Chain of Infection Notes Review

Area where the pathogen can live. Examples: people, animals, food, soil, and water.

A causative and infectious agent. Examples: bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Way for the pathogen to escape from the reservoir. Examples: mouth, breaks in skin, and stool.

Way for the pathogen to be transmitted. Examples: hands, toys, sneezing, and coughing.

Way to enter a new reservoir. Examples: mouth, cuts in the skin, and eyes.

Person who is able to be affected and likely to get sick. Examples: babies, children, elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and potentially anyone.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The use of Personal Protective Equipment like gowns, gloves, hair covers, shoe covers, masks, and goggles.

Sharp items should be put in sharps container that is labeled, color coded, puncture resistant, not over filled, and in every patient room.

Applies to all occupational exposure of blood or other potentially infectious material(OPIM). Blood borne pathogens = pathogenic microorganisms present in human blood that can lead to diseases. (HEP. B, HEP. C, HIV)

Type or kind of infectious or disease that originates from within the body.

Type or kind of infection or disease that originates outside the body.

Healthcare associated infection that is transmitted by the health care worker, equipment, etc.

Infections that occur when the body’s defenses are weakened.

Person to person, animal to person, mother to unborn child.

Pathogens are passed along inanimate objects.

Pathogens are carried through the air. Clings to surroundings and are spread.

Insects carry pathogens from host to host.

Spread through fecal-oral contact. Hepatitis E is not found in the U.S. due to sanitation standards.

Spread through blood or body fluid.

Is a defective virus and it must have hepatitis B to exist.

Administration of a foreign antigen to produce immunity to a disease.

Effective in preventing or inhibiting the growth of pathogenic organisms, but not spores or viruses. It is safe to be used on the skin.

Destroys pathogenic organisms that are already present. Not effective against spores or viruses. Chemicals are used with 10% bleach solution and 90% water.