Chain of

Infection
Preventing Illness

You will complete GUIDED

NOTES during a Power Point
and lectures given by teachers.
*you may hear the teacher refer to
microorganisms as microbes or
germs. They are all the same thing.

We will visit this website

to complete questions 14 of the guided notes.

The INFECTION CONNECTION

So what? Microbes are every where. Got it.

What else can microbes do?
Some microbes cause disease.
Ever had Strep Throat?
The flu?
A cold?
These sickness are all caused by microbes that enter your
body, then grow and reproduce.

Scientists call process of pathogens

infecting a person and then transferring
to another person the Chain of Infection

Chain of Infection

Microbes are the Infectious

Agent
If a microbe has the capability of causing illness it is called a

PATHOGEN
SEE ANY MEDICAL WORD ROOTS YOU KNOW IN THAT WORD?

PATH/O/GEN
PATH means disease
GEN means production
As Healthcare professionals we try to break
this chain with specific equipment and
precautions.

Infectious Agent What is it?

Bacteria
Ex: Streptococcus,
staphylococcus, E. Coli

Fungi
Ex: Athletes foot, Yeast
infections

Virus
Ex: Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS,
Common Cold

Protozoa
Ex: African Sleeping Sickness

Parasite
Ex: Tapeworms, Bot Fly

Break the Chain:

Prompt Treatment:
antibiotics,
antifungals
Quick identification
of infectious
organism
Decontamination

Reservoir Where does it

hide?
People/Animals
Ex: Bird, Rodent,
Humans

Equipment
Ex: table tops, door
knobs

Water
Ex: rivers, lakes

Break the Chain

Good Health and
Hygiene
Environmental
sanitation
Disinfection/Sterilizat
ion

Portal of Exit How does it

leave?
Excretions
Ex: Wounds, Feces,
Urine

Secretions
Ex: Tears, Saliva,
Sexual Contact

Droplets
Ex: Sneezing,
Coughing

Breaking the Chain

Proper attire
HAND HYGIENE
Trash and waste
disposal
Control of
secretions/excretions

Mode of Transmission How does

it move from one host to another?
Contact
Ex: Person touches
contaminated object

Droplet
Ex: Person coughs or
sneezes onto another
person

Airborne
Ex: Germs stay suspended
in air

Vector
Ex: Bite from mosquito or
tick

Breaking the Chain

HAND HYGIENE
Airflow Control
Disinfection/Sterilizat
ion
Proper Food Handling
Isolation Precautions

Portal of Entry How does it

enter the body?
Nose
Ex: Inhaled

Mouth
Ex: Ingested

Skin
Ex: Cracked Skin

Break the Chain:

Aseptic technique
Wound Care
HAND HYGIENE
Catheter Care

Susceptible Host Who is most

vulnerable to the organism?

Cancer patients
Elderly patients
Surgical patients
Burns
Very young
Very old
Suppressed immune
systems
Non-immune: Those who
have not been exposed to
the pathogen previously

Break the Chain

Recognize high risk
patients
Treatment of primary
disease

Safety Practices and Infection

Control

Students will demonstrate

the proper implementation of
safe work practices to
prevent injury or illness.
This is the #1 concern of
a healthcare professional!

Skin
The bodys FIRST
line of defense
We have to take
care of it by
keeping it clean
(hand washing) and
preventing cuts or
scratches.

HANDWASHING
THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT OR
DECREASE THE SPREAD OF HARMFUL
MICROORGANISMS.

How am I supposed to wash

my hands?

Take off all rings or bracelets.

Turn on the faucet with a dry paper towel.
Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm) and apply soap.
Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be
sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and
under your nails.
Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a
timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Throw wet towels away.
Get a dry towel and turn off the faucet. Throw away the towel
WITHOUT using it on your hands.

When should I wash my

hands?

Before, during, and after preparing food

Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone who is sick
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who
has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage

What if I dont have soap and

water?
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce
the number of germs on them. If soap and water are not
available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains
at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can
quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some
situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.
Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are
visibly dirty.
How do you use hand sanitizers?
Apply the product to the palm of one hand.
Rub your hands together.
Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers
until your hands are dry.