Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Outcome 1 – Understand the causes of infection

1:1 Identify the differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites

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The differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are;

Fungi have cell walls made up of chitin (found in outer skeleton of insects, shrimps and lobsters – also used in healing agents). Fungi and parasites are multi cellular (Ref: www.euchis.org)
Viruses are not living, they are only made of complex proteins and nuclear acids
Bacteria are unicellular micro-organisms
Parasites and bacteria are animals
(Bacteria, fungi and parasites are living organisms) (Dundas & Welsby 2002, pp99-106)Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

1:2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites

Common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are;

Viruses…

Chicken pox
Shingles
Laryngitis
Pneumonia
Mumps
Common cold
Aids
Whooping cough
Measles
Parasites…

Malaria
Intestinal
Scabies
Ringworm
Tapeworm
Crab louse
Fungi…

Conjunctivitis
Athletes foot
Ringworm
Thrush
Fungal nail
Intertrigo (yeast)
Bacteria…

Colds
Flu
Fevers
Meningitis
Pneumonia
Gastroenteritis
Impetigo
MRSA
Severe gastrointestinal (caused by E-coli)
Acne
(Brooker &Nicol 2003, pp254-255)

1:3 Describe what is meant by “infection” and “colonisation”Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

The meaning of colonisation occurs when micro-organisms inhabit on a part of the body for example, skin but don’t cause signs and symptoms of infection colonised pathogens have the potential to cause infection if spread to a different parts of the body depending on the micro-organism colonised pathogens which can be passed on from person to person from touching objects or not washing hands. This is a major route of colonisation within the health care facilities. Colonisation of micro-organisms can inhabit the host by being in or being on, they don’t cause damage or invade the tissue, yet if they do invade tissue this can make the person sick, which in turn will turn into an infection.

Even though the host may not show signs of illness, they can still pass it on to others. (Lister & Dougherty 2008, pp1112-1113)

1:4 Describe what is meant by “systemic infection” and “localised infection”

The skins function is to protect the body from infectious organisms, but when there has been a break in the skin infections can pose a threat. The meaning of localised infection is an infection that is limited to a specific body region. The meaning of systemic infection is when the pathogen is distributed throughout the whole body by the bloodstream.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Systemic infection:

Conjunctiva infection can cause lasting damage if not treated in time
Low immune systems due to diabetes, kidney failure etc.
The elderly or children may cause complications with infection due to their age
Localised infection:

Swelling
Redness
Temperature changes in infected area
1:5 Identify poor practices that may lead to the spread of infection

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Outcome 2 – Understand the transmission of infection

2:1 Explain the conditions needed for the growth of micro-organisms

The conditions needed for the growth of micro-organisms are nutrients for them to reproduce. It also requires warmth and moisture. They are not visible with the naked eye. The factor that encourages the growth of micro-organisms is nutrition, oxygen, temperature, PH and moisture. The PH and temperature determines the rate of growth. The moisture carry’s foods into the cell, and carry’s the waste away from the cell to maintain the content of cytoplasm (ground substance in where different components are found). All micro-organisms have a PH at which they can grow. (Brooker & Nicol 2003, pp.254-255)Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

2:2 Explain the ways an infective agent might enter the body

An infective agent might enter the body through the mouth, stomach, intestines. The digestive tract. It can also be through broken skin.

Areas of infection:

The respiratory system – nose, lungs, windpipe.

The digestive system – spoiled food, unclean hands or objects.

The urinary tract – urethra, bladder, kidneys.

Wounds on the skin – cuts, grazes, trauma to the skin.

There is also secondary infective agent:

Genital – sexually transmitted, non-sexual PH imbalance (soaps, sprays, creams).

Conjunctival – to the eye (dust, viruses, bacteria, contact lenses)

The ways that gains entry to the person is by infecting the cells:

Trauma bite – infected animal, human, insect

Congenital – unborn baby (developed through pregnancy. Rubella, chickenpox, herpes, syphilis)

2:3 Identify common sources of infection

The best source for infection is poorly chilled, heated or contaminated food. Contaminated laundry on a low heat setting, clinical waste, and contaminated equipment, others that may be infected. Unclean work surfaces in kitchens. We all come into contact with hands, some just don’t take hand hygiene seriously and will spread the infection further afield.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

2:4 Explain how infective agents can be transmitted to a person

Airborne – inhalation of pathogens (microorganism disease producing agent such as bacteria, virus). The common cold and flu spread the infection to another person, either sneezing into the air, nasal droplets; this may be from a nebuliser. Infected dust particles containing skin scales may cause a respiratory virus.

