An important part of your career as a nurse’s aide is to know the signs and symptoms of infection. You also need to know how to prevent the spread of infection in the healthcare environment. Infections can be very common in hospitals and medical settings.
Patients are particularly susceptible to infection when their immune systems are compromised or after surgery. Understanding the types and causes of infection will help you prevent their spread amongst the patient population.
Although germs are everywhere, there are only certain kinds that will cause infection. Some infections may be short-term, while others are chronic. Infections can be localized and confined to one part of the body, or they can be systemic, which may involve the entire body.
Types of Infectious Agents
Bacteria
These one celled organisms can only be seen with the microscope. They are shaped like spheres, spirals, or rods. Only about one percent of bacteria can cause disease. Examples of sickness caused by harmful bacteria are: urinary tract infections, strep throat and tuberculosis.
Viruses
These cells are even smaller than bacteria and are shaped like spheres, rods are small tadpoles. Viruses cause issues with the way that the cells work in the body. They ultimately destroy the body’s host cells. Examples of diseases caused by viruses are: measles, smallpox, common cold, AIDS, genital herpes and influenza.
Protozoa
The single cell organisms reside in your intestinal tract. Most of the time they are harmless, but some do cause disease. Examples of diseases caused by protozoa are malaria and giardia.
Fungi
Mushrooms, cheese and yeast are examples of types of fungi. Although they don’t typically cause sickness, some types of fungi can be problematic for the body. Some fungi can cause skin problems such as ringworm or athletes foot. Another example is candida, which is yeast that can cause infection in the mouth.
Chain of Infection
The chain of infection is a widely known method of gathering information that is vital to prevent its spread in the community. Each link in the chain represents a possible step that will cause the infection to continue.
The goal of the medical community is to disrupt the chain of infection and to prevent it from continuing. The following six links make up the chain:
The Organism
These infectious agents include bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi. Once one of these organisms is identified, it helps to understand what possible treating agent can stop its spread. For example, whether you use an antiseptic or disinfectant depends of the type of organism involved.
Reservoir
This is any place where infectious agent can survive. While the human body is the most common reservoir, other examples include hospitals, water supply, plants, animals and medical equipment.
Portals of Exit
This is a name which the organism departs from the reservoir. Examples of portals of exit include body fluids, coughing, mouth, nose, and feces.
Transmission
This is how the organism travels from one host to the next. Some organisms require a living host like a mosquito or fly, while others can be passed by blood, secretion contact, or in the air.
Portals of Entry
This is where the organism enters the body. Portals of entry include the nose, skin and mouth, but any opening of the body can act as a portal for organism.
Vulnerable Hosts
Who is vulnerable to the organism? Susceptible populations include infants and elderly, as well as immune suppressed patients. Occupational exposure, stress and environment can also play a role in the transmission of organisms.
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