INFECTION CONTROL

Infection - is an invasion of body tissue by microorganisms and their growth there

Disease – a detectable alteration in normal tissue.

Communicable Disease – it results if the infectious agent can be transmitted to an

individual by direct or indirect contact or as airborne infection.

Pathogenicity – is the ability to produce disease; thus a pathogen is a microorganism that

causes disease.
- a “true” pathogen causes disease or infection in a healthy individual.

Opportunistic pathogen – causes disease only in a susceptible individual.

Asepsis – is the freedom from disease – causing microorganisms. To decrease the

possibility of transferring microorganisms from one place to another, aseptic technique is
used.
Types of Asepsis
 Medical asepsis – includes all practices intend to confine a specific
microorganisms to a specific area, limiting the number, growth, and
transmission of microorganisms. Objects are referred as clean and dirty.

 Surgical asepsis or sterile technique – refers to those practices that keep an

area or object free of all microorganisms. It is used for all procedures
involving the sterile areas of the body.

Sepsis – is the state of infection and can take many forms, including septic shock.

Types of Microorganisms Causing Infections

1. Bacteria are by far the most common infection – causing microorganisms.

e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Lactobacillus,
Excherichia coli,and etc.
2. Viruses consist primarily of nucleic acid and therefore must enter living cells in
order to reproduce.
Common virus families: rhinovirus, hepatitis, herpes, and human
immunodeficiency virus
3. Fungi include yeasts and molds
Candida albicans is a yeast considered to be normal flora in the
human vagina.
4. Parasites live on the other living organisms. They include protozoa.

Colonization is the process by which strains of microorganisms become resident flora.

Types of Infection
 Local infection is limited to the septic part of the body where the
microorganisms remain.
 Systemic infection if the microorganisms spread and damage different parts
of the body
▓ bacteremia is when a culture of the person’s blood reveals
microorganisms.
▓ septicemia is when a bacteremia results in a systemic infection.
 Acute infections generally appear suddenly or last a short time.
 Chronic infections may occur slowly, over a very long period, and may last
months or years.

Nosocomial Infections
 are classified as infections that are associated with the delivery of health care
services in a health care facility.
 Can either develop during a client’s stay in a facility or manifest after
discharge.
 May also be acquired by health personnel in the facility and can cause
significant illness and time lost from work
 Endogenous source – microorganisms that cause nosocomial infections can
originate from the clients themselves
 Exogenous source – from the hospital environment and hospital personnel.
 Iatrogenic infections are the direct result of diagnostic or therapeutic
procedures.

Chain of Infection
Six Links
Etilologic Agent
The extent which any microorganisms is capable of producing an infectious
process depends on the number of microorganisms present, the virulence and potency of
the microorganisms to enter the body, the susceptibility of the host, and the ability of the
microorganisms to live in the host's body.

Reservoir
There are many reservoirs, or source of microorganisms. Common source are
other humans, the client’s own microorganisms, plants, animals, or the general
environment.
Carrier is person or animal reservoir of a specific infections agent that usually
does not manifest any clinical signs of disease.

Portal of Exit from Reservoir

Before an infection can establish itself in a host, the microorganisms must leave
the reservoir.
Method of Transmission
After a microorganism leaves its source or reservoir, it requires a means of
transmission to reach another person or host through a receptive portal of entry.
Three Mechanisms:
1. Direct transmission. Involves immediate and direct transfer of
microorganisms from person to person through touching, biting, kissing, or
sexual intercourse and droplet transmission.
2. Indirect transmission. May be either vehicle – borne or vector – borne.
3. Airborne transmission. May involve droplets or dust. Droplet nuclei, the
residue of evaporated droplets emitted by an infected host. The material is
transmitted by air currents to a suitable portal of entry, usually the respiratory
tract, of another person.

Portal of Entry to the Susceptible Host

Microorganism must enter the body. The skin is a barrier to infectious agents;
however any break in the skin can readily serve as a portal of entry.

Susceptible Host
Any person who is at risk for infection. A compromised host is a person at
increased risk, an individual who for one or more reasons is more likely than others to
acquire an infection.

1
Etiologic agent
(microorganisms)

2
6 Reservoir
Susceptible host (source)

The Chain of infection

5 3
Portal of entry to Portal of Exit
the susceptible host from reservoir

4
Method of
transmission
Body Defenses against Infection
♦ Nonspecific defenses
♦ Specific (immune) defenses

Inflammatory Responses
Inflammation is local and nonspecific defensive response of the tissues to an
injurious or infectious agent.
Five Signs:
a. Pain (dolor)
b. swelling (tumor)
c. redness (rubor)
d. heat (color/calor)
e. impaired function of the part

Three stages of inflammatory response:

First stage: Vascular and cellular responses

Second stage: Exudate production
Third stage: Reparative phase

Specific Defenses
●Antigen is a substance of the body that induces a state of sensitivity or immune
responsiveness (immunity). If the protein originates in a person’s own body, the antigen
is called an autoantigen.
●Antibodies also called immunoglobulins, are part of the body’s plasma prorein.
2 Components
> Antibody-mediated defenses – is humoral (circulating) immunity because
theses defenses reside ultimately in the B lymphocytes and are mediated by antibodies
produced by B cells.
> Cell mediated defenses or cellular immunity; occur through the T-cell system.
Types of Immunity

TYPE ANTIGEN OR ANTIBODY SOURCE DURATION

1.Active Antibodies are produced by the body in response Long
to an antigen.
a. Natural Antibodies are formed in the presence of active Lifelong
infection in the body.
b. Artificial Antigens (vaccines or toxoids) are administered Many years; the
to stimulate antibody production. immunity must be
reinforced by booster
2. Passive Antibodies are produced by another source, Short
animal or human
a. Natural Antibodies are transferred naturally from an 6 mos to 1 yr
immune mother to her baby through the placenta
or in colustrum.
b. Artificial Immune serum (antibody) from an animal or 2 to 3 weeks
another human is injected.