ACUTE RESPIRATORY

INFECTION Kezia Faith D. Sastrellas, MT Student

OBJECTIVES:
1. Understand what is an acute respiratory
infection, examples and identify the means of
transmission.
2. Know how to prevent the spread of infection, a
proper hand washing technique.
ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
Acute respiratory infection is a serious infection that
prevents normal breathing function. It usually begins
as a viral infection in the nose, trachea (windpipe),
or lungs. If the infection is not treated, it can spread
to the entire respiratory system. Acute respiratory
infection prevents the body from getting oxygen
and can result in death. Person suffering from this
condition needs medical assistance immediately.
EXAMPLES OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
Rhinitis
- is inflammation and swelling of the mucous
membrane of the nose, characterized by a runny nose and
stuffiness and usually caused by the common cold or a
seasonal allergy. Colds and allergies are the most common
causes of rhinitis. Symptoms of rhinitis include a runny
nose, sneezing, and stuffiness.
Pneumonia
- is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or
both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent
material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills,
and difficulty breathing.
MODES OF TRANSMISSION
 Direct contact
direct contact transmission occurs when microorganisms are transferred
by direct physical contact with an infected or colonized individual.
Direct contact is one of the most common modes of transmission.

 Droplet particles
Droplet transmission involves large droplets, ≥ 5 microns in diameter that comes
from the respiratory tract during coughing or sneezing, or during aerosol
generating procedures such as suctioning. These droplets are propelled a short
distance, <1meter through the air, and enter the nasal or oral mucosa of the new
host. Some microorganisms transmitted by this route, especially respiratory
viruses, survive on objects in the immediate environment of the resident. In these
cases, droplets are also spread by direct and indirect contact (Droplet/Contact
transmission).
 Airborne particles
microorganisms transmitted by this route are carried by dust or
other small particles floating in the air and are <5 microns in
size. These microorganisms remain suspended in the air and are
widely dispersed by air currents. Susceptible hosts, who may be
some distance away from the source resident, even in different
rooms inhale these microorganisms. Control of airborne
transmission is the most difficult, as it requires control of airflow
through special ventilation systems.
WHAT’S THE LEAST WE CAN DO?
PROPER HANDWASHING
Hand washing with soap prevents many common and life-threatening infections. Many
illnesses start when hands become contaminated with disease-causing bacteria and
viruses. This can happen after using the toilet, contact with a child’s excreta, coughing,
sneezing, touching other people’s hands, and touching other contaminated surfaces.
For example, a single gram of human feces can contain 10 million viruses and one
million bacteria, and infant feces are particularly pathogenic.
When hands are contaminated with disease-causing bacteria and viruses, these
pathogens can enter the body or pass from one person to another to cause disease.
Two major illnesses that are transmitted on the hands are diarrhea and pneumonia.
Together, diarrhea and pneumonia cause more than 20% of deaths of children under
the age of five. Many of these deaths can be prevented by hand washing with soap.
WHEN SHOULD WE WASH OUR HANDS?
• Before eating, drinking or touching food;
• After using the washroom;
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;
• After visiting someone who is sick;
• If your hands look or feel dirty; and
• After playing outside, with toys, or with animals.
STEPS TO HAND WASH WITH SOAP AND WATER
1. Remove jewelry and wet hands and wrists with warm water.
2. Use 1 or 2 squirts of liquid or foam soap.
3. Lather soap and scrub hands well, palm to palm.
4. Scrub in between and around fingers.
5. Scrub back of each hand with palm of other hand.
6. Scrub fingertips of each hand in opposite palm.
7. Scrub each thumb clasped in opposite hand.
8. Scrub each wrist clasped in opposite hand.
9. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
10. Pat hands dry with paper towel.
11. Turn off water using same paper towel.
TAKE IT HOME CHALLENGE