Question | Answer |
Colonization | The growth of microorganism esp. bacteria in a particular body size |
Nosocomial | Hospital Acquired Infection- the development of the infection favors the hospital environment |
Pathogen | Microorganism capable of producing disease |
Localized Infection | limited to a specific organ of the body and has local symptoms. |
Systemic infection | Affects the body as a whole. |
Phagocytosis | is the cellular process of engulfing solid particles by the cell membrane to form an internal phagosome |
Leukocytosis | Leukocytosis is a white blood cell count (the leukocyte count) above the normal range in the blood |
Neutrophil | granulocytes are the most abundant type of white blood cells in mammals and form an essential part of the innate immune system |
Monocyte | WBC
Monocytes circulate in the bloodstream
for about 24 hr and then move into tissues,
they mature into
macrophages, which are long lived.
Monocytes and macrophages are one of
the first lines of defense in the inflammatory
process. |
Serous | serosal fluid is used for various bodily fluids that are typically pale yellow and transparent, and of a benign nature |
Sanguineous | Relating to or involving blood or bloodshed.
Having the color of blood; blood-red |
Purulent | Containing, discharging, or causing the production of pus. |
Granulation tissure | Granulation tissue is the perfused, fibrous connective tissue that replaces a fibrin clot in healing wounds. Granulation tissue typically grows from the base of a wound and is able to fill wounds of almost any size it heals. |
Standard Precautions | Standard Precautions are the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status of the patient, in any setting where healthcare is delivered. |
Medical asepsis | he state of being free of living pathogenic microorganisms. The process of removing pathogenic microorganisms or protecting against infection by such organisms. |
Surgical asepsis | exclusion of all microorganisms before they can enter an open surgical wound or contaminate a sterile field during surgery. |
Infection | Entry and multiplication of an organism in a host |
Incidence | Incident rate of clients developing infections is increasing
-Some states have developed laws that require hospitals to report nosocomial (hospital acquired infections Insurers are starting to refuse to pay for the costs assoc. w/ Hospital Acquired Infec |
What is the nurses role in infection control? | Use principles of infection prevention & control
Protect patients from nosocomial (hospital acquired infections)
Protect yourself and other nurses from infections |
What is a Communicable Disease? | If an infectious disease can be transmitted form one person to another, it is considered a communicable disease |
What is the Chain of infection? | Infectious agent
Reservoir
Portal of exit
Mode of transmission
Portal of entry
Host |
What are different modes of transmisson? | Droplets
Blood & body fluids (direct contact)
Feces & urine (direct contact)
Vectors (mosquitoes)
Equipment & medical devices (indirect contact)
Nurse’s hands (direct contact) |
What is a mode of indirect contact? | Equipment and devices |
What is a mode of direct Contact? | body fluids, feces, urine, nurses hands, |
What is susceptibility? | Depends on the individual degree of resistance to a pathogen (immune response) |
What are factors that influence an individuals immunity? | Age
Nutritional status
Chronic disease
Trauma
Smoking |
What are factors that influence severity of infection? | strength of micro organism, Dose of microorganism, the susceptibility of the host. |
What is incubation? | Period between entrance of pathogen and appearance of symptom |
What is prodromal? | Interval from nonspecific symptoms to more specific symptoms |
What is illness? | Interval when signs & symptoms are exhibited specifically to a specific type of infection. |
What is convalescence? | Interval when symptoms disappear |
What does the length of recovery depend on? | severity of infection, and the clients host resistance |
What defences can we take against infection? | Keep Skin intact.
Intact Normal flora- avoid overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics.
normal blinking, normal urine acidity and flow.
normal gastric secretions. |
What is a localized infection? | Symptoms are limited to a particular organ and do not spread to the blood stream
Swelling, redness, tenderness, heat, pain |
What is a systemic infection? | Affects the entire body; spreads to the blood stream
Fever, leukocytosis, malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, lymph node enlargement, possibly organ failure |
What is a latrogenic infection? | Type of HAI from a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. |
What is an exogenous infection? | infection that is presented outside of the client- Post operative infection |
What is an endogenous infection? | part of the normal flora or virulent organisms residing that could cause infection- client placed on several antibiotics in the hospital. |
Nursing Diagnoses Associated with Infections? | Risk for infection
Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements
Impaired oral mucous membrane
Impaired tissue integrity
Readiness for enhanced immunization status |
What can student nurses do to prevent infection? | dispose of articles properly, hand washing, wear gloves and protection, Hygiene and AM care, keep room clean, date bottled solutions, proper technique for emptying drainage systems. |
Summary | Hand hygiene important for prevention of infection
Potential for microorganisms to cause disease depends on the number of organisms, virulence, ability to enter and survive in a host, and susceptibility of the host |
Summary | Normal body flora help to resist infection
An infection can develop as long as the six elements composing the chain of infection are uninterrupted
Increasing age, poor nutrition, stress, chronic disease and treatments can compromise the immune system |
Summary | Microorganisms are transmitted by direct and indirect contact
Bathing and cleaning surfaces in patient room prevents infections |