Beaman ch34 lecture_infection_control

Pearson's Comprehensive
Medical Assisting
Administrative and Clinical Competencies
CHAPTER
Pearson's Comprehensive Medical Assisting:
Administrative and Clinical Competencies, 3/e
Beaman | Routh | Papazian-Boyce | Sesser | Mills | Maly
Copyright © 2015, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
THIRD EDITION
Infection Control
Lesson 1:
Introduction to Infection
Control
34

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Infection ControlInfection Control
• Infection control
 Process of reducing exposure to
pathogens to prevent the spread of
disease
• Pathogens
 Disease-producing organisms
• In healthy individuals, immune system
provides some measure of resistance to
pathogens

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Infection ControlInfection Control
• People suffering from a disease are
likely to have compromised immune
system, making them more susceptible
to new infections
• Controlling pathogens especially
important in a medical office
• Asepsis
 State of being free from germs,
infection, and any form of microbial life

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Microorganisms and PathogensMicroorganisms and Pathogens
• Microorganisms
 Organisms so small they can be seen
only with aid of a microscope
• Also called microbes

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• Not all microorganisms cause disease
• Pathogens do cause disease
• Types of pathogens
 Bacteria
 Fungi
 Protozoa
 Viruses
 Rickettsiae
 Parasitic worms

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• Many microorganisms are not harmful
and grow and thrive in the human
body; may have helpful functions
within body
• Normal flora: microorganisms normally
found on skin and in urinary,
gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts

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Critical Thinking QuestionCritical Thinking Question
1. What temperature is ideal for disease-
producing pathogens?
2. Why is an aseptic environment important?
3. During which stage does a person stop being
contagious?
4. How is phagocytosis involved in the
inflammatory process?

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• How Microorganisms Grow
 Microorganisms exist everywhere in nature
 To grow, they require food, moisture,
darkness, suitable temperature
 Aerobic (require oxygen to live)
 Anaerobic (do not require oxygen to live)
 Microorganisms capable of producing disease:
• Grow best at body temperature of 98.6°F/37°C
• Destroy and use human tissue as food
• Excrete waste toxins absorbed by and may
poison the body

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• Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms
 Growing concern in health care
 Referred to as "super-bugs"
 Do not respond to traditional medications
and treatments
 Developed resistance to antimicrobial drugs
 Increased length of hospital stays,
increased cost of treatments, and death
associated with these organisms
 Eg. MRSA, VRSA, VRE

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• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
Aureus (MRSA)
 Organism highly resistant to antibiotics
 S. aureus causative agent in boils, acne,
some forms of septicemia, and
pneumonia
 Infection may occur from cuts, sores,
and through catheters or breathing
tubes

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Aureus (MRSA)
 Symptoms
• Pus formation, fever, swelling,
tenderness around area of infection
 Individuals with weakened immune
systems are more susceptible
 Serious staph infections may lead to
endocarditis, cellulitis, pneumonia, toxic
shock syndrome

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Aureus (MRSA)
 Diagnosis by culture from infected
individual
 If organism grows in presence of
methicillin, it is classified as MRSA
 Best ways to avoid contracting or
spreading MRSA infection is through use of
good hygiene practices, using antiseptic
cream, and covering any skin breaks

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• Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
(VRE)
 Enterococci are bacteria present in
human intestines, female genital tract,
and the environment
 Vancomycin-resistant enterococci are
strain of these bacteria that has
developed a resistance to vancomycin
and no longer responds to this drug
 Spread by direct contact

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FIGURE 34-2 Chain of infection.

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Chain of InfectionChain of Infection

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The Chain of InfectionThe Chain of Infection
• Reservoir Host
 Organism (animal or human) harbors and
nourishes a pathogen
 Gives pathogen a "home" for long time
without suffering any ill effects from it
 Almost anything can serve as a reservoir in
the chain of infection
 Humans, animals, insects, and vectors like
rodents, water, food, supplies, and
equipment
 May become infected by the pathogen

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• Reservoir Host
 Provides nourishment and sustenance for
pathogen, allowing it to grow
 Generally not aware it is harboring pathogen
 To break the chain at the reservoir level the
medical assistant should adhere to strict infection
control practices:
• Disinfect contaminated work areas, equipment,
and supplies
• Wear gloves and PPE if there is a potential for
splash while working with body fluids
• Regularly perform medical aseptic handwashing

