What are the 6 links in the chain of infection?
- Pathogen or infectious agent — the infection cause
- Reservoir or carrie r — the person, animal or environmental source
- Portal of exit — the way the infection comes out of the body, such as through the respiratory tract, skin contact, mucus or blood
What are the steps in the chain of infection?
- Infectious Agent – microorganism (e.g. ...
- Reservoir (source) – a host which allows the microorganism to live, and possibly grow, and multiply. ...
- Portal of Exit – a path for the microorganism to escape from the host. ...
- Mode of Transmission – how the infectious agent is transmitted from one person to another. ...
What is the Order of the chain of infection?
These include:
- Good hand hygiene
- Safe disposal of waste
- Safe management of laundry
- Correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
What is the definition of susceptible host?
susceptible host. a person who is unable to resist infection by a particular pathogen. Acute infection (common cold or flu) short term illness or rapid onset of disease, a relatively brief period of symptoms, and resolution within days.
Who are the susceptible hosts of infection?
Susceptible Host – it's either a baby, an elderly person or someone with a weakened immune system that is susceptible to the infectious agent.
What is susceptible host and examples?
The last link in the chain of infection is the susceptible host. This is the organism (e.g., You or your resident!) that will feel the effects of the infectious disease that has traveled through the chain of infection.
How are infections transferred to susceptible host?
The two main ways that an infection can be transmitted from its reservoir to a susceptible host are via direct transmission or indirect transmission. Direct transmission tends to be instantaneous and occurs when there is direct contact with the infectious agent.
What a susceptible host can do to break the chain?
Break the chain by cleaning your hands frequently, staying up to date on your vaccines (including the flu shot), covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick, following the rules for standard and contact isolation, using personal protective equipment the right way, cleaning and disinfecting the environment, ...
What is an susceptible host?
SUSCEPTIBLE HOST The person who is at risk for developing an infection from the disease.
What best describes a susceptible host?
Susceptible host can be any person (the most vulnerable of whom are receiving healthcare, are immunocompromised, or have invasive medical devices including lines, devices, and airways)
How do you protect a susceptible host?
Keeping personal hygiene, like taking a daily bath and washing your hands frequently. Hand washing with soap and water is the simplest and one of the most effective ways to prevent transmission of many communicable diseases (Figure 2.5).
Which nursing actions protect patients as susceptible hosts in the chain of infection?
Standard and Transmission-Based PrecautionsAppropriate hand hygiene.Use of personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, gowns, masks, eyewear) whenever infectious material exposure may occur.Appropriate patient placement and care using transmission-based precautions when indicated.Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette.More items...
What are the links in the chain of infection?
The six links in the chain are:The Infectious Agent – or the microorganism which has the ability to cause disease.The Reservoir or source of infection where the microorganism can live and thrive. ... The Portal of Exit from the reservoir. ... The Mode of Transmission. ... The Portal of Entry. ... The Susceptible Host.
What are the six chain of infection?
The 6 points include: the infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. The way to stop germs from spreading is by interrupting the chain at any link.
What are the three stages along the chain of infection?
Infectious agent (pathogen) Reservoir (the normal location of the pathogen) Portal of exit from the reservoir. Mode of transmission.
What is the best way to break the chain of infection quizlet?
One of the most effective ways to break the chain of infection is hand washing. Under Universal Precautions blood and certain body fluids from all individuals are considered potentially hazardous. Any body fluids with visible blood should be considered potentially hazardous and all appropriate PPE should be worn.
What is the final link in the chain of infection?
Host. The final link in the chain of infection is a susceptible host. Susceptibility of a host depends on genetic or constitutional factors, specific immunity, and nonspecific factors that affect an individual's ability to resist infection or to limit pathogenicity.
How many different links are there in the chain of infection?
The chain of infection, if we think of it as an actual chain, is made up of six different links: pathogen (infectious agent), reservoir, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, and the new host. Each link has a unique role in the chain, and each can be interrupted, or broken, through various means.
What is the ability of the body to defend itself against infection called?
The ability of the body to defend itself against infection is called 'immunity' . People such as these are 'susceptible hosts' – meaning they are vulnerable to developing infection when their bodies are invaded by germs. The infectious agent. The infectious agent is simply the germ that causes the infection.
What are the three major epithelial surfaces that the human body presents to the environment?
Portals of Entry and Exit. The human body presents three large epithelial surfaces to the environment—the skin, the respiratory mucosa, and the alimentary tract, and two lesser surfaces—the genital tract and the conjunctiva (Fig.
Why are susceptible hosts different from the general population?
