NURSING CARE FOR A FAMILY CARING FOR CHILDREN
Maintaining handwashing practices before and
WITH INFECTIOUS DISORDER
BY: TATYANA LAUREN P. AJERO, RN, MAN
INFECTION
 The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in
the tissues of the host, resulting in signs and
symptoms, as well as, immunologic response.
 It injures the patient by:
1. Competing with the host metabolism
2. Cellular damage produced by microbes
3. Intracellular multiplication
 Invasion can be localized or systemic.
 SPORADIC DISEASES – are diseases that occur
occasionally and irregularly with no specific pattern
1. Tetanus
2. Gas gangrene
 ENDEMIC DISEASES – occurs in greater number than
what is expected in a specific area over time
1. Dengue
2. Occasional flu
 PANDEMIC DISEASES – local widespread of disease
1. HIV/AIDS
2. SARS
3. INFLUENZA H1N1
4. COVID – 19
 ENDEMIC DISEASES – present in a population or
community at times.
1. Schistosomiasis
WHY DOES INFECTION OCCUR?
 Some bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics
 Some microbes such as influenza viruses have so
many different strains that a single vaccine cannot
protect against all of them
 Most viruses resist antiviral drugs
 New infectious agents occasionally arise
 Opportunistic organisms can cause infection in
immune-compromised patients
 Most people have not received vaccinations
 Increased air travel can cause the spread of the
virulent organisms to a heavily populated area in hours
 Biological warfare and bioterrorism using organisms
such as anthrax and plaque that causes increasing
threat to the public health (e.g. bacteria & viruses)
 The expanded use of immunosuppressive drugs and
invasive procedures increases the risk of infection
(makes the person more susceptible to viruses and
bacteria)
NURSING CARE OF PATIENTS WITH COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES:
1. Self – protection – priority to protect yourself at all
times.
a. Wear appropriate PPE (mask, goggles, gloves,
cover-all to whichever is appropriate)
b.
after dealing with the patient
2. Prevention of the spread of the infectious agent
through medical asepsis and concurrent disinfection
(break the chain of infection)
a. Medical asepsis doing concurrent disinfection
b. Reduce exposure of places
3. Physical care of the patient
a. Teach patient self-care (doing fair hygiene daily)
4. Emotional support of the patient
a. Try to rebuild their confidence slowly
5. The provision of the spiritual aspect of care
a. Support them in any way that we can to gain
confidence
INFECTIOUS PROCESS
PHASES:
1. INCUBATION PERIOD
a. It the time between the invasion of an organism
and the onset of symptoms of infection (person
can be asymptomatic)
b. During this time, microorganism grow and multiply.
The incubation period varies depending on the
pathogen.
c. A common interval is 7 to 10 days, but it can be
longer
d. The incubation period for tetanus, for example, is 2
to 21 days
2. PRODROMAL PERIOD
a. A time between beginning of nonspecific
symptoms and disease-specific ones
b. Nonspecific symptoms include lethargy, low-grade
fever, fatigue, and malaise
c. Children are infectious (capable of spreading the
microorganisms to others) during this time, but
because their symptoms are so vague they do not
generally take any precautions against spreading
disease/ virus
d. Therefore, during a prodromal period, infectious
diseases spread readily through communities to
any susceptible individuals. Prodromal stages are
generally short, ranging from hours to few days
3. PERIOD OF ILLNESS/ PERIOD OF DECLINE
a. Illness is the stage during which specific
symptoms re evident
 b. Most illnesses have local symptoms related to the
body organ affected and also systemic symptoms
that affect the entire body, such as fever,
increased WBC count, or headache
c. Many childhood infections have accompanying
rash on the skin (exanthema) or mucous
membrane (enanthem)
4. PERIOD OF CONVALESCENCE
a. The interval between when symptoms first begin to
fade and the child returns to full wellness. Because
fatigue is often an accompanying symptom of
infection, the convalescent period, or the time until
full energy is restored, is often longer than
anticipated.
CHAIN OF INFECTION
Chain of infection consists of different components:
1. INFECTIOUS AGENTS
a. Is any microbes capable of producing disease
b. Different forms:
 BACTERIA – are simple-one-celled microbes
with the double cell membranes that protect
them from harm. They produce rapidly and
are considered ad the most common cause of
fatal infectious diseases.
 Shape – cocci, bacilli, spirillae
 Need for oxygen – aerobic, anaerobic
 Response to staining – gram+ or gram –
or acid fast
 Motility – motile, non-motile
 Tendency to capsulate - encapsulated,
capsulated
 Capacity to form spores - spore forming,
non-spore forming
 SPIROCHETE – a bacterium with flexible,
slender, undulating spiral rods that possess
cell wall. there are 3 forms:
 Treponema
 Leptospira
 Borilia
 VIRUSES - the smallest of known microbes.
They cannot replicate independently of the
host’s cells rather they invade and stimulate
the hosts cells to participate in the information
of additional viruses
 RICKETTSIAE – small GRAM– bacteria like
microbes that can induce life threatening
infections
 Rocky Mountain Spotted fever
 Typhus fever
 Q fever
 CHLAMYDIAE – smaller than rickettsiae but
larger than viruses. These are common cause
of infection of the urethra, bladder, fallopian
tubes and prostate gland
 FUNGI – are found almost everywhere on
earth. They live in organic matter, soil, water,
animals, and plants
 PROTOZOA – are much larger than bacteria.
