Chapter 5
Infection Prevention and Control
When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to…
Stages of infection describe what happens to a susceptible host once a pathogen invades the human body. The stages of infection are incubation,…
The inflammatory response is the body's defense against infection, injury, or irritation from bacteria, trauma, toxins, or heat. Inflammation…
The immune system's inflammatory response destroys the invading pathogen, permitting the tissue to heal. The changes during the cellular and…
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in a healthcare facility while a person receives care for another ailment. This category also includes…
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the…
Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of…
Handwashing is hand hygiene with plain or antimicrobial soap and water to physically remove dirt, organic material, and microorganisms. However, it…
To wash hands properly, follow these steps:
Wet the hands. Use enough soap to cover all surfaces of the hands.
Rub both hands palm to palm.
Rub…
Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization are the methods that help to break the infection chain and prevent disease.
Cleaning
The cleaning process…
In healthcare, the chemical method of sterilization uses chemical sterilants to treat surgical instruments and medical supplies to help prevent the…
Standard precautions are the minimum infection control safeguards used while caring for all patients, irrespective of their disease condition. They…
Donning PPE must be completed before contact with the patient. This process protects from infectious agents. The sequence and action included in each…
The sequence of removing or doffing PPE starts with the gloves, as they are the most contaminated. Next is removal of the face shield or goggles, as…
Needle-free connectors were initially designed and promoted to avoid blood exposure for healthcare workers. Some recent data suggest that the latest…
Limited evidence exists to precisely estimate efficacy and safety differences between parenteral nutrition (PN) prepared using olive-oil-based…