Infection

-An invasion of pathogens or microorganisms

into the body that are capable of producing
disease.
Infection requires that all of the following
condition are met:
1. Presence of a PATHOGEN of sufficient
virulence and in adequate numbers.
2. A RESERVOIR or source that allows the
pathogen to survive or multiply
3. A MODE OF TRANSMISSION from source to
host.
4. A PORTAL OF ENTRY through which the
pathogen can enter the host
5. A SUSCEPTIBLE HOST with little or no
immunity to the pathogen.
Infection Control:
-Includes all the practices used to prevent the
spread of microorganisms that could cause
disease in a person.
-Infection control strategies prevent disease
transmission by interrupting one or more of the
factors
Chain of infection
Pathogen Source
Susceptible

Host Entry

Mode

Nosomial Infections:
-Hospital acquired infection
-Infection result from delivery of healt services in
a healthcare setting
-Nosocomial infections lead to increased
healthcare costs, extended hospital stays and
prolonged recovery time.
-Most nosomial infections are transmitted by
health care workers and clients as a result of
direct contact.
PATHOGEN TRANSMISSION AND
RESULTANT DISEASE
Six Routes of Transmission
1. Droplets transmission- droplets containing
microorganisms, generated when infected
persons cough, sneeze, or talk, contact surfaces
of the eye, nose or mouth.
2. Airbone transmission- droplet nuclei (residue
from evaporated droplets) or dust particles
containing microoragnisms enter the upper and
lower respiratory tracts. These nuclei can remain
suspected in air for long periods of time.

3. Vector-bone- an insect or other animal

transmits the pathogen from one host to another.
4. Indirect (fomite)- susceptible person is
infected from contact with a contaminated
surface.
5. Direct- requires physical contact between an
infected and a susceptible person p, and the
physical transfer of microorganisms. Includes
vertical transmission( transmission that occurs in
uteri, during childbirth, and via breast milk) and
reproductive transmission.
6. Fecal-oral- microorganisms enter the body
after ingesting contaminated food and/ or water.
They multiply inside the digestive system and
are eventually shed in feces. Feces may the
contaminate a water supply if inadequate
sewage treatmentand water filtration measures
are not in place.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- "serum hepatitis"
- The greatest blood-borne risk for health care
workers
- Transmitted by precutaneous or mucosal
exposure to blood or body fluid of an infected
person and results in acute and chronic liver
functions
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
- most common cause of liver transplant
- Acute and chronic hepatitis transmittable via
blood
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
-Retrovorus which is transmitted by sexual
contact or sharing needles with an infected
person, and through transfusion of infected
blood or blood clothing factors
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
-Bacterium responsible for tuberculosis is
carried in airbone droplet nuclei generated when
infected persons droplet nuclei generated when
infected persons sneeze, cough or speak.
-The immune response usually limits the spread
to the lungs where latent TB may persist for
years
-Persons with latent TB have no symptoms but
exhibit reactive tuberculin skin test (TST) and
require to prevent active TB infections
-Only active, not latenet, poses a risk for
transmission.
Blood

- Blood provides the greates hazard for potential

infection
Recommendation:
-Any blood spill should be contained as quickly
as possible to minimize the risk of exposure

-Transmission occurs directly via the hands of

healthcare workers or indirectly from contact
with contaminated environmental surfaces and
patient-care equipment
Infection Control Practices (handwashing)

Other Potentially Infective Materials (OPIM)

-Include body fluids contaminated with blood
including saliva
Recommendation:
-Potentially infectious materials should be
considered as infective as blood
Percutaneous Injuries
-Pose the greatest risk for transmission of
infection
-In spite of the risk, percutaneous injuries are
avoidable through safe working practices
-Include neddle stick injuries or accidental cuts
from a sharp objects
Pathogens and Risk of infection:
Sources Average risk for infection after needle
stick or cut exposure with viral-infected blood
HBV
6-30% (for suceptible person)
HCV
1.8%
HIV
0.3%
Superbugs- MRSA & VRE
MRSA- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus
Aureus
-Common nosocomial infection in hospitals &
long term care facilities. This staph aureus is
resistant to methicillin
-MRSA is easily transmitted by health care
workers because it frequently colonizes on the
skin
VRE- Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus
-Enterococci are normally found in the bowel
and female genital tract. They have been shown
to persist in the environment for long periods of
time (up to 7 days) on hands, gloves, equipment
and surfaces such as bed rails, telephones,
stethoscopes, etc.

Handwashing
-Is the single most important procedure for
preventing the transfer of microorganisms &
therefore preventing the spread of nosocomial
infections.
-CDC (Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention) recommends 10-15 second hand
wash. This remove most transient organisms
from the skin.
-Pathogenic organisms have been found on or
around bar soap during and after use. Use of
liquid soap with hands-free dispensing controls
is preferable
Infection Control Practice (sterilization)
Sterilization
-is defined as the use of physical or chemical
procedure to destroy all microbial life, including
bacterial endospores
-refers to the absence of all living forms
-note: doctrine of sterilization-do not disinfect
what you sterilize.
Precleaning
-is the most important step in instrument
sterilization
-debris acts as a barrier to the sterilant
and sterilization process
-ultrasonic instrument cleaning is the
safest and most efficacious method of
precleaning

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