230 likes | 430 Views
Chapter 25. Care of Patients with Infection. Definitions. 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 (Cont’d).
E N D
Chapter 25 Care of Patients with Infection
Definitions • 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(Cont’d) • 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
Overview of Chain of Infection • Reservoirs • Pathogens: • Toxins • Exotoxins • Endotoxins • Host Defenses: • Susceptibility
Immunity • Resistance to infection is usually associated with the presence of antibodies or cells acting on specific microorganisms.
Immunity (Cont’d) • 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.
Portal of Entry Sites • Respiratory tract • GI tract • Genitourinary tract • Skin/mucous membranes • Bloodstream
Mode of Transmission • 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
Physiologic Defenses Against Infection • Body tissues • Phagocytosis • Inflammation • Immune systems: • Antibody-mediated immune system • Cell-mediated immunity
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.
Methods of Infection Control • Practice hand hygiene and proper handwashing. • Personal protective equipment (PPE).
Nurse in Personal Protective Equipment Caring for Patient in Protective Isolation Room
Infection Control • Adequate staffing • Sterilization • Disinfection • Patient placement: • Cohorting • Patient transportation
CDC and Prevention Transmission–Based Guidelines • Standard Precautions: • Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette (RH/CE) • Safe injection practices
Transmission-Based Precautions • Airborne Precautions • Droplet Precautions • Contact Precautions
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) • Vancomycin • Linezolid • Community-associated MRSA • The best way to decrease the incidence of this growing problem is health teaching
Other MDROs • Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) • Multidrug resistant tuberculosis • Gonorrhea • Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) • Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA)
Problems from Inadequate Antimicrobial Therapy • Noncompliance or nonadherence • Legal sanctions that compel a patient to complete treatment, such as in the instance of tuberculosis • Septicemia • Septic shock
Collaborative Care • History • Physical assessment and clinical manifestations • Psychosocial assessment
Collaborative Care(Cont’d) • Laboratory assessment including: • Culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing • Complete blood count • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate • Serologic testing • Imaging assessment
Community-Based Care • Home care management • Health teaching • Health care resources