Direct contact – this would be person to person contact, such as dirty hands upon a patient or other way around. Sexual intercourse, chicken pox/shingles (herpes zoster) with the rash and until the last blister has dried up. Impetigo (staphylococcus aureus) which mainly affects children and immune suppressed people.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Hands – are the main part of cross-infection. This can be transferred by microbes to other body areas, for example: hand to face to phone (communal), to shared computers, to person with a handshake. They in turn have now picked up everything you have touched. If they don’t wash their hands, the cycle of cross infection will multiply too many others. With the ambulance cross contamination can be spread from person to equipment including steering wheels, radios, door handles. Your body’s blueprint may have a good resistance to bacteria in your genes, but others you treat or touch may not and could potentially make them very ill.

Indirect contact – can be spread by fomites – an inanimate object that becomes contaminated with infectious organisms and then transports those organisms to another person. This can include children’s toys, chopping boards, baby’s nappies, oxygen masks, Entonox breathing adaptors. They can live for a few minutes or a few hours. Indirect contact can also be spread by crawling or flying insects these are examples of vectors these are organisms that transmits pathogens and parasites (person, insect, animal). Insect bites may cause a variety of infections, one being malaria.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Ingestion – the organisms that infect the gastro-intestinal tract are ingested through the mouth by objects such as the hands, in drink, uncooked food, faecal/oral spread, eating food with unclean hands. Cross infecting would be to eat food while sharing communual keyboards/laptops who would in turn pass on to others by contracting sickness and diarrhoea and by not following hand washing techniques, this will continue until the cycle is broken.

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Inoculations – there may be a chance of a “needle stick” injury caused by infected needles that may contain Hepatitis B virus, and as the inoculation has been put directly into the blood stream of the patient, an infection is high.

2:5 Identify the key factors that will make it more likely that infection will occur Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

The key factors that will make it more likely that infection will occur are individuals susceptible to infection; these would include older people with lowered immunity due to other illnesses or conditions, children or babies. Compromised circulation secondly to peripheral vascular disease. People with diabetes have a risk of developing infections if their blood sugar is lower than normal. Urinary catheters or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes (PEGS). IV lines if kept in too long (when a paramedic inserts a needle to administer drugs, you should note the time and date it was inserted and place on the surrounding site of the needle, this keeps hospital staff aware the length of time it has been in). Poor personal hygiene can be a factor and open to infections. Areas around skin folds due to obesity, as infections build up in moist areas such as the groin, stomach and under the breasts, infections can multiply rapidly in these areas. Young and premature babies with under developed lungs and heart, this is due to the lungs not being fully developed affecting the oxygen levels in the cells. Infection may be more if the patient or person is contact with contagious agents.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Identify the differences between bacteriums. viruses. Fungi. parasites? -Viruses aren’t life. They’re merely made of complex proteins and nucleic acids. Bacteria. Fungi and Parasites are populating beings. – Bacteria are unicellular micro-organisms. Fungi and Parasites are multicellular. – Fungi have cell walls made of chitin and they aren’t animate beings. Parasites and bacteriums are animate beings. Bacteria come in 3 chief forms ; spherical which are known as coccus. rod shaped which are known as B or vibrio. coiling which is known as spirillum or spirochaetes. Bacteria is found in everything for e. g. dirt. H2O. animate beings. workss. waste. The lone topographic point they aren’t found is where worlds have sterilised.

Virus is a toxin or toxicant. It is a microscopic being dwelling of familial stuff. They can non reproduce without a host cell. When it gets this host cell. it takes over its maps. The cells so continue to reproduce. and reproduces more viral protein. Viruss can distribute from individual to individual. and by exchange of sage. coughing. sneeze.

Fungus kingdoms are skin infections caused by dermatophytes and barms. which are groups of Fungis that are usually harmless. When these turn overly. it causes symptoms and normally affects your tegument because they live of ceratin. Fungi infections can besides be caused by antibiotics. pregnant. ill controlled diabetes. weak immune system.
A parasite lives in close relationship another being. its host and it causes injury. Viruss are common parasites. Parasites has to be in its host to populate. turn and multiply. Identify common unwellnesss and infections caused by bacteriums. viruses. Fungis and parasites

Bacterial Infection and unwellnesss: – Antrax. Bacterial meningitis. Gonorrhea. Plague. MRSA Infection. Tetanus. Tuberculosis. They can do unwellnesss like TB. tonsillitis. and laryngitis and nutrient toxic condition. Viral Infections and illnesses- AIDS. Hand pes and oral cavity disease. Chickenpox. Mumps. Smallpox. Yellow febrility. Several human diseases are caused by viruses which include: – variola. rubeolas. the common cold. varicella. hepatitis. HIV. cold sores. herpes zosters.

