Spring 2025 Unit 2 Asepsis and Infection Control

**Unit 2 -- Asepsis and Infection Control** **Learning Objectives:** 1. **Differentiate the body's natural defenses against infection** - **What are the components of the three defenses the body has against infection?** - **Physical and Chemical Barriers:** Skin, mucous...

**Unit 2 -- Asepsis and Infection Control** **Learning Objectives:** 1. **Differentiate the body's natural defenses against infection** - **What are the components of the three defenses the body has against infection?** - **Physical and Chemical Barriers:** Skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid. - **Innate Immune System:** Phagocytes, natural killer cells, inflammation. - **Adaptive Immune System:** B cells and T cells. - **What are the different types of immunity?** - **Innate Immunity:** Immediate, non-specific defense. - **Adaptive Immunity:** Specific defense with memory, involving humoral (B cells) and cell-mediated (T cells) immunity. 2. **Identify factors that increase risks of developing an infection** - **What factors increase risk for developing infections?** - Compromised immune system - Chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, HIV) - Poor hygiene - Age (very young or elderly) - Hospitalization or surgical procedures 3. **Compare the stages of infection** - **What are the five stages of infection and what happens in each stage?** 1. **Incubation:** Pathogen entry to symptom onset. 2. **Prodromal:** Early, mild symptoms. 3. **Illness:** Severe and specific symptoms. 4. **Decline:** Decreasing symptoms as immune response kicks in. 5. **Convalescence:** Recovery phase. 4. **Compare and contrast localized infections and systemic infections** - **What are signs and symptoms of localized infections vs systemic infections?** - **Localized:** Redness, swelling, warmth, pain, pus. - **Systemic:** Fever, chills, fatigue, body aches. 5. **Differentiate between the aspects of infection classifications** - **What are the different classifications of infection?** - **Acute:** Rapid onset, short duration. - **Chronic:** Slow progression, long duration. - **Latent:** Dormant periods with potential reactivation. 6. **Identify the six links in the chain of infection** - **What are the six links in the chain of infection?** 1. **Infectious agent:** Pathogen causing disease. 2. **Reservoir:** Where the pathogen lives. 3. **Portal of exit:** Pathway pathogen leaves the reservoir. 4. **Mode of transmission:** How the pathogen spreads. 5. **Portal of entry:** Pathway pathogen enters a new host. 6. **Susceptible host:** Individual at risk. 7. **Identify nursing interventions used to prevent the spread of infections** - **What can nurses do to prevent the spread of infection?** - Hand hygiene - Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) - Sterilization and disinfection - Isolation procedures - Patient education 8. **Differentiate between Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions** - **What are standard precautions?** - Hand hygiene - Use of PPE - Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette - Safe injection practices - **What are the different types of transmission-based precautions?** 1. **Contact Precautions:** Gown and gloves for contact with patient or environment. 2. **Droplet Precautions:** Mask for close contact. 3. **Airborne Precautions:** N95 respirator, negative pressure room. - **What protection is needed for each precaution?** - Contact: Gown, gloves. - Droplet: Mask, face shield/goggles. - Airborne: N95 respirator. 9. **Differentiate between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis** - **What is the difference between clean vs sterile technique?** - **Clean (Medical Asepsis):** Reduces number of pathogens. - **Sterile (Surgical Asepsis):** Eliminates all pathogens. - **What methods are used to practice medical asepsis?** - Hand hygiene - Disinfection - Use of barriers - **What instances would indicate that sterility has been compromised?** - Torn or wet packaging - Expired sterilization date - Damaged or contaminated equipment 10. **Identify concerns of emerging pathogens and infectious diseases** - **What are possible emerging infectious diseases and what is the nurse's role?** - Possible emerging diseases: COVID-19, Ebola, Zika virus, antibiotic-resistant bacteria. - Nurse's role: Surveillance, patient education, infection control practices, vaccination advocacy.