Causes and Spread of Infection
CAUSES AND SPREAD OF INFECTION
CANDIDATE NAME: DATE AND SIGNATURE:
1. Understand the causes of infection 2. Understand the transmission of infection
Anyone can develop an infection, but certain groups of people are more at risk than others. These groups include: the elderly, the infim, those who are ill, those with weakened immunity, those who are convalescing, pregnant mothers and the very young. All staff have an important role in prevention and control of infection which is an integral quality issue in the care of residents and the health and safety of staff. All staff need to maintain a high standard of infection control as a matter of good practice. Micro-organisms that cause infections are known as pathogens. They are classified as:
Bacteria: These are classified into different groups and can be pathogenic. They are susceptible to a greater or lesser extent to antibiotics e.g. Staphylococcal aureus (found nearly everywhere in the environment i.e. soil, air).
Virus: A virus is much smaller than bacteria and can survive out of the body for a time. Viruses are not susceptible to antibiotics although anti-viral drugs are available e.g., Acyclovir. Most viral infections are self-limiting.
Pathogenic Fungi: Can either be moulds or yeast. An example of mould that can cause infection in humans is Trichophytyon rubrum - which is one cause of ring worm. Another example is Candida albicans, commonly called Thrush.
Protoza: Microscopic free living organisms e.g., Giardia lamblia which causes diarrhoea. Parasites: Some are pathogenic and cause infection and are spread from person to person, e.g., scabies. Micro-organisms which cause infection may originate from:
• One self (endogenous)
• Other people (exogenous)
• The environment A feature that distinguishes infection from other non-infectious diseases is that it can
CANDIDATE NAME: DATE AND SIGNATURE:
1. Understand the causes of infection 2. Understand the transmission of infection
Anyone can develop an infection, but certain groups of people are more at risk than others. These groups include: the elderly, the infim, those who are ill, those with weakened immunity, those who are convalescing, pregnant mothers and the very young. All staff have an important role in prevention and control of infection which is an integral quality issue in the care of residents and the health and safety of staff. All staff need to maintain a high standard of infection control as a matter of good practice. Micro-organisms that cause infections are known as pathogens. They are classified as:
Bacteria: These are classified into different groups and can be pathogenic. They are susceptible to a greater or lesser extent to antibiotics e.g. Staphylococcal aureus (found nearly everywhere in the environment i.e. soil, air).
Virus: A virus is much smaller than bacteria and can survive out of the body for a time. Viruses are not susceptible to antibiotics although anti-viral drugs are available e.g., Acyclovir. Most viral infections are self-limiting.
Pathogenic Fungi: Can either be moulds or yeast. An example of mould that can cause infection in humans is Trichophytyon rubrum - which is one cause of ring worm. Another example is Candida albicans, commonly called Thrush.
Protoza: Microscopic free living organisms e.g., Giardia lamblia which causes diarrhoea. Parasites: Some are pathogenic and cause infection and are spread from person to person, e.g., scabies. Micro-organisms which cause infection may originate from:
• One self (endogenous)
• Other people (exogenous)
• The environment A feature that distinguishes infection from other non-infectious diseases is that it can