Infection Control and Standard Precautions
Infections occur when harmful microorganisms called pathogens invade the body and multiply. The Chain of Infection has 6 links (1: Causative Agent 2: Reservoir 3: Portal Exit 4: Mode of Transmission 5: Portal of Entry
6: Susceptible Host) and describes how disease is transmitted from one being to another.
1. Causative Agent is a pathogenic microorganism that causes disease. Examples include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
2. A Reservoir is where pathogens live and grow. Microorganisms grow best in warm, dark and moist places. Some need oxygen to survive and others do not. Examples of reservoirs are a human, animal, plant, soil or body parts such as lungs, blood or large intestine.
3. The Portal of Exit is an opening on an infected person that allows the pathogen to leave. Examples include the nose, mouth, eyes or cuts on the skin.
4. The Mode of Transmission describes how pathogens travel. Transmission can occur by air or contact both directly or indirectly. Direct contactoccurs by touching the infected person or his/her secretions. Indirect contact occurs by touching something contaminated by the infected person like a needle, dressing or tissue. In the healthcare setting, the primary route of disease transmission is on the hands of healthcare workers. For that very reason, handwashing is greatly important.
5. The Portal of Entry is an opening on an uninfected person that allows pathogens to enter. Examples include nose, mouth, eyes or cuts on the skin.
6. A Susceptible Host is an uninfected person who could get sick. Examples include healthcare workers or anyone not already infected with that particular disease.
**It is important to remember if one of the links in the chain of infection is broken, the spread of infection is stopped.
To reduce the risk of contracting infectious diseases in the healthcare setting, the Centers for Disease and Control recommend Standard Precautions. Standard Precautions means treating blood, body fluids, mucous membranes and skin that is not intact as if they were infected. Examples include; abrasions, pimples, open sores, saliva, sputum, urine, feces, pus, wound drainage, vomit, semen and vaginal secretions.
Standard Precautions must be used with every client and includes the following:
Infections occur when harmful microorganisms called pathogens invade the body and multiply. The Chain of Infection has 6 links (1: Causative Agent 2: Reservoir 3: Portal Exit 4: Mode of Transmission 5: Portal of Entry
6: Susceptible Host) and describes how disease is transmitted from one being to another.
1. Causative Agent is a pathogenic microorganism that causes disease. Examples include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
2. A Reservoir is where pathogens live and grow. Microorganisms grow best in warm, dark and moist places. Some need oxygen to survive and others do not. Examples of reservoirs are a human, animal, plant, soil or body parts such as lungs, blood or large intestine.
3. The Portal of Exit is an opening on an infected person that allows the pathogen to leave. Examples include the nose, mouth, eyes or cuts on the skin.
4. The Mode of Transmission describes how pathogens travel. Transmission can occur by air or contact both directly or indirectly. Direct contactoccurs by touching the infected person or his/her secretions. Indirect contact occurs by touching something contaminated by the infected person like a needle, dressing or tissue. In the healthcare setting, the primary route of disease transmission is on the hands of healthcare workers. For that very reason, handwashing is greatly important.
5. The Portal of Entry is an opening on an uninfected person that allows pathogens to enter. Examples include nose, mouth, eyes or cuts on the skin.
6. A Susceptible Host is an uninfected person who could get sick. Examples include healthcare workers or anyone not already infected with that particular disease.
**It is important to remember if one of the links in the chain of infection is broken, the spread of infection is stopped.
To reduce the risk of contracting infectious diseases in the healthcare setting, the Centers for Disease and Control recommend Standard Precautions. Standard Precautions means treating blood, body fluids, mucous membranes and skin that is not intact as if they were infected. Examples include; abrasions, pimples, open sores, saliva, sputum, urine, feces, pus, wound drainage, vomit, semen and vaginal secretions.
Standard Precautions must be used with every client and includes the following:
- Washing hands before putting on gloves and after removing gloves
- Wearing gloves with contact of any of the following: blood, body fluids or broken skin
- Washing all skin surfaces with soap and water that have been contaminated with blood and body fluids
- Wear a disposable gown, mask and/or protective goggles when splashing or spraying of blood or body fluids is likely
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