Preventing Infection
Infection can be a serious safety and health hazard. Some infections cause only minor symptoms. Others are serious. They may delay a person’s recovery, create long-term health problems,or cause death. Older adults, people who are ill, and people with disabilities are at risk. Infections can easily spread from worker to client, from client toclient, or from client to worker. All members of the health care team must protect clients and themselves from infection. To prevent infection, you must understand how infections spread. You also must follow your employer’sinfection control policies. Infection control refers to policies and procedures used to prevent the spread of infection within health care settings
MICROORGANISMS
TYPES OF MICROORRGANISMS
Within health care settings, the three types of microbes that cause the greatest risk for infection are bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
BACTERIA_single celled microbes that naturally occur on living, dead, or inanimate objects system. Infections caused by bacteria are usually treated with antibiotics.
VIRUS’s microbes that grow only inside living cells. They take over the cells’ machinery to produce new virus particles. AIDS, hepatitis, influenza, and the common cold are examples of infections caused by Viruses. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Some vial disease {such as measles, polio, and many types of influenza] can be prevented by vaccination.
FUNGI microbes that live only on organic matter, such as plants and animals. Certain types of yeasts and moulds are common fungi that can be pathogens. In humans, fungi can infect the mouth, vagina, skin, feet, and other body areas. Many fungal infections are mild, such as athlete’s foot. However, fungi can also cause life-threatening infections.
REQUIREMENTS OF MIRCROORGANISMSM
Microbes require certain conditions to live and grow. The reservoir (HOST) IS the environment where the microbes lives and grows. Microbes in...