... The common characteristics of viruses: Viruses can only be seen with an electron microscope because they are so small. Only one or two particles are required to cause an infection. Viruses cannot survive for very long outside the body. Viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics but in some cases are treated with antiviral medication. The best defence against viruses is immunisation. Viruses can mutate to create new strains. Viruses can only multiply once they invade their host cell. The common characteristics of fungi: Fungi appears in the form of yeasts and moulds. Fungi infections can be localised or systemic. Some fungi are helpful. Fungi infections are treated with antifungal medication. The common characteristics of parasites: Parasites can live in or on the host body. Parasites survive by feeding from a host. Parasites are controlled and destroyed by antiparasitic medication. 1.2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and Parasites. Gastroenteritis MRSA Impetigo Are caused by bacteria. Herpes HIV Mumps Are caused by viruses. CU254 Athletes foot. Thrush. Ringworm. Are caused by fungi Head lice. Scabies. Threadworm Are caused by parasites. 1.3 Describe what is meant by Infection and colonisation...
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...for my report is Cytomegalovirus (CMV). I chose this Contagious Disease because it hits very close to home. This disease is also linked to other members of the herpes virus family that cause chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis, fever blisters (herpes simplex type I) and genital herpes (herpes simplex type II). Like other herpes viruses, CMV infection can become dormant for a while and may reactivate later. The virus is carried by people and is not associated with food, water or animals. The high numbers of multiple people infected with Cytomegalovirus is about 50-80 percent at some time during their lives. In my report I will focus on key pints such as: • What is Cytomegalovirus (CMV)? • How is CMV spread? • What are the symptoms of CMV infection? • How long can a person carry CMV? • How it’s diagnosed and what treatments are available? • Precaution and Prevention of CMV. In a recent article that was brought to my attention by a colleague referencing Cytomegalovirus; it goes on to explain that CMV is associated with cardiovascular diseases, in line with risk factors such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Several viral infections are linked to hypertension, including human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) and HIV-1. By focusing on this subject, I hope to convey to my audience the importance of this topic and also the severity in immune-compromised and pregnant patients. Key Points: • What is Cytomegalovirus (CMV)? Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect...
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...facilitate this process? Give a specific example. Use an example that is different than the postings of other students. There are six links in the Chain of Infection. Those areas include: 1. The infectious agent itself- 2. The reservoir where the infectious agent can live and multiply or lie dormant until the organism can find the opportunity to cause disease 3. The susceptible host 4. A means of Transmission 5. A portal of exit 6. A portal of re-entry Each link in this chain must be intact for a disease to be transmitted and infect another person. There is the potential to defeat a communicable disease process by disrupting the link in this chain at any point along the way thus preventing infection in another person. An example of the simplest chain of infection is an infected patient cared for by a health care worker who doesn't wash their hands before caring for another patient. Human sources of microorganisms are healthcare workers, patients themselves and visitors, any of whom may be individuals who are in some stage of an incubation period of a disease process, may already have a disease, or may be a chronic carrier of an infectious agent. The patient may be their own source of infection. (Baldwin, 2008) The bacteria must be able to find a susceptible host. Some individuals are immune to infection or are able to resist colonization by an infectious agent while others will develop a full blown clinical disease process. Then there are those who are able...
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...Airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) (FKA negative pressure isolation room) * Is a single-occupancy patient-care room used to isolate persons with a suspected or confirmed airborne infectious disease * Environmental factors are controlled in AIIRs to minimize the transmission of infectious agents that are usually transmitted from person to person by droplet nuclei associated with coughing or aerosolization of contaminated fluids * AIIRs should provide negative pressure in the room (so that air flows under the door gap into the room); and an air flow rate of 6-12 ACH ( 6 ACH for existing structures, 12 ACH for new construction or renovation); and direct exhaust of air from the room to the outside of the building or recirculation of air through a HEPA filter before returning to circulation * According to Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) (www.jcaho.org) requires the following five components of an infection control program for accreditation: 1. Surveillance: monitoring patients and healthcare personnel for acquisition of infection and/or colonization 2. Investigation: identification and analysis of infection problems or undesirable trends 3. Prevention: implementation of measures to prevent transmission of infectious agents and to reduce risks for device and procedure-related infections 4. Control: evaluation and management of outbreaks 5. Reporting: provision of information to external agencies...
