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WHAT IS INFECTION?
An infection is the invasion of body tissues by disease-causing
microorganisms, their multiplication and the reaction of body
tissues to these microorganisms and the toxins that they produce.
Infections are caused by microorganisms such as viruses, prions,
bacteria, and viroids, though larger organisms like macroparasites
and fungi can also infect.
WHAT IS INFECTION?
Hosts normally fight infections themselves via their immune
system.
Mammalian hosts react to infections with an innate response,
often involving inflammation, followed by an adaptive response.
Pharmaceuticals can also help fight infections.
WHAT IS INFECTION?
The branch of medicine that focuses on infections and pathogens
is infectious disease medicine.
Infections are classified in multiple ways.
They are classified by the causative agent as well as by the
constellation of symptoms and medical signs that are produced.
WHAT IS INFECTION?
An infection that produces symptoms is an apparent infection.
An infection that is active, but does not produce noticeable
symptoms, may be called inapparent, silent, or subclinical.
An infection that is inactive or dormant is called a latent
infection.
A short-term infection is an acute infection.
A long-term infection is a chronic infection.
Occult infection
An occult or asymptomatic infection is medical terminology for a "hidden"
infection, that is, one that presents no symptoms verifiable and recognizable
by a doctor.
Dr. Fran Giampietro discovered this type, and coined the term "occult
infection" in the late 1930s.
Diagnosis of infections can be difficult as specific signs and symptoms are rare.
If an infection is suspected, blood, urine and sputum cultures are usually the
first step.
Chest x-rays and stool analysis may also aid diagnosis.
Spinal fluid can be tested to ensure that there is no brain infection
Bacterial or viral
Bacterial and viral infections can both cause the same kinds of
symptoms.
It can be difficult to distinguish which is the cause of a specific
infection.
It's important to distinguish, because viral infections cannot be
cured by antibiotics.
Pathophysiology
There is a general chain of events that applies to infections. For
infections to occur a given chain of events must occur.
The chain of events involves several stepswhich include the
infectious agent, reservoir, entering a susceptible host, exit and
transmission to new hosts.
Each of the links must be present in a chronological order for an
infection to develop.
Understanding these steps helps health care workers target the
infection and prevent it from occurring in the first place.
Chain of Infection
Infectious agents
Infectious agents may include the following:
virus
fungus
bacterium
parasite
helminthes (worms)
humans
Fomites
inanimate objects
Reservoir
the place/organism in which pathogens grow and reproduce.
May include man and animals.
Mode/vehicle of transmission
it is the means by which pathogens are carried about which
includes the hands, equipment, instruments, linens, droplets,
utensils
Portal of entry
is the way for pathogens to enter the host such as:
direct contact (touch, sexual contact, kissing, etc)
indirect contact (through contaminated food, water, etc)
Susceptible hosts
specifically are a person who does not have immunity to the
pathogens.
A health care facility may adopt its own infection control policies
and practices.
However, the procedures generally follow the recommendations
from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
This is a federal agency that studies pathogens, outbreaks of
contagious diseases and methods used to control these outbreaks.
Hand Washing
when done correctly, is the single most effective way to prevent
the spread of communicable diseases.
Good hand washing technique is easy to learn and can significantly
reduce the spread of infectious diseases among both children and
adults.
Goggles
Eye protection is protective gear for the eyes, which comes in
many types depending upon the threat that is to be reduced.
The threats can be particles, light, wind blast, heat, sea spray or
some type of ball or puck used in sports.
Goggles are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or
protect the eye area in order to prevent particulates, infectious
fluids, or chemicals from striking the eyes.
Face mask
Is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier
between the mouth and nose of the wearer and the potential
contaminants in the immediate environment
If worn properly, is meant to help block large-particle droplets,
splashes, sprays or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and
bacteria) from reaching your mouth and nose
Are not intended to be used more than once. If mask is damaged
or soiled or if breathing becomes difficult, remove the mask and
discard safely and replace with a new one
Gloves
are disposable protective equipment worn on hands and are used
during medical examinations and procedures that help prevent
contamination between health care providers and patients
Medical gloves are made of different polymers including latex,
nitrile rubber, vinyl and neoprene
they come unpowdered, or powdered with cornstarch to lubricate
the gloves, making them easier to put on the hands
Surgical Gown
is a garment worn during medical procedures to help prevent
contamination between health care providers and patients.
The purpose of surgical gowns and other protective clothing is not
only to keep bacteria from entering surgical wounds, but to also
protect the surgical staff from blood, urine, saline, or other
chemicals and bodily fluids during surgical procedures.
Communicable Disease
A communicable disease is carried by microorganisms and
transmitted through people, animals, surfaces, foods, or air.
Communicable diseases rely on fluid exchange, contaminated
substances, or close contact to travel from an infected carrier to a
healthy individual.
Communicable Disease
The disease might need a blood exchange via an injection, float
along a sneeze in a movie theater, or get transmitted through
childbirth.
Examples of communicable diseases include herpes, malaria,
mumps, HIV/AIDS, influenza, chicken pox, ringworm, and
whooping cough.
Cancer, on the other hand, is not a communicable disease.
Communicable Disease
Parasites, bacteria, and viruses all qualify as pathogens, nicknamed
"germs," and can cause acommunicable disease.
Their method of transmission, period of dormancy, ease of
contagiousness, and relative danger can differ drastically from one
disease to the next.
Governmental health agencies spend a great deal of time and
money studying the risk or spread of various contagious diseases in
order to identify outbreaks, prevent reoccurrences, or develop
treatments.
They compile statistics such as incidence, which measures how
many new cases are diagnosed per year, and prevalence, which
identifies how many cases exist at any one time.