INFECTION CONTROL
Many factors have contributed to the current situation with infection control issues in the United States today. In the past, healthcare workers had no drugs to treat infections with some strains of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Actinobacter baumannii. Today there are combinations of strong antibiotics and antifungals that may be effective, but I also have harmful side effects when taken too long. How can we prevent the “superbugs”? How can we protect ourselves, our families, our patients, and our co-workers?
WHERE ARE PATHOGENS PRESENT?
Pathogens, bacteria, and viruses are present everywhere. We do not have to be afraid of most pathogens, as they may not make us sick or may only make us slightly ill, not kill us. There are bacteria on every surface in everything we touch unless it's Tara sterilized. The main pathogens that we, who care for the elderly and Ill, should be concerned about are those pathogens that have developed resistance to drugs. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a most dangerous pathogen, especially to the vulnerable elderly and the very young babies. The good news is: “recorded illnesses from MRSA are falling.” The bad news is “MRSA is still dangerous to vulnerable people.”
Workers and healthcare-related fields in certain other occupations can be exposed to other dangerous viruses such as Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV / AIDS. These are the three main infections that put healthcare workers at risk. These are primarily transmitted through contact with blood. Other microorganisms present in human blood that mainly cause disease in humans are the zika virus, Malaria, and syphilis. Malaria and syphilis are both curable, at this time, there is no cure or vaccine for the zika virus.
Zika Virus
The zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges that people in 24 countries report cases of the disease. The WHO also estimates that three to four million people in the Americas will be inspected in the next year. The MAJOR problem associated with the virus infestation is microcephaly of the newborn baby. This is a neurological disorder which causes a very abnormally small head and brain. and usually leads to the death of the child. Fortunately, the child and family must endure months or years of heartache and caring for this child who will never develop normal muscle or brain function. This condition develops when the pregnant mother is bitten by Mosquito carrying the zika virus. In healthy people, infection with the virus causes little, mild, or NO symptoms. ONLY in pregnant women is there great concern about the damage to the fetus. Pregnant women are strongly advised NOT to travel to the South American or African countries where the known contagion has spread. Some pregnant women have travel outside of the United States and are fearful for their newborn baby's development. There is NOT a danger of direct contagion from one person to another. The only way a person can be infected by a mosquito that has bitten an infected person and transferred that infection to another. It takes 10 to 11 days for a mosquito to become fully infected and be able to pass on the virus.
Measles
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. The disease of measles and the virus that causes it shares the same name. The disease is also called rubeola. Measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs.
When someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets spray into the air, where other people can inhale them. infected droplets may also land on a Surface, where they remain active and contagious for several hours. You can contract the virus by putting your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes after touching the infected surface. Measles signs and symptoms appear 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
Signs and symptoms of measles typically include
Healthcare-associated infections
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are infections caused by wide variety of common and unusual bacteria, fungi, and viruses during the course of receiving Medical Care. Medical advances have brought life-saving care to patients in need, yet many of these advances come with a risk of HAI. These Infections related to Medical Care can be devastating and even deadly. As our ability to prevent HAI’s grows, these infections are increasingly unacceptable.
Be informed. Be empowered. Be prepared.
By following these steps you can help make your health care assignment safer and help prevent healthcare-associated infections.
PATHOGENS MOST DANGEROUS TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with a strain of Ebola virus. The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. the risk of a new Ebola outbreak of fighting multiple people in the u.s. is very low. what do you need to know as healthcare workers? Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood and body fluids of a person already showing symptoms of Ebola. Ebola is not spread through the air, water, food, or mosquitoes.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) causes very serious liver damage, which left untreated, will progressed to death in most people. The signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B infection are: jaundice, loss of appetite, fatigue and extreme tiredness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and joint pain.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
HIV is the third major pathogen for which healthcare workers are at high risk. This is called a retrovirus, because it does not attack the cells directly but attaches to a cell receptor site on the outside of an infection-fighting cell. The HIV virus basically attacks a person's immune system and causes it to break down and stop functioning altogether. The infected person will not die of the HIV infection, but when the HIV multiplies thousands of times in the blood, and lowers the immune cells (T-Cells) so much that the infected person gets another infection, called an opportunistic infection. at this point, the person is said to have Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and this opportunistic infection (OI) though it may be fatal, has been fairly well controlled since 2004.
