Bacteria are a very small, self-sufficient, one-celled organism that thrives in a variety of environments. However, many bacteria thrive in the mild 98. 6 health body environment, some of these environmentally content bacteria in your body are actually good for you; its only 1% that isn’t. Some examples of the sicknesses that bacteria cause are; * Impetigo * Meningitis * Tuberculosis * UTI (urinary tract infections) * Conjunctivitis * Gastroenteritis A virus is a capsule containing genetic material, even smaller than bacteria. The main task of virus is to reproduce.
However, viruses need a suitable host to multiply, unlike bacteria. Some examples of the illnesses that viruses cause are; * Influenza * Common colds * Meningitis * Chicken pox/shingles * Bronchitis Fungi can be seen as moulds, yeasts and mushrooms. They can all live in your body, usually without harm and some offer benefits as well. For example, penicillin comes from fungi, and this is a ‘life saving’ antibiotic that kills harmful bacteria. Fungi are also required to make certain foods, such as bread, cheese and yoghurts. Other fungi aren’t as beneficial and can cause illnesses.
Some examples of the illnesses fungi can cause are: * Thrush * Athletes foot * Ringworm * Toenail infections A parasite is a form of living creature/insect, which spends some or all of its life cycle within a host. Parasites that live on the surface of the host are called ectoparasites and those that live inside the host are called endoparasites. Some examples of parasites that affect humans are; * Head lice * Scabies * Roundworm * Tape worm * Malaria * Bed bugs. Infection is caused by pathogens- these are any living particle that is capable of causing a disease; this could be to plants or animals.
Bacteria and viruses are both pathogens, they are also micro-organisms which mean that they are too small for the human eye to see. An infection is caused when an organism gains entry to a host, for example if the flu virus gains entry to a person; the host and organism will then cause damage. This damage can either be systemic- which means that the whole body will be affected as with the flu virus or local- which would consist of redness or swelling on any area of the body. Colonisation is different.
People carry around lots of different bacteria on our skin; these bacteria don’t cause any problems unless they invade the body. This is what’s meant by colonisation. If these bacteria multiply to such an extent the body’s defence cannot cope, then the infection will occur. Hosts normally fight infections themselves via our immune system. Healthy human hosts react to infections with an innate response, often involving inflammation, followed by an adaptive response. A local infection is an infection in which the whole body is infected; only specific portion and a systemic infection is one that’s widespread throughout the body and must be in all organs.
By providing poor practices such as not washing our hands correctly or even regular enough, incorrect personal protective equipment (PPE), using unclean equipment such as hoists and wheelchairs, poor waste management, poor food practices and poor personal hygiene, contamination and spread of infection can be drastically reduced. Standard or universal precautions have been put into place to protect both the employees and service user’s from infection and helps control its spread.
By following these standard precautions, best practices become second nature and risks of infections are lowered. Standard precautions are: * Hand hygiene * PPE * Exposer to blood and body fluids * Education of carers, healthcare workers and service users * Disposal of sharps and clinical waste * Laundry management * Isolation nursing * Equipment * Environment Outcome 2: Understand the transmission of infection Specific nutritional requirements for different micro-organisms vary, but every micro-organism requires sources of carbon, nitrogen, inorganic phosphate, sulphur, trace metals, water and vitamins.
The growths of micro-organisms also require the proper ph. The micro-organisms that prefer a neutral pH are referred to as neutrophils, or neutral-loving micro-organisms. The bulk of the human pathogens are within this group. Temperature is another factor; Mesophilic bacteria and fungi have optimal growth at temperatures of 25-45c. A large majority of human pathogens mesophilic, because they prefer body temperature. Thermophilic micro-organisms (heat loving) grow at temperatures greater than 45c. Psychrophilic micro-organisms grow at temperatures below 20c.
It’s useful to know what types of micro-organisms prefer what temperatures so then it can help you to pin point the origin of an infection. There are 4 main routes for infections to transmit into the body: * Ingestion – food and drink or other infected products that are swallowed and infect the stomach or bowels. Most people have experiences an upset stomach which we notice with vomiting and diarrhoea. * Inhalation – coughs, colds, flu and other common airborne infections are contracted this way. * Inoculation – one of the many functions of our skin is to act as a barrier against infection.
Anything that may penetrate the skin, or for that matter the mucous membrane that lines the mouth or nose, provides a route for infection to enter. Typically bites, scratches all increase the risk of infection. * Through the urinary and reproduction systems. The infectious agent that may remain localised or may enter the blood stream. Sexually transmitted infections mostly infect the genitals. HIV, the AIDS virus, are carried in bodily fluids and can be transmitted in spit, seminal fluids or blood.
One of the commonest modes of transmission for infection is our hands. As care assistants, our hands come into contact with many possible infectious agents such as body excretions and secretions for example blood, urine, faeces, vomit and sputum. If good hand hygiene isn’t practiced, micro-organisms will be passed from one individual to another. General cleanliness, including general, environmental, equipment and materials reduce the sources of infection within the care home. Our own personal hygiene is of most importance.
It’s good practice to start the day clean and tidy, with particular attention paid to fingernails, which should be kept short and clean; hair should be clean and tied back if it’s long. The care home environment must also be kept clean, if the environment is dirty then there is higher chance of the transmission of micro-organisms. Service users should never share soap, nailbrushes, toothbrushes, razors, towels and face clothes. Food hygiene is very important to prevent cross contamination. If strict guidelines are not adhered to in the handling of food serious illness can be caused.
UTI’s (urinary tract infection) are an infection to the urinary system. There caused by certain bacteria that enter the urinary tract. If this sort of infection isn’t treated early on, then it could lead to the bladder infection becoming worse or it could even become a kidney infection. Kidney infection is a progressive stage of the urinary infection; this is the 3rd stage of the untreated UTI. The 2nd stage is the bladder infection. This might also be triggered by other conditions such as pregnancy, cancer and kidney stones.
An individual who is suffering from a kidney infection will experience a fever with chills, nausea and vomiting, and lower back pain. Inner ear infection is a kind if infection which is also known as labyrinthitis. It’s an infection of the inner ear known as labyrinth. This infection is mainly caused by other viral infections such as flu and cold. Staph infection is a condition where the body is attacked by a bacterium called staphylococcus aureus. The symptom is always characterised by puss filled packets or abscesses in the infected area.
Symptoms may also include pain and swelling for the infected individual, as always good hand hygiene is a key feature in prevention of this particular infection. In order for infection to occur certain conditions have to be present. This is called ‘the chain of infection’ and each of the conditions needs to be met in the correct order before the infection can occur. There are six conditions: If all these conditions are met then an infection can occur. We can break the chain of infection by adhering to the standard precautions and first and foremost – effective hand washing.