Susceptible hosts differ from the general population because they are far more likely to get infectious diseases than the general population. Susceptible hosts have a myriad of reasons for their classification. Their susceptibility is due to risk factors that can arise from the individual itself or from the individual's environment.
What are some examples of risk factors?
Examples of risk factors include poor personal hygiene, poor control of infection throughout the environment and the age of the host.
What is the final link in the chain of infection?
Host. The final link in the chain of infection is a susceptible host. Susceptibility of a host depends on genetic or constitutional factors, specific immunity, and nonspecific factors that affect an individual's ability to resist infection or to limit pathogenicity. Click to see full answer.
What is the ability of the body to defend itself against infection called?
The ability of the body to defend itself against infection is called 'immunity' . People such as these are 'susceptible hosts' – meaning they are vulnerable to developing infection when their bodies are invaded by germs. The infectious agent.
Why do older people get more susceptible to infections?
Older adults become more susceptible to infections due to several factors. As people get older, it is more frequent that they have comorbid conditions, such as diabetes, renal insufficiency and arthritis. Many comorbid conditions, both the number and type of comorbid conditions, predispose people to infections.
What is the infectious agent?
The infectious agent. The infectious agent is simply the germ that causes the infection. Also Know, what are the factors that influence the susceptibility of the host? Host susceptibility is affected by many factors such as nutritional status, intercurrent disease, pregnancy, immunosuppressive drugs and malignancy.
What are the three major epithelial surfaces that the human body presents to the environment?
Portals of Entry and Exit. The human body presents three large epithelial surfaces to the environment—the skin, the respiratory mucosa, and the alimentary tract, and two lesser surfaces—the genital tract and the conjunctiva (Fig.
Why do carriers transmit disease?
Carriers commonly transmit disease because they do not realize they are infected, and consequently take no special precautions to prevent transmission. Symptomatic persons who are aware of their illness, on the other hand, may be less likely to transmit infection because they are either too sick to be out and about, take precautions to reduce transmission, or receive treatment that limits the disease.
What is reservoir in infectious agents?
Reservoir. The reservoir of an infectious agent is the habitat in which the agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies. Reservoirs include humans, animals, and the environment. The reservoir may or may not be the source from which an agent is transferred to a host. For example, the reservoir of Clostridium botulinum is soil, ...
How does airborne transmission occur?
Airborne transmission occurs when infectious agents are carried by dust or droplet nuclei suspended in air. Airborne dust includes material that has settled on surfaces and become resuspended by air currents as well as infectious particles blown from the soil by the wind. Droplet nuclei are dried residue of less than 5 microns in size. In contrast to droplets that fall to the ground within a few feet, droplet nuclei may remain suspended in the air for long periods of time and may be blown over great distances. Measles, for example, has occurred in children who came into a physician’s office after a child with measles had left, because the measles virus remained suspended in the air. ( 46)
What is the name of the virus that causes dengue fever?
Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by any one of four closely related flaviviruses, designated DEN-1, DEN–2, DEN-3, or DEN-4.
How is vectorborne transmitted?
Vectorborne (mechanical or biologic) In direct transmission, an infectious agent is transferred from a reservoir to a susceptible host by direct contact or droplet spread. Direct contact occurs through skin-to-skin contact, kissing, and sexual intercourse.
What is the pathogen triad?
As described above, the traditional epidemiologic triad model holds that infectious diseases result from the interaction of agent, host, and environment . More specifically, transmission occurs when the agent leaves its reservoir or host through a portal of exit, is conveyed by some mode of transmission, and enters through an appropriate portal of entry to infect a susceptible host. This sequence is sometimes called the chain of infection.
What is a carrier in a human reservoir?
As noted earlier, a carrier is a person with inapparent infection who is capable of transmitting the pathogen to others. Asymptomatic or passive or healthy carriers are those who never experience symptoms despite being infected. Incubatory carriers are those who can transmit the agent during the incubation period before clinical illness begins. Convalescent carriers are those who have recovered from their illness but remain capable of transmitting to others. Chronic carriers are those who continue to harbor a pathogen such as hepatitis B virus or Salmonella Typhi, the causative agent of typhoid fever, for months or even years after their initial infection. One notorious carrier is Mary Mallon, or Typhoid Mary, who was an asymptomatic chronic carrier of Salmonella Typhi. As a cook in New York City and New Jersey in the early 1900s, she unintentionally infected dozens of people until she was placed in isolation on an island in the East River, where she died 23 years later. ( 45)
What is the final link in the chain of infection?
The final link in the chain of infection is a susceptible host, someone at risk of infection. Infection does not occur automatically when the pathogen enters the body of a person whose immune system is functioning normally. When a virulent pathogen enters an immune-compromised person, however, infection generally follows.
How many links does the spread of infection have?