HOW BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS ARE TRANSMITTED
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS spread most easily through contact with blood. They also spread through contact with other potentially infectious material (OPIM), including semen and vaginal secretions, as well as any other body fluid or body tissue containing visible or invisible amounts of blood. This also includes spinal fluid, synovial, pleural fluid, amniotic fluid, and saliva in dental procedures. The viruses can live in the blood from minutes to hours, so you should never assume dried blood cannot hurt you. Always put on gloves to clean up any bodily fluid or waste spill. Bloodborne Pathogens (BPP) are not transmitted by coughing or sneezing, touching an infected person, hugging an infected person, or using the same blood-free items as an Infected person. A person’s glasses or hearing aid will not transmit a BBP. Infections are transmitted through sexual contact, shared drug needles, punctures from infected needles or other sharps, direct contact with broken skin and infected body fluids, and for HBV only, through dried blood and contaminated surfaces.
TUBERCULOSIS (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that primarily affects your lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes. Although your body may harbor the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, your immune system usually can prevent you from becoming sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:
- Latent TB. In this condition, you have a TB infection, but the bacteria remain in your body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn't contagious.
- Active TB. This condition makes you sick and can spread to others. It can occur in the first few weeks after‘ infection with the TB bacteria, or it might occur years later. Most people infected with TB germs never develop active TB. Most people with active TB who've had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious.
Signs and symptoms of active TB include:
- Cough
- Unexplained weight loss
-Fatigue
- Fever
~ Night sweats
- Chills
~ Loss of appetite
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICELE
Clostridium Difficele is a rod-shaped, usually motile, gram-positive bacterium that can cause serious illnesses. The most common of these illnesses has the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Clostridium difficele is pronounced "K|o-STRID-ee—um dif-uh-SEEL" and is also known as “C. diff” [See-dif]. Most cases of C.diff infection occur in patients taking antibiotics. The most common symptoms of a C.diff infection include:
-Cough
-Unexplainable weight loss
-Fever
-Loss of appetite
-Nausea, Belly pain and tenderness
Who is most likely to get C. diff infection? The elderly and people with certain medical problems have the greatest chance of getting C. diff. C. diff can live outside the human body for a very long time and may be found on things in the environment such as bed linens, bed rails, bathroom fixtures, and medical equipment. C. diff can spread from person to person on contaminated equipment and on the hands of doctors, nurses, other healthcare providers and visitors.
What are some of the things that I can do to prevent a C. diff infection?
NOROVIRUS GASTROENTERITIS
Noroviruses are a genetically diverse group of single-stranded RNA, non-enveloped viruses in the Caliciviridae family. The Viruses are transmitted by fecally contaminated food or water; by person-to-person contact; and via aerosolization of the virus and subsequent contamination of surfaces. Noroviruses are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans, and affect people of all ages. Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year. However, over 80% of the outbreaks occur from November to April.
Norovirus infection is characterized by nausea, forceful vomiting, watery diarrhea, and abdominal pain, and in some cases, loss of taste. General lethargy, weakness, muscle aches, headache, coughs, and low-grade fever may occur. The disease is usually self-limiting, and severe illness is rare. A small number of people die, mostly the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.
After infection, immunity to norovirus is usually incomplete and temporary. Outbreaks of norovirus infection often occur in closed or semi-closed communities. It is found in long-term care facilities, overnight camps, hospitals, prisons, dormitories, and cruise ships, where the infection spreads very rapidly either by person to-person transmission or through contaminated food. Many norovirus outbreaks have been traced to food that was handled by one infected person.
We, as health care workers are responsible for preventing the spread of infection. The control of spreading organisms starts with each of us as we are responsible for our own health care protection and those of our families, patients, and co-workers.
Many factors have contributed to the current situation with infection control issues in the United States today. In the past, healthcare workers had no drugs to treat infections with some strains of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Actinobacter baumannii. Today there are combinations of strong antibiotics and antifungals that may be effective, but I also have harmful side effects when taken too long. How can we prevent the “superbugs”? How can we protect ourselves, our families, our patients, and our co-workers?
WHERE ARE PATHOGENS PRESENT?
