Infection Control, Vital Signs, Oxygen & Medical Emergencies
Infection Control
• Microorganisms
• Infectious Disease
• Chain of Infection
• Nosocomial Infection
• Disease Control
• Environment
Microorganisms that cause disease
 Bacteria
 Viruses
 Fungi
 Protozoa
 Can grow in or on an animal or plant and cause diseases.
 Host: animal or plant that provides life support to another organism.
 Disease: Any change from the normal structure or function in the human
body.
 Infection: Growth of a microorganism on or in a host.
Disease
• Disease occurs only when the microorganism causes injury to the host
Pathogen
 A disease producing microorganism.
 Multiply in large numbers and cause an obstruction
 Cause tissue damage
 Secrete substance that produce effects in the body
 Exotoxins ( high body temp, nausea, vomiting)
Bacteria
Protozoan
Viruses
Fungi
6 Steps of Infection
 Encounter
 Entry
 Spread
 Multiplication
 Damage
 Outcome
Chain of Infection
 Host
 Infectious Microorganism
 Mode of Transmission
 Vector/ Fomite
 Reservoir
 Nosocomial Infections: Infections originating in the hospital; an infection not
present before admittance to the hospital.
 Iatrogenic Infection
 Compromised Patients
 Patient Flora
 Hospital Environment
 Bloodborne Pathogens
Universal Precautions
 Since there is no way you can know if a person is infected, you should
ALWAYS use universal precautions:
 Wash your hands
 Wear gloves
 Handle sharp objects carefully
 Properly clean all spills
 Wear mask, eye protection, and apron if splashing is a possibility.
Airborne Precautions
 Patients infected with pathogens that remain suspended in air for long
periods on aerosol droplets or dust.
 TB, Chickenpox, Measles
 Respiratory protection must be worn when entering pt room.
 Pt should wear mask.
Droplet Precautions
 Patients infected with pathogens that disseminate through large particulate
droplets expelled from coughing, sneezing, or even talking.
 Rubella, Mumps, Influenza
 Surgical mask must be worn when within 3 feet of the pt.
 Pt should wear a mask.
Contact Precautions
 Patients infected with pathogens that spread by direct contact with the pt or
by indirect contact with a contaminated object (bedrail, pt dressing).
 Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Hepatitis A, Varicella,
Flesh-eating Virus
 All PPE should be used and equipment must be disinfected after use.
Controlling the spread of Disease
• Chemotherapy
• Immunization
• Asepsis
– Medical
– Surgical
• Disinfectants
Physical Methods of Controlling Diseases
• Handwashing
• Standard Precautions
– Gloving
– Gowns
– Face masks
– Eyewear
Handwashing
• Single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.
• 7 to 8 minutes of washing to remove the microbes present, depending on the
number present.
• Most effective portion of handwashing is the mechanical action of rubbing
the hands together.
Types of Nosocomial Infections
 Iatrogenic Infection – related to physician activities
 Compromised Patients - weakened resistance; immunosuppressed
 Patient Flora - microbes in healthy people
 Contaminated Hospital Environment
 Bloodborne Pathogens – Hepatitis B and HIV
Vital Signs
 Indication of Homeostasis
 Primary Mechanisms
 Heart beat
 Blood pressure
 Body temperature
 Respiratory rate
 Electrolyte balance
 Physical assessment include measurement of vital signs
 Body Temperature
Pulse
Respiration
Blood Pressure
Mental Status
Body Temperature
 Normal average body temperature: 98.6 F
Humans can survive between 106 F and 93.2 F.
 Hypothermia
 Hyperthermia
 Measuring Body Temperature
 Oral
 Rectal
 Axillary
 Tympanic
Pulse
 Pulse rate: Adult = 60 to 100 beats per minute
 Children under 10 = 70 to 120 beats per minute
 Tachycardia
 Bradycardia
Respiratory Rate
 Breaths per minute: Adult = 12 to 20
 Children under 10 = 20 to 30 per min
 Tachypnea
 Bradypena
 Dyspnea
 Apnea
Pulse Oximeter
• Normal Pulse Oximeter = 95% to 100%
Blood Pressure
• Blood Pressure
• Systolic pressure = 95-140 mmHg
• Diastolic pressure = 60-90 mmHg
• Hypertension
• Hypotension
Oxygen
 Oxygen constitutes 21% of atmospheric gases
 If O2 levels in the body drop below 21% homeostasis is altered.
 Hypoxia: Inadequate amount of oxygen at the cellular level.
Oxygen Devices
 Nasal Cannula
 Masks
 Nonrebreathing mask
 Aerosol mask
 Air-entrainment mask
Tent and Oxyhood
Chest Tubes and Lines
• Endotracheal Tube (ET)
– Ventilator
• Chest Tubes
• Nasogastric tube (NG)
• Central Lines
Medical Emergencies
 Definition: Sudden change in medical status requiring immediate action.
 For RT’s medical emergencies are rare, however as medical personnel we
must be prepared to recognize emergencies.
Anaphylactic Reaction
 An immune response to foreign material
 Bronchospasm – wheezing and edema in the throat and lungs
 Can lead to shock
 Requires prompt recognition and treatment from the technologist
Why do RT’s care about Anaphylactic RXN’s….?
General Priorities
 Ensure an open airway
 Control Bleeding
 Take Measures to Prevent shock
 Attend to wounds or fractures Appropriately
 Provide emotional support
 Continually reevaluate and follow up
ABC
• A = Air Way
• B = Breathing
• C = Circulation
CPR
• C = Cardio
• P = Pulmonary
• R = Respiration
• Must be certified for the
“Health Care Provider”
• Cards good for 2 years are available.
• In your work environment:
• Emergency assistance protocol (how to get help)
• Emergency Cart/Crash Cart Location
 Level of Consciousness: ALOC
 Altered Level Of Consciousness
 Anaphylactic Shock: vasogenic shock
 Hypoglycemic/Hyperglycemia
 NPO – Nothing by Mouth
 Pallor = paleness; absence of skin coloration
 Shock = failure of the circulatory system
 CPR = cardiopulmonary resuscitation
 For program must be for Health Care Provider
 Stroke = Cerebrovascular Accident (brain)
 Heart Attack = Myocardial Infarct (heart)
 N/V = Nausea & Vomiting
 Epistaxis = nosebleed
 Vertigo = dizziness
 Syncope = fainting
 Hemorrhage = bleeding outside a vessel