-Single cell organism that can manipulate to adapt to new conditions and form resistance to drugs

-Can form Endospores (bacteria that resist dying) and lie dormant for yrs

-Can grow w/o host

-Classified according to SHAPE & STAINING/ STAINING PROCESS

-Atipical bacteria transmitted among animals by infected arthropod vector bites (ticks, lice)

-Causative agent for Rocky Mt spotted fever and typhus fever

-Subcellular organism, among smallest known disease-causing microorganisms

-Must invade host cell to survive (tricks host cell to reproduce virus particles)

-Difficult to creat anti-viral drugs that are not also harmful to host cell

-Esptein-Barr (mono), varicella, HIV

-Occurs as single-celled yeasts or as long, branches, filament-like structures called molds

-Causes: Pneumocystis carinii (pneumonia); skin infections of nails, scalp, feet (athletes foot)

-Smallest, least understood

-Believed to be infectious proteins

-Slow deterioration of the nervous system

-Being studied to understand Alzheimers

-Complex single-celled animals, usually free-living but can be parasitic (can live in humans/animals and affect GI, GU, respiratory, circulatory)

-Trichomoniasis (STD), giardiasis, amebiasis

-Moisture

-Nurients

-Suitable temp

May be human or nonhuman (food, water, animals)

1. Direct contact

2. Fomites

3. Vectors

4. Vehicles

5. Airborne

6. Droplet contamination

-Infected person must touch susceptible host

-Required the pathogens to be placed in direct contact w/ susceptible tissue

An arthrod in whose body an infectious organism develops or multiplies before becoming infective to a new host

-Transmission occurs when an infected insect bites host

Occurs from dust that contains spores or by means of droplet nuclei

-Droplet nuclei are particles of evaporated droplets containing microorganisms and measuring 5 microns  or smaller

-Can remain suspended in air for a long time

Coughing, sneezing, speaks, sings in the vicinity of a susceptible host (contact of mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth of a host with LARGE droplets that contain microorganisms)

Traveling 3 ft or less

Healthcare-associated infections, "nosocimial infections"

-Those that occur more than 48 hrs after patient admitted to the hospital

-Of greatest concern of those that are multidrug resistant

The effect on cells of the immune system produces the manifestation of AIDS (aquired immune deficiency syndrome)

Main risk of infection w/ HIV for health care professionals is in their personal lives

5 forms, A-E

(A is most common)

Transmitted via food and water contaminated w/ feves 

Rare in US

Bloodborne, but B can be spread via saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, and maternal-fetal contact

Both B and C can develope into chronic infections and cirrhosis, C can cause liver cancer

-Allow the wound to bleed under cold running water, wash w/ soap

-If eyes, nose, mouth is spashed w/ patients bodily fluids: rinse these mucus membranes w/ water

-Fill out incident report

-Some hospitals require a baseline blood sampe to be drawn

-Contagious lung disease caused by M. tuberculosis

-From airborne droplet nuclei

-Prevalence of disease is lower now, but drug resistant strains are appearing

-2-10 weeks after infection, body isolated infection and contains it (TB can remain dormant, but reactivate when the person becomes immunosuppressed-old age, malnutrition, illness)

Prolonged cough, fever, chills, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats

Lung tissue is destroyed and severe cases of TB can be fatal 

-Blood

-All body fluids

-Secretions and excretions (except sweat), regardless of whether they contain visible blood

-Non-intact skin

-Mucus membranes

-Airborne

-Droplet

-Contact

The process of reducing the number of organisms

-Hand hygiene and other cleanliness measures

-Disinfection: destruction of pathogens by using chemical materials

-sterilization (surgical asepsis): treating items with heat, gas, or chemicals to make them germ-free

-More effective at killing some HAI organisms

-More convenient than accessing sinks

-Its only for use on hands that are not visibly soiled

-The exceptions:  baterial spores like C-diff, and anthrax

-Fold edges to the middle w/o shaking or flapping

-place loosely balled linens in designated hamper or in a laundry bag designed to dissolve in hot water (per facility infection control policy)

Needles

as well as blood-contaminated items (gauze, bandages) have designated dispose containers

Protects against transmission of lg particle droplets larger than 5 microns

-Wear surgical mask when in close contact

-Prevents against diphtheria, influenza, pneumonia

Health care workers in contact must wear gown and gloves 

Use sheets to cover table, wheelchair, etc.

Wear appropriate protective apparel