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• Means of Exit
 For pathogen to spread to another
animal or person, there must be a portal
of exit from reservoir host. This means
pathogen leaves the infected individual
 Through fluids or drainage from
Respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary,
and reproductive tracts of the body
 Open wound excellent portal of exit

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• Means of Transmission
 Must be a means of transmission for
pathogen to spread to another person
 Direct contact, either with infected
person or with discharge or excreta of
infected person
 Indirect contact: inhaling infected air
droplets from cough or sneeze, touching
contaminated object, contaminated
food, or insects

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• Means of Entrance
 Portal of entry into new host required
 Means by which a pathogen enters the
body
 Using Respiratory, urinary, and
reproductive tracts, skin and mucous
membranes, or blood

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• Susceptible Host
 Must be available and capable of being
infected by the pathogen
 Someone who is unable to fight off
infection
• Poor health
• Poor hygiene
• Poor nutrition
• Increased stress levels

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• Susceptible Host
 When susceptible host becomes
infected, that person becomes new
reservoir host, chain of infection begins
again
 Fortunately, if chain is broken, infection
does not occur
 Medical asepsis through proper hand
hygiene is most important method for
decreasing spread of infections

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Stages of the Infection ProcessStages of the Infection Process
• Invasion
 Pathogen enters body through portal of entry: respiratory,
digestive, reproductive, urinary tracts, and skin
• Multiplication
 Reproduction of pathogens
• Incubation Period
 May vary from several days to months or years during which
time disease is developing but no symptoms appear
• Prodromal Period
 First, mild signs and symptoms appear; highly contagious
period
• Acute Period
 Signs and symptoms evident and most severe
• Recovery Period
 Signs and symptoms begin to subside

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• Acute Infections
 Many of common illnesses that affect human
body are acute infections; common cold and
influenza
 Body usually able to rid itself of the virus and
recover within three to five weeks of onset
• Chronic Infections
 More serious than acute infections
 Effects of disease causing pathogen can last for
a very long time
 Some chronic infections lifelong; HIV and
hepatitis B

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• Latent Infections
 Characterized by periods of remission
and relapse
 Remission
• Disease treated and there are no longer
any signs or symptoms present
 Relapse
• Same infection reoccurs
 Herpes simplex virus types I & II and
varicella-zoster virus

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• Opportunistic Infections
 Occur when host's immune system
impaired by another disease-causing
pathogen Eg. HIV
 Immune system weakened and more
susceptible to other infections
 Patients with severely compromised
immune systems more likely to suffer
from other (opportunistic) infections

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• Nosocomial Infections
 Infections acquired while in medical
facility, generally hospital setting
 Also called hospital-acquired infections
 Pathogens introduced into body because
of poor aseptic technique in the facility
• Bloodstream infections (improper venipuncture or
IV line procedures)
• Urinary tract infections (improper catheter
procedures)
• Surgical site infections (improper wound care)

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• Inflammatory Response to Infection
 Four cardinal signs
• Redness
• Heat
• Swelling- Dilation of blood vessels to allow
increased blood flow. Production of watery
fluids and materials (exudates such as pus).
Neutrophils and monocytes are types of
leukocytes (white blood cells) that perform
phagocytosis. Invasion of neutrophils and
monocytes into the injured tissues
• Pain

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The Body's InfectionThe Body's Infection
Control SystemControl System
• Prevention and Protection
 Largest natural barrier to infection: intact
skin
 Acidity of the skin inhibits bacterial action
 Mucous membranes lining body's orifices
and its respiratory, digestive, reproductive,
urinary tracts assist in repelling
microorganisms
 Gastrointestinal tract contains hydrochloric
acid (HCl); bactericidal action

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• The Lymphatic System and the Blood
 Produce antibodies to identify and
neutralize or destroy disease-causing
pathogens that enter the body
 Leukocytes (white blood cells) actively
fight pathogenic microorganisms
through phagocytosis, the process of
engulfing, digesting, and destroying
pathogens

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• Immunity
 Resistance to disease
 When enough antibodies produced to
provide protection for weeks, months,
or years
• Innate Immunity
 Also known as natural immunity
 Body's first line of defense against
pathogens including skin, mucous
membranes, and tears

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• Acquired Active Immunity
 Person immune to a disease because he
or she has been previously exposed and
has developed appropriate antibodies
• Artificially Acquired Active Immunity
 Induced through a vaccine
• Passive Immunity
 Temporary form of immunity such as
antibodies passed from a mother to an
infant through breast milk

Beaman ch34 lecture_infection_control

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