ASEPSIS- absence of infection, germs, or Method of STERILIZATION

pathogens.
3. DRY HEAT- uses heated dry air at
ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE- practice or temperatures of 320F to 356F
procedures used by health care (160C to 180C)
professionals to help prevent infection or 4. RADIATION- a less common
interrupt the infection chain. method of sterilization is exposure
of an item to Cobalt 60 irradiation.
A. MEDICAL ASEPSIS/ CLEAN This method can be used for all
TECHNIQUE objects but is very costly.
 Practices or procedures that
reduce the number and TERMINOLOGIES
transmission of pathogens.
 When it is touched by the client AEROBE- an organism that exists in the
or used supplies. air and requires oxygen to growth
 Capable of being spread
B. SURGICAL ASESPSIS/ STERILE through the air or by the wind.
TECHNIQUE
 Practices or procedures that ANAEROBE- an organism that grows
render and keep objects and without oxygen from its environment
areas free from all pathogens.
 Articles become contaminated ANTIGEN- a substance which when
(unsterile) when it is touched introduced into the body causes the
by an unsterile object. production of antibodies.

DISINFECTION- a process that destroys ANTISEPTIC- a substance that destroys or

pathogens in articles. inhibits the growth of microorganisms.

STERILIZATION- a process by which all BACTEREMIA- presence of bacteria in

microorganisms, including their spores, are the circulating blood.
destroyed.
BACTERICIDAL- destructive to bacteria
Cont’n. Methods of STERILIZATION
BACTERIOSTATIC- preventing or
1. Steam- exposing to moist heat for arresting the growth of bacteria
15 minutes. At 121F (49C)
Example: Autoclave- an appliance CARRIER- a person who harbors the
used to sterilize medical microorganism, capable of transmitting the
instruments with steam under disease, but does not manifest the signs
pressure. and symptoms of the disease.

2. BOILING WATER- is a very old CLEAN- must always mean

sterilization method. Timing is uncontaminated
started only after a rolling boil has
begun (30 minutes boiling time). COMMUNICABLE DISEASE- easily
transmitted or communicated from one
person to another. Both infectious and
contagious diseases are communicable.
CONTACT- person or an animal who has PATHOGENIC- a microorganism capable
been in close association with an infected of producing or causing a disease.
person, animal, or thing.
SEPTICEMIA- infection in which
CONTAGIOUS- capable of being pathogenic organism or their poisonous
transmitted from one person to another by products are present within the
direct and indirect means bloodstream.

CONTAMINATION- infection of person SUSCEPTIBLE- person or animal not

or matter by contact. known to be immune to a particular
disease either by natural or artificial
CROSS INFECTION- an infection of a process.
new type, usually carried from one patient
to another by a break in aseptic technique VIRULENT- something exceedingly
noxious or deleterious.
DISINFECTION- destruction of the
vitality of pathogenic organisms by
directly applying physical or chemical DEFINITION OF TERMS
means.

DROPLET INFECTION- droplet remains INFECTION- results from actions of

suspended in the air for a time and may be pathogens within the body.
inhaled by others using talking, sneezing,
or coughing. RESERVOIR- a natural habitat for the
growth and multiplication of
ENDEMIC- a condition in which a disease microorganisms.
is continuously present in a community in
season. PATHOGENECITY- ability to produce a
disease.
EPIDEMIC- a condition in which a disease
attacks a large number of people in a VIRULENCE- the organism can grow and
community at the same time and the multiply
disease seems to spread rapidly to others.
OPPORTUNISTIC PATHOGEN- causes
EPIDEMIOLOGY- study of causation, disease only in a susceptible individual
occurrence, and distribution of a particular
disease. NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION- hospital-
acquired infection
ETIOLOGY- the sum of all knowledge
regarding the cause of the disease. ISOLATION- separation of persons with
communicable diseases from other persons
IMMUNE—used to describe a person who so that either direct/indirect transmission
is protected from any particular disease. to susceptible persons is prevented.

IMMUNITY- a condition of being secure ETIOLOGY- study of causes.

against any particular disease.

PANDEMIC- a disease with worldwide

occurrence.
STAGES OF INFECTIOUS PROCESS 1. Infectious agent or pathogen
2. Reservoir or source for pathogen
1. INCUBATION PERIOD growth
 Extends from the entry of 3. Port of exit from the reservoir
microorganisms into the body 4. Mode of transmission
to the onset of signs and 5. Port of entry to a host
symptoms. 6. Susceptible host
2. PRODROMAL PERIOD
 Extends from the onset of non-
specific signs and symptoms to 1. INFECTIOUS AGENT ( Causative
the appearance of specific signs Agent)
and symptoms.  any microorganism capable of
3. ILLNESS PERIOD producing a disease
 Specific signs and symptoms
develop and become evident. TYPES OF
4. CONVALESCENT MICROORGANISMS:
 start to abate until the client
returns to a normal state of
health. 1. Bacteria ( TB, Leprosy,
Diptheria, Pertussis)
NATURE OF INFECTION
2. Viruses – smallest known
COLONIZATION- presence and growth microbes (measles, polio)
of microorganisms within a host but
without tissue invasion or damage. 3. Fungi (candidiasis)

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE 4. Protozoa – larger than

 An infectious disease is bacteria (amoebiasis, malaria)
transmitted directly from one
person to another. 5. Parasites – live in or within
other organisms
SYMPTOMATIC- pathogens multiply and (schistosomiasis, ascariasis, )
can cause clinical signs and symptoms the
infection is symptomatic. 6. Rickettsia (typhus fever,
rocky mountain spotted fever
ASYMPTOMATIC- clinical signs and
symptoms are not present. EX. HIV 7. Chlamydia - transmitted
through sexual contact