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...Bloodstream Infection Numbers Trouble Two Hospitals HCS/457 April 18, 2011 Bloodstream infections occur when catheters for delivering medicine and others fluids to patients, especially those in intensive-care units, become contaminated with bacteria. Up to one in four patients who acquire an infection die. Tennessee one of the state that begin releasing data on hospital infections in 2009 and the most recent report, shows that two known hospitals in Middle Tennessee scored less than 1.0. The SIR (standardized infection ratio) of 1.0 means the number of infections is equal to the expected number, guidelines of the National Healthcare Safety Network. A physician that heads infection disease prevention attributes the low scoring of these hospitals to the type of patients they treat. Both hospitals have large oncology units, treating patients with cancer therapies that can suppress their immune system, in addition to long periods of hospitalization put them at “high risk.” Whatever the reasons the community in which the hospitals service are putting patients at risk, because the data shows that the hospital are below the National Healthcare Safety Network in preventing bloodstream infections. Because rules have changed for reporting this sort of data from hospitals for reimbursement purposes, previous years could have yield more infections. There has not been strong reaction from the community that shows either of the two hospital admissions or patient seen, numbers...
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...Infection and Waste Control in Practice Include: • The importance of infection control Infection control is important to reduce the spread of disease between both humans and animals. In a veterinary practice there is a large number of sick animals with weakened immune systems which means that there is a high risk of cross infection; the purpose of infection control is to reduce this risk to a minimum. • Why you should use personal protective equipment Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) is used to protect against exposure to infectious disease avoiding spreading the infection. Gloves should be used when handling any body fluids or waste, cleaning, dentistry, dirty laundry and lab samples. Gloves should be changed between animals and jobs...
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...Literature Review According to Wenzel et al. (1998), historically, infection control practices, in one form or another, have existed since surgeons such as Lister recognized the significance of bacteria in producing postoperative wound infection. In the early 1970s, the first infection control nurse was appointed in the U. K. This created the start of an era, the acknowledgment of infection control as a specialty in its own merit. In some countries, medical insurance companies pressured health services to decrease infection rates, and that led to an increase in infection control systems and programs. Countries with developed health care systems have taken action to the need to control hospital infections, reflected in escalating charges of hospitalization and increased length of stay in patients with illnesses, by establishing infection control procedures that span the gamut of hospital practice and clinical...
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...“Leprosy is a slowly progressing chronic bacterial infection that affects the skin, peripheral nerves in the hands and feet, upper respiratory tract, and mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and eyes” (Cherath 2966). I chose this topic because I am a Christian and I heard about this disease in the Bible. I thought it sounded like a dreadful disease that I wanted to learn more about. I had no knowledge of what it really was so I wanted to learn more. “It disables young and old from South America right across to South-East Asia, with at least a quarter of a million new infections a year” (White ½). The cause for Leprosy is the bacteria called Mycobacterium Leprae. When this bacterium enters your body, there are two different reactions that can...
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...Approaches to Decision Making Stephanie Kert HCA/250 October 16, 2014 Cynthia Baxter Reduce Infection Control Long term care facilities have high infection rates due to patients being within close proximity of one another. Long term care residents are usually older in which due to their immune systems are usually more susceptible to highly infectious illnesses. Due to this increase, there are specialized precautions and procedures that are expected to be followed in order to control spreading. Infection Protocols Spreading of infections can cost healthcare facilities more money especially if the proper precautions were not used. The first step is to identify the problem, than a plan must be put together to figure out how to begin implementation. The problem is reducing infection in which administrators could begin by holding weekly meetings that serve as a refresher on infection prevention protocol. During these meetings all staff and administrators can analyze what areas need extra focus which tends to be forgotten to hectic schedules. (Robbins, DeCenzo, & Coulter, 2011). Also long term care facilities must keep their protocols and procedures reviewed and updated on a yearly basis in order to better reduce the number of infections. The director of nursing needs to be notified by the laboratory when any patient cultures come back positive that may represent a form of infection. Additionally, there needs to be specific “tracking of dates and times when infected patients...
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...Salmonella is a bacterial infection cause by gram negative bacteria salmonella. Since bacterica can evolve there are two main kinds of the Salmonella bacteria. Two specie are cause by typhoid fever, Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi. Salmonella typhi only affects people and Salmonella paratyphi reside in people but sometimes in wild animals. People are usually become infected when they eat contaminated food, examples are uncooked poultry or eggs. The bacteria usually infect the digestive tract but can travel through the bloodstream and infect other parts of the body Symptoms are nausea, cramps, abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. It can also attack the liver and spleen which causes them to swell. To see if you are infected with this bacteria they take a portion of stool and test it. Salmonella bacteria also causes several types of infection. Most often, these bacteria cause gastroenteritis, but they sometimes cause typhoid fever, a more serious infection. When the intestine is attack, symptoms usually start to show around 12 to 48 hours after the bacteria are ingested. Then nausea and abdominal pain occur, soon followed by watery diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Salmonella symptoms tend to clear up in about 1 to 4 days. Uncommonly things could gradually get worse and symptoms are more severe and last a long time. However, approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States. Many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the...
