Class notes
NUR 1106 Final Exam Preparatory Notes
- Course
- NUR1106
- Institution
- Baton Rouge Community College
This is a comprehensive and detailed final exam preparatory note for Nurs 1106
[Show more]
Content preview
Chapter 24: asepsis and infection control Infection cycle:
o Infectious agent:
Bacteria are the most significant and most commonly observed infection-
causing agents in health care institutions
Virus: smallest microorganisms, visible only with an electron microscope
Common cold, hepatitis B and C, and AIDS
Antibiotics have no effect; there are some antiviral medications
Fungi: plant-like organisms (mold and yeasts) that are present in the air,
soil, and water
Athlete’s foot, ringworm, yeast infections
Parasites: organisms that live on or in a host and rely on it for
nourishment
Malaria
An organism’s potential to produce disease in a person depends on:
Number of organisms
Virulence of the organisms, or its ability to cause disease
Competence of the person’s immune system
Length and intimacy of the contact between the person and the
microorganism
Colonization: infection is present once the person exhibits specific
manifestations of the disease
, E. coli and C. difficile
o Reservoir: natural habitat of the organism
Ex: other people, animals, soil, food, water, milk, and inanimate objects
o Portal of Exit: point of escape for the organism from the reservoir.
in humans, common portals of exit include the respiratory, GI, and
genitourinary tracts, as well as breaks in the skin and blood and tissue
o Means of Transmission:
Direct contact: requires close proximity between the susceptible host and
an infected person or a carrier, including kissing and sexual intercourse
Indirect contact: involves personal contact with either a vector (living
creature that transmits an infectious agent to a human, usually an insect),
or a fomite (inanimate object, such as equipment or countertops)
Droplet transmission: greater than 5 mcm
Airborne: particles are less than 5 mcm
o Portal of Entry: point at which organisms enter a new host
Skin and urinary, respiratory, and GI tracts are common portals of entry
o Susceptible Host: source that provides shelter and nourishment to a
microorganism once the microorganism has overcome any resistance mounted
by the host’s defenses.
Susceptibility: degree of resistance the potential host has to the
pathogen.
TABLE 24-1 Organisms Capable of Causing Disease
ORGANISM RESERVOIR MEANS OF DISEASE TRANSMITTED
TRANSMISSIO
N
B Borrelia burgdorferi T Ticks (sheep, cattle, deer, C contact (indirect- L Lyme disease
mice) vectors)
E Escherichia coli (E. coli) F feces C contact E. E. coli infection (Most common
C contaminated food or water (direct/indirect) manifestation is diarrhea)
H Hepatitis B virus (HBV) B blood C contact (direct; H Hepatitis B
F feces indirect possible,
Body fluids and excretions but unlikely)
H Human immunodeficiency B blood C contact (direct) A Acquired immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) S semen syndrome (AIDS)
V vaginal secretions
B breast milk
Mycobacterium S Sputum (respiratory tract) C contact (airborne) T Tuberculosis
tuberculosis (M.
tuberculosis [TB])
, S Salmonella I Intestinal tracts of humans C contact D Diarrheal illness
and other animals, including (direct/indirect)
birds
Staphylococcus aureus S Skin surface C Contact • Minor skin infections: Carbuncle,
Mouth (direct/indirect) boil, pimple, abscess
N Nose • Respiratory infection
T Throat • Endocarditis (infection of the hea
valves)
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Bacteremia (bloodstream infectio
Stages of Infection:
o Incubation period: The incubation period is the interval between the pathogen’s
invasion of the body and the appearance of symptoms of infection. During this
stage, the organisms are growing and multiplying.
o Prodromal stage: A person is most infectious during the prodromal stage. Early
signs and symptoms of disease are present, but these are often vague and
nonspecific, ranging from fatigue and malaise to a low-grade fever. This period
lasts from several hours to several days.
o Full (acute) stage of illness: The presence of infection-specific signs and
symptoms indicates the full stage of illness. The type of infection determines the
length of the illness and the severity of the manifestations.
o Convalescent period: involves the recovery from the infection. Convalescence
may vary according to the severity of the infection and the patient’s general
condition. The signs and symptoms disappear, and the person returns to a
healthy state. However, depending on the type of infection, there may be a
temporary or permanent change in the patient’s previous health state even after
the convalescent period.
Using PPE: REVIEW SKILL 24-2 USING PPE
o Gloves:
When nursing care activities don’t involve the possibility of soiling the
hands with body fluids, gloves are not necessary. Activities such as
turning a patient, feeding a patient, taking vital signs, and changing IV
fluid bags do not require the use of gloves as long as the potential contact
with body fluids is not present
Reactions to latex fall into three categories: (1) irritant contact dermatitis
that results from contact with gloves where the hands become irritated
and dry—this is not actually not an allergy at all; (2) allergic contact
dermatitis (a type IV sensitivity), which is an actual reaction to the latex
that results in localized pruritus (itching), erythema (redness or rash), and
urticarial lesions 24 to 96 hours after the contact; and (3) a true latex
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anyiamgeorge19. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $11.89. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
82215 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now