Fundamentals of Nursing: Asepsis and
Infection Control Study Guide 2024
Components of the Infection Cycle - ✔️✔️Infectious Agent
Reservoir
Portal of Exit
Means of Transmission
Portal of Entry
Susceptible Host
Infectious Agent - ✔️✔️Pathogens
-Bacteria
-Viruses
-Fungi
-Parasites
viruses are the... - ✔️✔️smallest microorganism
example of viruses - ✔️✔️Hep A, B, C, D
AIDS
colds + flu
fungi are... - ✔️✔️plant organisms
-molds
-yeasts
parasites are.... - ✔️✔️organisms that live on or in a host and rely on it for nourishment
Potential to cause disease depends on... - ✔️✔️# of bacteria
virulence
immune system health
exposure (length of exposure and distance/intimacy)
what are normal flora - ✔️✔️microorganisms that commonly inhabit the body and are part of
normal defense system
ex: e. coli in intestinal tract
what is colonization - ✔️✔️organism that resides in the body without manifesting signs of disease
what is infection - ✔️✔️what happens if a person's defense mechanism is ineffective in responding
to a microorganism invasion
What is a reservoir - ✔️✔️natural habitat of the organism that allows for growth and multiplication
of the microorganism
Types of Reservoirs - ✔️✔️People (active disease of asymptomatic carriers)
-Nurses
Animals (Rabies, Malaria, West Nile)
Food and Water (Giardia, Ecoli, Listeria (unpasteurized milk))
Inanimate objects (influenza)
-touching nose mouth or eyes
what is a portal of exit - ✔️✔️point of escape for the organism from the reservoir
What is a portal of exit for humans - ✔️✔️GI (gastrointestinal) Tract
Respiratory Tract
GU tract (genitourinary)
Breaks in skin integrity
Blood, saliva, and tissue
what are means of transmission - ✔️✔️Transmission of microorganism from reservoir to host
(Vehicles of Transmission)
What are the means of transmission - ✔️✔️Direct Contact
-touching, kissing, sexual intercourse
Indirect Contact
-personal contact with an inanimate object
ex: cell phone, scrubs, shoes, paper, door knobs, etc.
Airborne Route
-coughing, sneezing, talks, droplets
2
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 OliviaWest. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $12.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.