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...characteristics of the concept. * Concept Analysis of the Surgical Wound Infection ? I will like to identify patients conditions and other factors contribute to the development of Surgical Wound infections. * Determine the aims or purposes of analysis The purpose is to understand the effect of environment in surgical wound infections. Prevention of infection requires the application of the principles of microbiology and accept practice. Measure of this concept is based on the stages of wound healing and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention guidelines defining surgical site infection as occurring 30 days postoperative. * Identify all uses of the concept The Merriam-Webster Dictionary was used to explore the general definition of surgical wound infection Surgical of or relating to the process of performing a medical operation: of or relating to surgery. Wound an injury that is caused when a knife, bullet, etc., cuts or breaks the skin. Infection is the act or process of infecting someone or something: the state of being infected. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) was also used to explore the definition. Surgical relating or used in surgery. Wound is an injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken. Infection is the process of infecting or the state of being infected History of Surgical Wound Infection Hippocrates (Greek physician and surgeon, 460-377 BC), known as the father of...
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...English 98 1 April 2015 Title: The Stages of HIV infection Site: AIDS info Date: Sept. 23 2014 HIV is a virus that ultimately leads to AIDS and death. This is because this virus attacks and weakens the immune system, and along the way destroys the infection fighting cells. If the virus is treated as soon as it is discovered, medications can help a person live a longer, healthier life. Without treatment this virus gets worse over time causing the infection to advance in stages, until the person’s immune system becomes so weak, which puts them at risk for getting opportunistic infections, which causes death. There are three phases to this infection. The first stage is called acute HIV, which develops anywhere between two and four weeks after a person is infected. “During this time, people experience flu- like symptoms, which may include headaches, fevers, and sometimes rashes.” In this stage, HIV spreads very fast, throughout the infected body. This virus starts to attack the fighting CD4 cells which are the cells that help to fight infection when a person is sick. HIV can be transmitted at any of the three stages. The greatest risk is the first stage in which the virus spreads rapidly, known as acute HIV stage. The next stage of this infection is known as “chronic HIV, asymptomatic HIV, or clinical latency.” During this phase, HIV continues to increase but at a very slow pace. At this time, people who are infected may be asymptomatic, but can spread this disease without...
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...Pinworm or the enterobius vermicularis is a small parasitic worm that resides in a human’s lower intestine. It grows only about 3 to 10 mm long, but t can cause severe itching on the anus of an infected person. It is highly contagious and may affect all members of the household if not treated accordingly. Here are some home remedies for pinworms that will definitely help treat the infected person and prevent the spread of infection. Causes & Symptoms: Causes: unintentionally ingesting or inhaling eggs of pinworms, eating unsanitary foods, unclean clothing and sheets Symptoms: strong itchiness on the anal area that occurs frequently, inability to sleep due to itching and discomfort in the anus at night, presence of rash, pain and skin irritation...
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...Surgery at a Pennsylvania Hospital, states that a hospital in Pennsylvania reported that at least eight people who got an infections and from those eight, four have died. According to the lectures from class, we learned that nosocomial infections are infections that are transmitted from hospitals to patients through septic technique. The development of this infection was from a medical device that was used during an open-heart surgery. We also learned about Surgical Site Infections (SSI). According Central Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, this infections is basically is an infection that occurs in the body after surgery has taken place The Food and Drug Administration, F.D.A., have...
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...Nosocomial Infections By princessbec76 | Studymode.com Section 1: Infections in Healthcare Settings Essay. Nosocomial infections, hospital acquired infections, are an on-going concern to healthcare professionals. These infections are one of the major causes of death in hospitalised patients and are a significant burden on not only the patient’s and the public’s health (as organisms causing nosocomial infections can be transmitted to the community through discharged patients, staff and visitors) but also the economy. A nosocomial infection is an infection acquired at least 72 hours after being admitted into hospital for any reason other than the infection or one which develops amongst hospital staff. Infections are also identified as nosocomial if they appear in a patient within 30 days after their discharge from hospital. Non nosocomial infections, community acquired infections, are infections acquired anywhere other than the hospital. The most common places where non nosocomial infections occur are schools, day care centres and sports facilities. They are spread through skin to skin contact, cuts and grazes, overcrowding and poor hygiene. The illnesses or infections can be the same, for example, pneumonia or gastroenteritis but it is the setting that they are contracted in which differentiate the two infections. Nosocomial infections occur worldwide and affect both wealthy, developed countries as well as the poorer ones with scarce resources. A survey conducted by the World...
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