Infection Control

Infection

 The invasion of germs in the body. The germs may be bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi, or other
microorganism.
 Infection can be begin anywhere in the body and may spread all through it. An infection can
cause fever and other health problem, depending on where it occurs in the body. When the
body’s immune system is strong, it can fight the germs and cure an infection.
 Infection may remain localized, or it may spread through blood or lymphatic vessels to become
systematic (body wide).

1. Viral Infections – viruses are tiny infectious organism. They’re even smaller than bacteria. Viruses
are parasitic and require a host cell in their which carry out their life cycle. Once the virus has
entered the host cell, it’s able to use cellular components to reproduce. New viruses are released
from host cell, a process that’ll sometimes cause the host cell to die. (Ex. Flu, measles, chicken fox,
polio, HIV, HEPA A-E, Herpes Simplex Virus HSV, etc.)

Treatment – center on relieving the symptoms until your immune system clear the infection.
Antiviral drugs may help to treat the viral infection like HIV. Herpes & Hepa C.

2. Bacterial Infection – single-celled microorganism. They’re very diverse, coming in a variety of

different shapes and size. Bacteria can be found in all sorts of environments, including soil, bodies
of water, and in or on our bodies. Some can survive extreme temperatures or even radiation
exposure. (Ex. TB, Pneumonia, Cholera, Tetanus, Etc.).

Treatment – are most often treated with anti-biotic. Antibiotics care medications that affect the
bacterial growth. They can either impede bacteria from multiplying or kill them outright.

3. Fungal Infections – fungi another diverse group of organism that can include things, like yeast and
molds. They can be found throughout the environment, including in the soil, indoors in moist areas
like bathrooms, and on or in bodies. Other times. You’re able to see them, such as when you notice
mold on your bathroom tile. (Ex. Vaginal Yeast Infection, ringworm, athlete’s foot etc.

4. Parasitic Infection – parasite lives on or in a host organism and get food or other nutrients at the
host’s expense. (Ex. Malaria, Scabies, Tapeworms, Pubic and head lies)

There are three types of parasites that can cause illness in humans:

 Protozoa : small, one-celled organism

 Helminths: larger, worm-like organism
 Ectoparasites: organism like fleas, ticks, and lice.

Treatments- anti-parasitic medication that you’ll need to take will depend on the type of parasitic
that’s causing your infection.
 Symptom of Infections

The symptoms of an infection can vary depending on the type of infection that you have. Some general,
symptoms that can indicate you may have an infection include:

 Fever and chills

 Body aches and pains
 Feeling tired or fatigues
 Coughing and sneezing
 Digestive upset, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Mode of Transmission

You can get infection in many ways:

Direct Contact – Infections can spread when you come directly into contact with a person who has
infections, whether through touching, kissing, or having sex.

 Blood
 Nasal Secretions
 Saliva
 Semen
 Vaginal Secretions

Lastly, some infections can be spread directly from an infected mother to her child either through the
placenta or during childbirth.

Indirect Contact

 Some infectious organism can be found throughout your environment. You can come into
contact with these things and then spread the infection to yourself.
 Influenza virus can then be present in the air or in object such as door and faucet handles. If you
touch a contaminated object and then touch your face, mouth, or nose, you may become
infected.

Through contaminated food or water

 Food and water may e contaminated with infectious organism. You can get these infectious by
consuming things like:
o Foods prepped or prepared in unsanitary conditions
o Raw or undercooked foods, such as produce, meats, sea food
o Improperly canned foods
o Unpasteurized milk or juices
o Foods that have been improperly stored or refrigerated
From infected Animals

 Infections are spread to people from infected animal. One example is the rabies virus, which you
can get if an infected animal bite you.

From Bug Bite

 There are many types of biting bugs, secluding ticks, mosquitoes, and lice. Some examples
include malaria, Lyme disease, and West Nile Virus.

Prevention Infection
 Practice good hands hygiene.
 Get vaccinated.
 Avoid sharing personal items
 Practice safe sex.
 Cover cuts or scrapes.
 Use insect repellents or spray.
 Be careful with food.
 Avoid wild animals
 Know before you go. If you’re travelling, be aware of any infections common to the area
 Cover your mouth when you cough.
 Stay at home if you’re sick.

The Ten Standard Infection Control Prevention (SICP)

1. Patient Assessment for Infection Risk

2. Hand hygiene
3. Respiratory and Cough hygiene
4. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
5. Safe management of equipment
6. Safe management of environment
7. Safe management of blood and body fluid
8. Safe management of linen
9. Safe management of disposal of waste (including sharps)
10. Occupational Exposure.

Applying Principle of Infection

Asepsis – prevent the spread of infection.

 Some treatment and procedures require surgical asepsis and others only require medical
asepsis.
 Skin, including that on the hands, cannot be sterilized; they can be sanitized.
 Nurses and other health care providers must stop all procedures and treatments and then begin
all over again whenever a break a surgical asepsis or medical asepsis occurs.
 Nurse, including licensed practical and registered nurses, can performed treatment and
procedures that require surgical and/or medical asepsis. Nursing assistant and other unlicensed
assistive staff cannot perform treatments or procedure that requires surgical asepsis; these
unlicensed staff can only perform treatment or procedure that requires medical asepsis.

Two types of Asepsis

o Medical asepsis – referred to as clean technique, is the infection control principle and practice
the decreases the spread of infection.
o Surgical asepsis – eliminates all microorganisms. The principle and techniques of surgical asepsis
are applied when the skin is not intact and also when internal areas of the body are being
entered, cared for, or treated. Surgical asepsis is used for wounds care, during all invasive
procedures including surgical procedures and other invasive procedures such as endoscopy for
the administration of intravenous medications, for wound care, and for the insertion of an
indwelling urinary catheter as well as other internally placed tubes like central lines and
peripheral intravenous lines.

Medical Asepsis
Referred to as clean technique, is the infection control principle and practice that decreases the spread
of infections. Medical asepsis reduces the number of pathogenic microorganism, and it also impairs the
proliferation and growth of microorganism.

Hand hygiene – skin preparation prior to the injection of a subcutaneous medication, and the
administration of all medications except those given intravenously are example of the application of the
medical asepsis principle into nursing care practices.

Core Medical Asepsis Practices include the following:

1. Sanitization – practices associated with the basic cleanliness, such as hand washing, cleansing of
eating utensils and other surfaces with soap and water, providing clean linens and clothing.
2. Antisepsis – the destruction or inhibition of micro-organism on living tissues, thereby limiting or
preventing the harmful results of infection.
3. Disinfections – the process of cleaning something, especially with a chemical, in order to destroy
bacteria.
4. Sterilization – is the most thorough method of killing microbes. It used on objects that must be
completely free of any microbes, such as surgical instruments, hypodermic needles or
intravenous (IV) catheters.
HAND HYGIENE – methods that removes or destroys microorganism on hands.

2 Ways of Hand Hygiene

1. Alcohol based hand rub – an alcohol containing preparation designed for application to the
hands for reducing the number of viable microorganism on the hands
2. Hand Washing – washing hands with plain water (soap and water)