They are the simplest single-celled organisms
of the animal kingdom
 PARASITES – lives on or inside other
organisms
CHARACTERISTICS MAKE SOME INDIVIDUALS MORE
PRONE TO INFECTION THAN OTHERS:
1. AGE – infection occurs most readily in the very
young and the very old
2. GENDER – girls, for example, have more urinary
tract infection than boys
3. VIRULENCE – some organisms are stronger than
others or cause disease more readily
4. BODY DEFENSES PRESENT – physical, chemical,
and immune responses all protect against foreign
invaders. Children with immunosuppression are
more susceptible than others
2. RESERVOIR
 Refers to the environment and objects on which an
organism survives and multiplies
a. HUMAN RESERVOIR
 Frank cases or the very ill
 Subclinical or ambulatory – seek
consultation
 Carriers
 An incubatory carrier – person who is
in incubating period
 A convalescent carrier – person who
is in recovery stage begins to shed
pathogenic organisms
 The intermittent carrier – person who
occasionally shed pathogenic
 Chronic and sustained carrier –
person who always has the infectious
organism in his system
b. ANIMALS
c. NON-LIVING THINGS
3. PORTALS OF EXIT
 Is the path or way through which the organism
leaves the reservoir. Usually, this is where the
organisms grow. The common portals are:
 a. Respiratory system SUGGESTED CONTROL MEASURES FOR PRIMARY
b. Genitourinary tract (GUT) CARE CLINICS
c. Gastrointestinal tract A. MASKING
d. Skin and mucous membrane - All staff members should wear masks
e. Placenta (in transplacental transmission) - Patients with respiratory problems should be
4. MODES OF TRANSMISSION asked to wear masks
 Means by which the infectious agent passes B. HANDWASHING
through from the portal of exit of the reservoir to - Practice proper handwashing with soap and water
the susceptible host. - Wash hands before and after patient contact and
a. CONTRACT TRANSMISSION – is the most after removing gloves
common mode of transmission C. GLOVING
 Direct contact – occurs when there is - Wear gloves for all direct contact with patients
physical contact between infected person - Change gloves and wash hands after contact with
and susceptible person each patient
Ex: touching, kissing, contact with body D. GOWNING
lesions, sexual contact, contact with oral - Wear a gown during procedures which are likely to
secretions generate splashes or sprays of blood and body
 Indirect contract – no direct human-to- fluids, secretions or excretions
human contact and contact occurs from a E. EYE PROTECTION (GOGGLES)
reservoir to a contaminated surface or - Wear goggles for aerosol/splash generating
object or vectors procedures to avoid contact with aerosols
Ex: infected person sneezes, coughs, F. ENVIROMENTAL DISINFECTION
sending infectious droplets into the air - Clean surfaces daily with a disinfectant (e.g.
 Droplet spread - travel 3-6 ft. and land on diluted household bleach or 70% alcohol)
surfaces or objects ISOLATION
b. AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION – occurs when  Is the separation of patients with communicable
fine microbial particles or dust particles diseases from others so as to prevent or reduce
containing microbes remain suspended in the transmission of infectious agents directly or
air for a prolonged period indirectly
c. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION – the  Refers to the precautions taken in hospitals to
transmission of infectious disease through prevent the spread of an infectious agents from an
articles or substances that harbor the infected or colonized patient to susceptible
organism until it is inoculated into the host. persons
d. VECTOR-BORNE TRANSMISSION – occurs PURPOSE OF ISOLATION
when intermediate carriers such as fleas, flies  To confine the infectious agent to a circumscribed
and mosquitoes, transfer the microbes to area and prevent the escape of infection from the
another living organism. area
5. PORTALS OF ENTRY  TWO LEVELS OF PRECAUTIONS
 A venue which the organism gains entrance into a. The first level is STANDARD PRECAUTIONS,
the susceptible host. which apply to all patients at all times because
6. SUSCEPTIBLE HOST signs and symptoms of infection are not
 The body has many defenses against the entry always obvious and therefore may
and multiplication or organisms unknowingly pose a risk for a susceptible
person
BODY FLUIDS THAT REQUIRE UNIVERSAL b. The second level is known as
PRECAUTION TRANSMISSION BASED PRECAUTIONS,
1. Blood which are intended for individuals who have
2. Semen known or suspected infection with certain
3. Vaginal secretions organism
4. Synovial secretions SEVEN (7) CATEGORIES RECOMMENDED IN ISOLATION
5. Amniotic fluid 1. STRICT ISOLATION – to prevent highly contagious
6. Cerebrospinal fluid or virulent infections
7. Pleural fluid a. Wash hands after every contact with the
8. Peritoneal fluid patient or potentially contaminated articles
9. Pericardial fluid before taking care of another patient
 b. Articles contaminated with infectious materials
should be appropriately discarded or bagged
and labeled before they are sent to
decontamination and processing
c. The healthcare worker or nurse may use a
private room
d. Use of masks, gowns, and gloves is a must
e. Negative pressure to surrounding areas is
desirable
2. CONTACT ISOLATION – to prevent infections that
are spread primarily by close or direct contact
3. RESPIRATORY ISOLATION - to prevent
transmission of infectious diseases over short
distances through the air
4. TB ISOLATION – for TB patients with positive
smears or with chest x-rays which strongly suggest
active tuberculosis
5. ENTERIC ISOLATION – for infections that are
spread through direct contact with feces
6. DRAINAGE/SECRETION PRECAUTION – to
prevent infections that are transmitted by direct or
indirect contact with purulent materials or drainage
from an infected body site
7. UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION – is applied when
handling blood and body fluids
a. This precaution is applied to patients with HIV/
or HepB infection
b. It is intended to prevent parenteral, mucous
membrane, and non-intact skin exposure to
blood borne pathogens
c. This isolation is necessary to prevent infections
that are transmitted by direct contact with
infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions and
other body fluids