Infection Control in Healthcare

Contamination: Making something dirty, polluted, or poisonous by adding a chemical, waste, or infection.
Infection: Successful transmission of pathogenic microorganisms that spread.
Local infection: Infection limited to the specific part of the body where microorganisms remain.
Systemic infection: Microorganisms spread and damage different parts of the body.
Acute infection: Appears suddenly or lasts a short time.
Chronic infection: Occurs slowly over a long period and may last months or years.
Carrier: Person or animal reservoir of an infectious agent that usually does not show any signs of disease.
Bacteremia: When a culture of the person's blood reveals microorganisms.
Septicemia: When bacteremia results in systemic infection.
Sepsis: Life-threatening illness caused by the body's response to an infection.
Asepsis: Condition where no living disease-causing microorganisms are present.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): Public health issue fundamental in patient safety and health system strengthening.

Nosocomial infections (health-care-associated or hospital-acquired infections) are infections acquired in a health-care facility.
To be considered nosocomial, the infection must develop at least 48 hours after admission and not be present at admission.
The most common microorganisms causing nosocomial infections originate from the clients themselves (endogenous source) or the hospital environment and personnel (exogenous sources).

Iatrogenic infection: Resulting from a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, e.g., bacteremia from an intravascular line.
Exogenous infection: The causative organism is acquired from other people, e.g., tuberculosis.
Endogenous infection: When sufficient numbers of microorganisms normally found in one body cavity are transferred to another body site.

Iatrogenic infections: Direct result of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
Compromised host: Client whose normal defenses have been lowered by surgery or illness.
Insufficient hand cleansing: Common vehicle for the spread of microorganisms.

Infectious agent: Pathogen that causes the infection.
Reservoir: Where the pathogen lives and multiplies, e.g., humans, animals, or environmental surfaces.
Portal of exit: How the pathogen leaves the reservoir, e.g., respiratory droplets, feces, blood.
Mode of transmission: How the pathogen travels from the reservoir to the susceptible host, e.g., direct contact, airborne transmission, droplet transmission, vector transmission.
Portal of entry: How the pathogen enters the new host, e.g., respiratory tract, mucous membranes, broken skin.
Susceptible host: Individual at risk for infection due to lowered defenses or lack of immunity.

Direct contact: Physical contact with an infected person or their secretions.
Indirect contact: Touching a contaminated object, e.g., medical equipment, doorknobs.
Droplet transmission: Spread of pathogens through respiratory droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or talking.
Airborne transmission: Spread of pathogens through the air over long distances, e.g., tuberculosis.
Vector transmission: Spread of pathogens through insects or animals.

Skin: Provides a physical barrier against pathogens.
Mucous membranes: Trap and remove pathogens.
Cilia: Tiny hair-like structures that move pathogens out of the respiratory tract.
Gastric acid: Kills many pathogens.
Immune system: Recognizes and destroys pathogens.

Age: Newborns and elderly have weaker immune systems.
Heredity: Genetic susceptibility to certain infections.
Stress: Elevates blood cortisol, decreasing anti-inflammatory responses and resistance to infection.
Nutritional status: Inadequate nutrition impairs antibody synthesis.
Medical therapies: Certain medications can suppress the immune system or alter normal flora.
Disease: Any disease that lowers the body's defenses against infection.

Nursing history: Assess history of infection, current medications, emotional stressors, nutritional status, and immunization history.
Physical assessment: Examine signs of local (e.g., swelling, redness, pain) and systemic infection (e.g., fever, increased pulse, malaise).
Laboratory data: Elevated leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and cultures to identify pathogens.

Nursing diagnoses: Potential complication of infection, imbalanced nutrition, acute pain, anxiety.

Goals: Maintain or restore defenses, avoid spread of infectious organisms, reduce or alleviate infection problems.

Standard Precautions: Used for all patients, regardless of infection status.
Transmission-based Precautions: Used for patients known or suspected to have specific infections.
Airborne Precautions: Used for infections spread through the air, e.g., tuberculosis.
Droplet Precautions: Used for infections spread through respiratory droplets, e.g., influenza.
Contact Precautions: Used for infections spread by direct contact, e.g., MRSA.

Modes of transmission: Puncture wounds from contaminated sharps, skin contact, mucous membrane contact.
Steps after exposure to bloodborne pathogens: Report incident, complete injury report, seek evaluation and follow-up.
Role of Infection Control Department: Education, policy review, epidemiology, outbreak investigation, product selection.