Chain of Infection

Preventing Illness

You will complete GUIDED NOTES during a Power Point and lectures given by teachers. *you may hear the teacher refer to microorganisms as microbes or germs. They are all the same thing.

•We will visit this website to complete questions 1- 4 of the guided notes.

The INFECTION CONNECTION• So what? Microbes are every where. Got it. • What else can microbes do? • Some microbes cause disease. • Ever had Strep Throat? • The flu? • A cold? • These sickness are all caused by microbes that enter your

body, then grow and reproduce.• Scientists call process of pathogens

infecting a person and then transferring to another person the Chain of Infection

Chain of Infection

Microbes are the Infectious Agent• If a microbe has the capability of causing illness it is called a

PATHOGENSEE ANY MEDICAL WORD ROOTS YOU KNOW IN THAT WORD?

PATH/O/GEN

PATH means diseaseGEN means production

As Healthcare professionals we try to break this chain with specific equipment and

precautions.

Infectious Agent – What is it?• Bacteria• Ex: Streptococcus,

staphylococcus, E. Coli• Fungi• Ex: Athlete’s foot, Yeast

infections• Virus• Ex: Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS,

Common Cold• Protozoa• Ex: African Sleeping Sickness

• Parasite• Ex: Tapeworms, Bot Fly

• Break the Chain:• Prompt Treatment:

antibiotics, antifungals• Quick identification

of infectious organism• Decontamination

Reservoir – Where does it hide?• People/Animals• Ex: Bird, Rodent, Humans

• Equipment• Ex: table tops, door knobs

• Water• Ex: rivers, lakes

• Break the Chain• Good Health and Hygiene• Environmental sanitation• Disinfection/Sterilization

Portal of Exit – How does it leave?• Excretions• Ex: Wounds, Feces, Urine

• Secretions• Ex: Tears, Saliva, Sexual Contact

• Droplets• Ex: Sneezing, Coughing

• Breaking the Chain• Proper attire• HAND HYGIENE• Trash and waste disposal• Control of secretions/excretions

Mode of Transmission – How does it move from one host to another?• Contact• Ex: Person touches

contaminated object• Droplet• Ex: Person coughs or

sneezes onto another person

• Airborne• Ex: Germs stay suspended

in air• Vector• Ex: Bite from mosquito or

tick

• Breaking the Chain• HAND HYGIENE• Airflow Control• Disinfection/

Sterilization• Proper Food

Handling• Isolation Precautions

Portal of Entry – How does it enter the body?• Nose• Ex: Inhaled

• Mouth• Ex: Ingested

• Skin• Ex: Cracked Skin

• Break the Chain:• Aseptic technique•Wound Care• HAND HYGIENE• Catheter Care

Susceptible Host – Who is most vulnerable to the organism?• Cancer patients• Elderly patients• Surgical patients• Burns• Very young• Very old• Suppressed immune

systems• Non-immune: Those who

have not been exposed to the pathogen previously

• Break the Chain• Recognize high risk

patients• Treatment of primary

disease

Safety Practices and Infection Control•Students will demonstrate the proper implementation of safe work practices to prevent injury or illness.•This is the #1 concern of a healthcare professional!

Skin• The body’s FIRST

line of defense• We have to take

care of it by keeping it clean (hand washing) and preventing cuts or scratches.

HANDWASHINGTHE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT OR

DECREASE THE SPREAD OF HARMFUL MICROORGANISMS.

How am I supposed to wash my hands?• Take off all rings or bracelets.• Turn on the faucet with a dry paper towel.• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm) and apply soap.• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well;

be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.

• Rinse your hands well under running water.• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.• Throw wet towels away. • Get a dry towel and turn off the faucet. Throw away the towel

WITHOUT using it on your hands.

When should I wash my hands?• Before, during, and after preparing food• Before eating food• Before and after caring for someone who is sick• Before and after treating a cut or wound• After using the toilet• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who

has used the toilet• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing• After touching an animal or animal waste• After handling pet food or pet treats• After touching garbage

What if I don’t have soap and water?• Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce

the number of germs on them. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty.How do you use hand sanitizers?• Apply the product to the palm of one hand.• Rub your hands together.• Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers

until your hands are dry.