N104: Essentials of Nursing Care - Health Safety

N104: Essentials of Nursing Care – Health Safety Study Guide The Mode of Transmission The mode of transmission describes how the pathogen moves from the portal of exit to contact with the host. Descriptions of mode of transmission differ, but there are five main routes of the agent transmission: • Contact: Direct and indirect contact are the most common means of the transmission of pathogens. Direct contact involves touching one body part to another body part, resulting in the transfer of an agent from an infected person (or body part) to a host. Indirect contact is when a host comes into contact with a contaminated object carrying the agent. • Airborne: If a microorganism can stay in the air for long periods of time, it can be classified as having an airborne mode of transmission. Usually, these pathogens are carried on fine dust particles that are either inhaled by the host or that land on the host. • Droplet: Droplet transmission is similar to the airborne transmission except that the droplets do not travel very far or stay in the air very long. Typically, droplet transmission occurs when a person coughs, sneezes, or spits and the droplets are inhaled by or land on a host. Droplets can also land on objects where a susceptible host can come into contact with them. • Vector: Vector transmission is typically thought of as a mode of transmission in which the animal or insect is not infected by the disease but simply conveys the agent to the host. • Vehicle: Items such as food and water can also carry pathogens, such as Salmonella. The Entry Portal The entry portal is how the agent makes its way into the host. Mucous membranes, natural body orifices (mouth, nose, eyes, etc.), and lacerations and abrasions in the skin are the most common entry portals. However, the nurse must also recognize that any tubes placed in a patient may also be potential routes of entry for pathogens. The Host Finally, in order for infection to occur, there must be a susceptible host. A susceptible host is one whose body defenses are not able to fight off the pathogen. Patients with decreased white blood cells or leukocytes may be at higher risk for infection since these cells are the ones primarily responsible for starting the body’s inflammatory response. The nurse plays a critical role in the interruption of the chain of infection. If the chain is broken at any point, infection will not occur. The nurse must work to prevent or limit the spread of infection.

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