2. Pathogen—any microorganism capable of producing disease Communicable—infection transmitted from person to person Pathogenicity—the ability to cause disease Virulence—the degree of communicability Definitions
3. Normal flora—characteristic bacteria of a body location; it often competes with other microorganisms to prevent infections Colonization—the microorganism present in tissue but not yet causing symptomatic disease Surveillance—the tracking and reporting of infections Definitions
4. Reservoirs Pathogens: Toxins Exotoxins Endotoxins Host Defenses: Susceptibility Overview of Chain of Infection
5. Resistance to infection is usually associated with the presence of antibodies or cells acting on specific microorganisms. Passive immunity is of short duration, either naturally by placental transfer or artificially by injection of antibodies. Active immunity lasts for years and occurs naturally by infection or artificially by stimulation (vaccine) of immune defenses Immunity
6. Respiratory tract GI tract Genitourinary tract Skin/mucous membranes Bloodstream Portal of Entry Sites
7. Contact transmission by direct or indirect contact Droplet transmission such as in influenza Airborne transmission such as in tuberculosis Contaminated food or water Vector-borne transmission involving insect or animal carriers, such as in Lyme disease Portal of exit Mode of Transmission
8. Body tissues Phagocytosis Inflammation Immune systems: Antibody-mediated immune system Cell-mediated immunity Physiologic Defenses Against Infection
9. Infection Control in Inpatient Health Care Agencies Health care–associated Infection (HAI) is acquired in the inpatient setting; not present at admission. Endogenous infection is from a patient’s flora. Exogenous infection is from outside the patient, often from the hands of health care workers.
10. Practice hand hygiene and proper handwashing. Personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods of Infection Control
