects
many people within a community, population, or region, or the number
of infected in an area is significantly higher than normal
Pandemic: when an epidemic of a disease has spread over multiple
countries or continents and affects a large portion of the population
Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections
Nosocomial infection: is the traditional term applied to patient
infections spread acquired in hospitals
Healthcare-associated infection (HAI): is a new term that applies to
infections acquired during healthcare delivery in all healthcare
settings, including home care
Key Point
According to the CSC, “clostridioides difficile” is one the most common
HAIs in the United States and the leading cause of antibiotic-associated
diarrhea
Key Point
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the fifth most common type of HAI
Approximately 75% of UTIs acquired in a hospital are catheter-
associated UTIs (CAUTIs)
Well-Established Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
According to the CDC, about 3% of patients in U.S. hospitals carry
MRSA in their nose or their skin
, Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria
The newest challenge in antibiotic resistance in the healthcare setting
comes from multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria
The Chain of Infection
The chain must be complete for an infection to occur
Infectious Agent
Also called the causative agent is the pathogen responsible for causing
an infection
Reservoir
The source of an infectious agent
Exit Pathway
Is a way for an infectious agent to leave a reservoir host
Airborne Transmission
Involves the dispersal of infectious agents that can remain infective for
long periods in particles that are typically less than 5 microns in
diameter and can be inhaled
Contact Transmission
Is the most common means of transmitting infection
There are two types of contact transmission: direct and indirect
- Direct: is the physical transfer of an infectious agent to a
susceptible host through close or intimate contact
- Indirect: can occur when a susceptible host touches contaminated
objects such as patient bed linens, clothing, dressings, and eating
utensils
Fomites: inanimate objects like these that can harbor material
containing infectious agents
Droplet Transmission
Is the transfer of an infectious agent to the mucous membrane of the
mouth, nose, or conjunctiva of the eyes of a susceptible individual via
infectious droplets
Control, Safety, First Aid, and Personal
Wellness
The Global Spread of Disease
Endemic: a disease that belongs to a particular area, people, or
country and can commonly be found there
Outbreak: a sudden increase in cases of a disease in an area beyond
what is expected, or an infection in a new area
Epidemic: when an outbreak of a disease spreads rapidly and affects
many people within a community, population, or region, or the number
of infected in an area is significantly higher than normal
Pandemic: when an epidemic of a disease has spread over multiple
countries or continents and affects a large portion of the population
Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections
Nosocomial infection: is the traditional term applied to patient
infections spread acquired in hospitals
Healthcare-associated infection (HAI): is a new term that applies to
infections acquired during healthcare delivery in all healthcare
settings, including home care
Key Point
According to the CSC, “clostridioides difficile” is one the most common
HAIs in the United States and the leading cause of antibiotic-associated
diarrhea
Key Point
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the fifth most common type of HAI
Approximately 75% of UTIs acquired in a hospital are catheter-
associated UTIs (CAUTIs)
Well-Established Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
According to the CDC, about 3% of patients in U.S. hospitals carry
MRSA in their nose or their skin
, Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria
The newest challenge in antibiotic resistance in the healthcare setting
comes from multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria
The Chain of Infection
The chain must be complete for an infection to occur
Infectious Agent
Also called the causative agent is the pathogen responsible for causing
an infection
Reservoir
The source of an infectious agent
Exit Pathway
Is a way for an infectious agent to leave a reservoir host
Airborne Transmission
Involves the dispersal of infectious agents that can remain infective for
long periods in particles that are typically less than 5 microns in
diameter and can be inhaled
Contact Transmission
Is the most common means of transmitting infection
There are two types of contact transmission: direct and indirect
- Direct: is the physical transfer of an infectious agent to a
susceptible host through close or intimate contact
- Indirect: can occur when a susceptible host touches contaminated
objects such as patient bed linens, clothing, dressings, and eating
utensils
Fomites: inanimate objects like these that can harbor material
containing infectious agents
Droplet Transmission
Is the transfer of an infectious agent to the mucous membrane of the
mouth, nose, or conjunctiva of the eyes of a susceptible individual via
infectious droplets
