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nursing 206 week 1 definitions

Terms in this set (28)

airborne transmission
occurs when microorganisms are dispersed by air currents and inhaled or deposited on the skin of a susceptible host
ex: tb, measles, and chicken pox
asepsis
refers to freedom from and prevention of disease-causing contamination
3 main defenses:
-normal flora
-inflammatory response
-immune response
asymptomatic
patient is a carrier of a disease or infection but has no symptoms
communicable disease
a disease caused by microorganisms that invades tissue
contact transmission
when body surfaces touch surfaces of other bodies or objects
1 direct: physical transfer of microorganism
2 indirect: transferred by contaminated objects (dressing needle, surgical instrument)
contaminated
an object that contains OR is suspected of containing pathogens (organisms)
ex:
-soiled dressing
-used bedpan
-patient's over-bed table
-side rails of a bed
-patient's call light
disinfection
the removal of potential sources of pathogenic microorganisms (except spores from inanimate objects)
droplet transmission
occurs when the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract (nose, mouth, or conjunctiva) are exposed to the secretions of an infected individual. droplets cannot remain suspended in the air for long periods and seldom travel more than 3 feet. ex: influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
drug resistant organisms
microorganisms that have developed drug resistance. a microorganism is considered resistant if replication cannot be stopped by two or more antibiotics sequentially or simultaneously
ex: Enterobacteriaceae (Salmonella, Shigella)
-Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae
health care associated infection
infections acquired while the patient is receiving treatment in a health care facility such as a hospital, long-term care facility, clinic, or primary care office. often seen with catheters & ventilators, complications after surgical procedure, contagious transmission between patients and workers, overuse of antibiotics
impacts:
-delays in recovery, treatment, and discharge
-longer hospital stays
-permanent disability
-increased costs associated with prescriptions
-loss of earnings
-disruption of family routine
-anxiety
-pain
-death
immunocompromised
neutrophil count less than 500/mm3
infection
establishment of a pathogen in a susceptible host; a disease state is caused by the infectious agent
inflammatory response
second line of defense in the body. a local response to cellular injury or infection that includes capillary dilation and leukocyte infiltration. this response produces redness, heat, pain, swelling. leukocytes release a chemical that increases the temperature in the area. help body neutralize, control, and eliminate invading pathogens, preventing them from surviving and multiplying.
microorganisms/pathogens (bacteria, fungi, normal flora, parasite)
Bacteria: single cell organisms, live as normal flora on and in skin, eyes, nose, mouth, upper throat, lower urethra, lower intestine, and large intestine, capable of causing disease in humans when they overgrow due to immune system compromise or when they enter different areas of the body, they have different sizes, shapes, growth patterns, and means of replication, named according to their shape and are classified by their ability to live with or without oxygen (aerobic/anaerobic) and their staining qualities (gram positive/negative), reproduce by dividing (one cell becomes two identical cells), treated with antibiotics

Fungi: single cell organisms that can cause infection, ex: molds and yeasts, present in air, soil, and water and are responsible for conditions such as athlete's foot, ringworm, and yeast infections, treated with anti-fungal meds

Parasites: organisms that live on or in other organisms, ex: protozoa, helminths, arthropods, typically transmitted by sexual contact, insects, and domestic animals, cause many diseases
-protozoa = malaria
-helminths = intestinal worm infestations
-arthropods = transmitting skin and systemic diseases (ringworm & malaria)

Viruses: smallest microorganisms, reproduce inside living cells of the host and are responsible for causing many different types of disease, illnesses range from the common cold to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), cannot by killed by antibiotics, antiviral meds are given to manage symptoms, if given during the early phases of illness can decrease the amount of time that the patient has viral symptoms
protective precautions
isolation for patients who are immunocompromised.
this type of isolation protects susceptible patients who may not be able to fight infection, from microorganisms in the environment. patients who are undergoing chemotherapy, irradiation, bone marrow transplantation, severe burns may be placed in this
susceptibility
how much resistance is offered by the host. depends on:
-age
-nutritional status
-presence of chronic disease
-trauma
-smoking
symptomatic
patient who shows symptoms of a disease or infection
vectors
carry the pathogen from one host to another. often invertebrate animals such as ticks, but can also be vertebrate animals such as raccoons.
ex of vector-borne illnesses: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, West Nile virus, and viral encephalitis
disinfection
the removal of potential sources of pathogenic microorganisms (except spores from inanimate objects)
hand hygiene
alcohol based gels
hand washing
soap & water
medical asepsis
breaks chain of infection. "clean technique" includes handwashing, wearing gloves, gowning, and disinfecting
personal protective equipment (PPE)
the equipment that health care personnel use to protect against the spread of infection. ex: gloves, masks, goggles, face shield, gowns, caps, and shoe coverings.
-clean, non-sterile gloves needed with direct contact with body secretions is possible
-sterile gloves are needed during sterile procedures such are urinary catheter insertion
*gloves decrease risk of transferring organisms from one individual to another
standard precautions
practices that prevent the spread of infectious diseases by minimizing the risk of transmission or exposure
-nurses practice standard precautions with every patient to protect other patients, visitors, and staff from exposures
transmission based precautions
used in addition to standard precautions to decrease the transfer of highly transmissible pathogens
-each uses a specific PPE to prevent the spread of communicable illness
(contact, airborne, droplet)
sterile field
a sterile work area on which to place sterile supplies
sterilization
a process used to destroy all microorganisms including their spores. done to all things being placed in a sterile body cavity.
surgical asepsis
break chain of infection. used to prevent the introduction of microorganisms from the environment to the patient. used for: surgical asepsis is used for surgical procedures, invasive procedures such as catheterization, procedures that invade the bloodstream or break the skin, dressing changes, and wound care.
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