The spread of infection can be described as a chain with six links:
How do viruses spread?
Transmission of respiratory infections such as COVID-19 is primarily via virus-laden fluid particles (i.e., droplets and aerosols) that are formed in the respiratory tract of an infected person and expelled from the mouth and nose during breathing, talking, singing, coughing, and sneezing. The competing effects of inertia, gravity, and evaporation determine the fate of these droplets. Large droplets settle faster than they evaporate and contaminate surrounding surfaces. Smaller droplets evaporate faster than they settle, forming droplet nuclei that can stay airborne for hours (becoming aerosolized) and may be transported over long distances(Mittal et al., 2020, July 10).
What is infection control?
Infection control measures are designed to break the links and thereby prevent a pathogen from spreading.
What are the factors that influence the outcome of an exposure?
Host factors that influence the outcome of an exposure include the presence or absence of natural barriers, the functional state of the immune system, and the presence or absence of an invasive device.
What is emerging infectious disease?
Emerging infectious diseases are those whose incidence in humans has increased in the past two decades or are a threat to increase in the near future. These diseases, which can rapidly spread across national boundaries and communities, may challenge the ability of public health systems to prevent and control the spread of the disease, especially in resource-limited countries and regions.
Can viruses reproduce?
Viruses are intracellular parasites; that is, they can only reproduce inside a living cell. Some viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis B and C, have the ability to enter and survive in the body for years before symptoms of disease occur. Other viruses, such as influenza and COVID-19, quickly announce their presence through characteristic symptoms.
What is the chain of infection?
The chain of infection refers to how diseases begin and how they spread in a particular environment. Learn the definition of the chain of infection, the six links in the chain, and an example of a chain of infection. Updated: 09/22/2021
How many different links are there in the chain of infection?
The chain of infection, if we think of it as an actual chain, is made up of six different links: pathogen (infectious agent), reservoir, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, and the new host. Each link has a unique role in the chain, and each can be interrupted, or broken, through various means.
What is an example of illness resulting from the chain of infection?
An example of illness resulting from the chain of infection is the common cold. In this case, the pathogen is often referred to as rhinovirus. The reservoir is another person carrying this virus, who then propels the virus into the air via a portal of exit, such as a cough or sneeze.
How does an illness start?
An illness begins with the chain of infection. The first step in this chain is a pathogen (such as a virus or bacterium) that lives in a reservoir. The reservoir may be a human, an animal, or part of the environment. The pathogen exits its reservoir and is transmitted toward the new host. One method of transmission from a human reservoir is coughing. The pathogen then enters the new host. It may be inhaled or ingested. It may also penetrate through a mucous membrane or a wound.
What is the second link in pathogens?
The second link is the reservoir. This is the natural environment that the pathogen requires for survival. Reservoirs can be a person, an animal, or an environmental component, such as soil or water. This link can be broken through medical treatment and testing, insect and rodent eradication, or quarantine.
What is the final link in the pathogen chain?
The final link is the new host. Once in the new host, various factors influence the severity of infection, including the strength of the immune system and the reproductive rate of the pathogen. Immunization, health promotion, and medical treatment can be used to break this link in the chain.
Why is understanding the pathogens important?
This understanding can help people identify the most susceptible link and focus prevention efforts on breaking it.
What is the chain of infection?
The Chain of Infection. In order for the spread of infectious diseases to take place, the ‘chain of infection’ must be completed. The First link in the chain is the causative agent. This is the harmful germ or pathogen that can cause infection, illness. and disease. Examples include bacteria and viruses. The Second link is the reservoir or source.
Why is it important to protect people from infection?
The steps taken to protect individuals and workers from infection are an important part of providing high quality care and support . It is vital to remember that not everybody who carries harmful micro-organisms will be ill or show any symptoms , so you must work in ways that prevent infection at all times.
How do pathogens enter the body?
Pathogens can enter the body by coming into contact with broken skin, being breathed in or eaten, coming into contact with the eyes, nose and mouth or, for example, when needles or catheters are inserted. The Sixth link in the chain is a person at risk. A person at risk is the individual the pathogen moves to.
What is the third link in the respiratory system?
The Third link is the means of exit. This is how pathogens leave source. For example, pathogens that live in the respiratory tract (the lungs, throat, etc.) can leave the body through the mouth or nose or in saliva or mucus when coughing or sneezing.
What are some examples of diseases?
and disease. Examples include bacteria and viruses.
What is the 6th link in the chain?
The Sixth link in the chain is a person at risk. A person at risk is the individual the pathogen moves to. The risk of a person becoming infected depends on factors such as their general health and the strength of their immune system (which is the body’s system for fighting germs and micro-organisms)