Fungi Infections and unwellnesss: – The different fungi infections are: – jocks foot which is antsy flakey ruddy tegument. nail infections which can discolor or do the nail crumbly and thin. There are besides other fungi’s like thrush. yeast infection.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Parasite Infections and unwellnesss: – . A common parasite is a hookworm where it is possible for worlds or their pets to acquire. Hookworms attach themselves to the liner of the little bowel. and cause diseases. and malnutrition every bit good. Scabiess. malaria.

Describe what is meant by infection and colonization?
An infection. in general footings. is the unwellness caused by the growing of a source on or in a individual. Invasion by and generation of infective micro-organisms in a bodily portion or tissue. which may bring forth subsequent tissue hurt and advancement to overt disease through a assortment of cellular or toxic mechanisms. Colonisation ~ the development of a bacterial infection on an person. The septic individual may hold no marks or symptoms of infection while still holding the possible to infect others. When the source is normally found on our organic structure without doing an unwellness. we call it passenger car or colonization. Passenger car may be really short term ( transient ) . For illustration. acquired by touching person but rapidly removed by rinsing your custodies. or relentless with the source multiplying on your organic structure ( normally called colonization ) . In certain fortunes the sources that colonise our organic structures may travel on to give an infection.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Explain what is meant by “systemic infection” and “localised infection” Localised infection is an infection that is limited to a specific organic structure portion or part Systemic infection is an infection that is the opposite to localized infection. It is when the pathogen is distributed throughout the whole organic structure. Identify hapless patterns that may take to the spread of infection

Poor patterns that may take to the spread of infection can include: –
? No manus rinsing or non making it decently.
? Not have oning the right protective equipment.
? Not fixing nutrient decently or to adequate criterions or non functioning right.
? Personal hygiene is non to high criterions or cleanliness of the environment.
? Re-using equipment that should be sterilised or thrown off.
? Not adhering to wellness and safety processs.
? Not cooking or deicing nutrient decently.
? Not covering your olfactory organ or oral cavity when you sneeze and utilizing appropriate equipment like manus gels. rinsing. paper towels.

Understand the transmittal of infection

Explain the conditions needed for the growing of microorganisms?Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Foods: – microorganisms need nutrient to last and they like high protein nutrient to last. E. g. fish and domestic fowl. Most micro – beings need warmth & A ; turn best at 20-40c. They need wet to multiply. some micro-organisms demand air to multiply but some need none. Explain the ways an morbific agent might come in the organic structure.

Mouth. lungs. cuts. contact with tegument or any other external variety meats such as eyes. entry via any opening ( ears. urinary piece of land. anus. nose. vagina ) and commixture of bodily fluids ( though this may imply entree via one of the above ) . It can be breathed in ( believe TB ) . it can come in through mucose membranes ( believe utilizing a ill person’s utensils or snoging person sick ) . it can come in through blood ( believe a cut or needle stick ) .Causes And Spread of Infection Essay

Causes and spread of infection

1. Understand the causes of infections.

1.1 Identify the differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacteria- is a microscopic organisms. They are living cells and they can multiply rapidly. Once bacteria are in the body they release poisons/toxins that make us feel ill. Not all bacteria gives us infections as bacteria is everywhere. Some examples of bacteria infections are: typhoid, whooping cough, food poisoning and cholera.
Viruses- they are the smallest organisms known. Viruses can only grow and reproduce inside other living cells. Many viruses cannot survive very long outside their host cells. There are many common viruses such as Common Cold, Chicken Pox, Flu, Herpes, HIV/AIDS, Mumps, Measles and rubella. There are many more. They are contagious and spread from person to person when a virus enters the body and begins to multiply. You can not treat a viral infections with antibiotics, your immune system will attack the virus and then your body will recover.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay
Fungi- is a group of organisms that includes yeasts, molds and mushrooms. Fungi prefers to live in damp conditions. There are many Fungi that are not dangerous for example baker’s yeast or edible mushrooms but some cause infection. Fungal infections are contagious which means they can spread from one person to another. There are risk to catch a fungal infection such as dampness and humidity, poor blood circulation and nail and skin injury or infection. Most fungal infections are treated with anti-fungal drugs, you can also get creams, drops or ointments. A way to prevent a fungal infection is good hygiene.
Parasites- is an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species. Parasites can cause infections in humans. Some are really easy to treat others are not. Parasites are a big problem in topical and subtropical regions. There are 3 main parasites that cause infections they are Protozoa, Helminths and Ectoparasites. Parasite infections can be spread in many different ways such as contaminated water, waste, blood and through foods that have been mishandled or undercooked. Some infections can be spread by insects that act as a carrier of a disease while feeding on the host, for example malaria which is spread by mosquitoes. Anyone can get a parasite infections. Some parasite infection can be treated by medication but some can not be treated by medication. 1.2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.Causes And Spread of Infection Essay