Pathogens, bacteria, and viruses are present everywhere. We do not have to be afraid of most pathogens, as they may not make us sick or may only make us slightly ill, not kill us. There are bacteria on every surface in everything we touch unless it's Tara sterilized. The main pathogens that we, who care for the elderly and Ill, should be concerned about are those pathogens that have developed resistance to drugs. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a most dangerous pathogen, especially to the vulnerable elderly and the very young babies. The good news is: “recorded illnesses from MRSA are falling.” The bad news is “MRSA is still dangerous to vulnerable people.”
Workers and healthcare-related fields in certain other occupations can be exposed to other dangerous viruses such as Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV / AIDS. These are the three main infections that put healthcare workers at risk. These are primarily transmitted through contact with blood. Other microorganisms present in human blood that mainly cause disease in humans are the zika virus, Malaria, and syphilis. Malaria and syphilis are both curable, at this time, there is no cure or vaccine for the zika virus.
Zika Virus
The zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges that people in 24 countries report cases of the disease. The WHO also estimates that three to four million people in the Americas will be inspected in the next year. The MAJOR problem associated with the virus infestation is microcephaly of the newborn baby. This is a neurological disorder which causes a very abnormally small head and brain. and usually leads to the death of the child. Fortunately, the child and family must endure months or years of heartache and caring for this child who will never develop normal muscle or brain function. This condition develops when the pregnant mother is bitten by Mosquito carrying the zika virus. In healthy people, infection with the virus causes little, mild, or NO symptoms. ONLY in pregnant women is there great concern about the damage to the fetus. Pregnant women are strongly advised NOT to travel to the South American or African countries where the known contagion has spread. Some pregnant women have travel outside of the United States and are fearful for their newborn baby's development. There is NOT a danger of direct contagion from one person to another. The only way a person can be infected by a mosquito that has bitten an infected person and transferred that infection to another. It takes 10 to 11 days for a mosquito to become fully infected and be able to pass on the virus.
Measles
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. The disease of measles and the virus that causes it shares the same name. The disease is also called rubeola. Measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and lungs.
When someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets spray into the air, where other people can inhale them. infected droplets may also land on a Surface, where they remain active and contagious for several hours. You can contract the virus by putting your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes after touching the infected surface. Measles signs and symptoms appear 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
Signs and symptoms of measles typically include
- Fever
- dry cough,
- runny nose,
- sore throat
- Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
- tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek- also called Koplik's spots
- A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another. The infection occurs in sequential stages over a period of 2 to 3 weeks.
Healthcare-associated infections
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are infections caused by wide variety of common and unusual bacteria, fungi, and viruses during the course of receiving Medical Care. Medical advances have brought life-saving care to patients in need, yet many of these advances come with a risk of HAI. These Infections related to Medical Care can be devastating and even deadly. As our ability to prevent HAI’s grows, these infections are increasingly unacceptable.
Be informed. Be empowered. Be prepared.
By following these steps you can help make your health care assignment safer and help prevent healthcare-associated infections.
- Speak up about your patient’s safety
- Keep Your Hands Clean. Washing hands can prevent the spread of germs.
- Get smart about antibiotics. Remember the antibiotics do not work against viruses like the ones that cause the common cold
- Watch out for C. Diff. (aka Clostridium difficile) Tell the doctor if your patient has severe diarrhea, especially if they are also taking an antibiotic.
- Know the signs and symptoms of infection. Some skin infections, like MRSA, appear as redness, pain, drainage or a fever.
- Get your flu shot. Protect yourself against the flu and other complications by getting vaccinated. Remind your client about the availability of a flu shot every fall
PATHOGENS MOST DANGEROUS TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with a strain of Ebola virus. The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. the risk of a new Ebola outbreak of fighting multiple people in the u.s. is very low. what do you need to know as healthcare workers? Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood and body fluids of a person already showing symptoms of Ebola. Ebola is not spread through the air, water, food, or mosquitoes.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) causes very serious liver damage, which left untreated, will progressed to death in most people. The signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B infection are: jaundice, loss of appetite, fatigue and extreme tiredness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and joint pain.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
HIV is the third major pathogen for which healthcare workers are at high risk. This is called a retrovirus, because it does not attack the cells directly but attaches to a cell receptor site on the outside of an infection-fighting cell. The HIV virus basically attacks a person's immune system and causes it to break down and stop functioning altogether. The infected person will not die of the HIV infection, but when the HIV multiplies thousands of times in the blood, and lowers the immune cells (T-Cells) so much that the infected person gets another infection, called an opportunistic infection. at this point, the person is said to have Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and this opportunistic infection (OI) though it may be fatal, has been fairly well controlled since 2004.