Chain of Infection

The presence of a pathogen does not mean

that infection will occur. Infection occurs
in a cycle that depends on the presence of
all elements:
  The potential for
TYPES OF SKIN FLORA: microorganisms or parasites
to cause disease depends on
 Resident (normal flora) are the following:
permanent residents of the skin
and within the body, where 1. Number of
they survive and multiply microorganisms present
without causing illness.
2. Virulence –the ability to
 Transient microorganisms produce a disease.
attach to the skin when a person
has contact with another person 3. Ability to enter and survive in a
or object during normal host
activities Ex. Touching 4. Susceptibility of the host
contaminated gauze dressing
Resident skin microorganisms are
Note: Hand washing is the most not virulent. However, these
effective way to break the chain microorganisms can cause serious
of infection infection when surgery or other
invasive procedures allow them to
2. RESERVOIR enter deep tissues or when pt. is
 A place where severely immunocompromised
microorganisms survive, (impaired immune system)
multiply and await transfer
to a susceptible host.
2. PORTAL OF EXIT
Frequent Reservoir: - the path or way in
 Human and animals (host) which the organisms
Insects leave the reservoir
 Food – clostridium, E. Coli
Water Common portal of
 Organic matter or inanimate exits:
surfaces (fomites) 1. respiratory
system
Human reservoirs are divided into 2 types 2. genitourinary
tract (GUT)
1. those with acute or 3. gastrointestinal
symptomatic disease tract (GIT)
2. those who show no signs of 4. skin and mucous
disease and those who show no membrane and
signs of disease but are carriers 5. placenta ( in
of it. transplacental
Requisite of Organisms to Thrive proper transmission)
environment
 appropriate food
 Oxygen
 Water
 Temperature
 pH
 3. MODE OF exit from the
TRANSMISSION- reservoir.
means by which the
infectious agent passes 6. SUSCEPTIBLE
through from the portal HOST
of exit of the reservoir
to the susceptible host - person at risk of
getting the disease
- 4 Modes by which infectious agents can
be transmitted. - the human body has
many defenses
1. Contact Transmission against the entry and
multiplication of
a. Direct contact - person-to-person organisms. When
transfer of organisms the defenses are
b. Indirect contact – when the susceptible good, no infection
person comes in contact with a will take place.
contaminated object.
c. Droplet spread – through contact with
respiratory secretions when the Infected Illness following the Entrance of Organism
person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Microbes into the Body depends on the Host’s
carried droplets can travel up to 3 feet or 1
meter. The organisms are not suspended in 1. Age, sex, genes, and constitution
the air but settle on a surface.
2. Nutritional status, fitness, environmental
2. Airborne transmission – when factors
fine-microbial particles
containing microbes remain 3. General condition, physical, emotional,
suspended in the air for a long and mental state
period. The infectious disease
is spread by air current and is 4. Absence of or abnormal
inhaled by a susceptible host. immunoglobulin

3. Vehicle transmission – through articles 5. Underlying diseases (DM, lymphoma,

or substances that harbor the organisms leukemia, neoplasm, or uremia)
until it is ingested or inoculated in the host.
6. Treatment with certain antimicrobials,
4. Vector-born transmission – when corticosteroids, radiation, or
intermediate carriers, such as fleas, flies, immunosuppressive drugs.
and mosquitoes transfer the microbes to
another living organism.
NATURE of INFECTION

5. PORTAL OF EXIT - the venue where INFECTION - The invasion of a

the organism gains entrance into the susceptible host by pathogens or
susceptible host. microorganisms, resulting in disease.
- The infective
microbes use the
same avenues they
COLONIZATION - The presence and PRINCIPLES OF ASEPTIC
growth of microorganisms within a host TECHNIQUE
but without tissue invasion or damage.
1. Only sterile items are used within
Note: disease or infection results only if the sterile field.
the pathogens multiply and alter normal
tissue function. 2. Persons who are sterile touch only
sterile articles; persons who are not
PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING MEDICAL sterile touch only unsterile articles.
AND SURGICAL ASEPSIS
3. Sterile persons avoid leaning over
1. The patient is a source of an unsterile area; non-sterile
pathogenic microorganisms. persons avoid reaching over an
asterile field. Unsterile persons do
2. The patient’s microorganisms not get closer than 12 inches from a
leave through specific routes. sterile field.

3. . There are always microorganisms 4. If in doubt about the sterility of

in the environment which in some anything consider it not sterile.
individuals and under certain
circumstances can cause illness. 5. Gowns are considered sterile only
from the waist to shoulder level in
4. Microorganisms harmful to man front and the sleeves to 2 inches
can be transmitted by direct and above the elbows.
indirect contact.
- Keep hands in sight
5. The spread of infection from one or above waist level
source to another can be prevented away from the face.
by various methods to stop the
spread as close to the source as - Arms should never
possible. be folded.

6. The effectiveness of - Articles dropped

medical/surgical asepsis is below waist level
dependent on the conscientiousness are discarded
of those carrying them out.

7. In observing medical asepsis, areas 6. As sterile packages are opened, the

are considered contaminated if they edges of the wrapper are
bear or are suspected of having considered unsterile
pathogens.

8. In observing surgical asepsis, 7. Sterile persons are kept within

areas are considered contaminated sterile areas.
if touched by any object that is not
sterile. 8. Draped tables are sterile only at
table level

9. Sterile objects become unsterile

when touched by unsterile objects.
10. Sterile items that are out of vision
or below the waist level of the are
considered unsterile.

11. Sterile objects can become

unsterile by prolonged exposure to
airborne microorganisms.

12. Fluids flow in the direction of

gravity.