HOW BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS ARE TRANSMITTED
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS spread most easily through contact with blood. They also spread through contact with other potentially infectious material (OPIM), including semen and vaginal secretions, as well as any other body fluid or body tissue containing visible or invisible amounts of blood. This also includes spinal fluid, synovial, pleural fluid, amniotic fluid, and saliva in dental procedures. The viruses can live in the blood from minutes to hours, so you should never assume dried blood cannot hurt you. Always put on gloves to clean up any bodily fluid or waste spill. Bloodborne Pathogens (BPP) are not transmitted by coughing or sneezing, touching an infected person, hugging an infected person, or using the same blood-free items as an Infected person. A person’s glasses or hearing aid will not transmit a BBP. Infections are transmitted through sexual contact, shared drug needles, punctures from infected needles or other sharps, direct contact with broken skin and infected body fluids, and for HBV only, through dried blood and contaminated surfaces.
TUBERCULOSIS (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that primarily affects your lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes. Although your body may harbor the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, your immune system usually can prevent you from becoming sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:
- Latent TB. In this condition, you have a TB infection, but the bacteria remain in your body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn't contagious.
- Active TB. This condition makes you sick and can spread to others. It can occur in the first few weeks after‘ infection with the TB bacteria, or it might occur years later. Most people infected with TB germs never develop active TB. Most people with active TB who've had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious.
Signs and symptoms of active TB include:
- Cough
- Unexplained weight loss
-Fatigue
- Fever
~ Night sweats
- Chills
~ Loss of appetite
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICELE
Clostridium Difficele is a rod-shaped, usually motile, gram-positive bacterium that can cause serious illnesses. The most common of these illnesses has the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Clostridium difficele is pronounced "K|o-STRID-ee—um dif-uh-SEEL" and is also known as “C. diff” [See-dif]. Most cases of C.diff infection occur in patients taking antibiotics. The most common symptoms of a C.diff infection include:
-Cough
-Unexplainable weight loss
-Fever
-Loss of appetite
-Nausea, Belly pain and tenderness
Who is most likely to get C. diff infection? The elderly and people with certain medical problems have the greatest chance of getting C. diff. C. diff can live outside the human body for a very long time and may be found on things in the environment such as bed linens, bed rails, bathroom fixtures, and medical equipment. C. diff can spread from person to person on contaminated equipment and on the hands of doctors, nurses, other healthcare providers and visitors.
What are some of the things that I can do to prevent a C. diff infection?
- Clean my hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after caring for my patient. This can prevent C. diff and other germs from being passed from one patient to another.
- Carefully clean the home's rooms with a bleach based solution.
- Put on gloves and wear a gown over my clothing while taking care of patients with C.diff
- Visitors may also be asked to wear a gown and gloves.
- When leaving the home, visitors and aides must remove their gown and gloves and clean their hands.
NOROVIRUS GASTROENTERITIS
Noroviruses are a genetically diverse group of single-stranded RNA, non-enveloped viruses in the Caliciviridae family. The Viruses are transmitted by fecally contaminated food or water; by person-to-person contact; and via aerosolization of the virus and subsequent contamination of surfaces. Noroviruses are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans, and affect people of all ages. Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year. However, over 80% of the outbreaks occur from November to April.
Norovirus infection is characterized by nausea, forceful vomiting, watery diarrhea, and abdominal pain, and in some cases, loss of taste. General lethargy, weakness, muscle aches, headache, coughs, and low-grade fever may occur. The disease is usually self-limiting, and severe illness is rare. A small number of people die, mostly the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.
After infection, immunity to norovirus is usually incomplete and temporary. Outbreaks of norovirus infection often occur in closed or semi-closed communities. It is found in long-term care facilities, overnight camps, hospitals, prisons, dormitories, and cruise ships, where the infection spreads very rapidly either by person to-person transmission or through contaminated food. Many norovirus outbreaks have been traced to food that was handled by one infected person.
We, as health care workers are responsible for preventing the spread of infection. The control of spreading organisms starts with each of us as we are responsible for our own health care protection and those of our families, patients, and co-workers.
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