BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING:

FUNDAMENTALS IN NURSING
COURSE MODULE COURSE LAB WEEK
1 1 1

Concepts of Asepsis and Infection Control

✓ Read course and laboratory unit objectives

✓ Read study guide prior to class attendance
✓ Read required learning resources; refer to course unit terminologies for jargons
✓ Participate in weekly discussion board (Canvas)
✓ Answer and submit course unit tasks

At the end of this unit, the students are expected to:

• Explain the relationship between the infection chain and transmission of infection.
• Give an example of preventing infection for each element of the infection chain.
• Identify the normal defenses of the body against infection.
• Discuss the events in the inflammatory response.
• Identify patients most at risk for infection.
• Explain the difference between medical and surgical asepsis.
• Explain the rationale for standard precautions.
• Explain how infection control measures differ in the home versus the hospital.
Potter, Patricia A... et al. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing, vol 1, 9th ed. Singapore: Elsevier. Pp. 442-485

Computer device or smartphone with internet access (at least 54 kbps; average data subscription
will suffice)

Read the following Discussion as additional reference to answer worksheet.

TERMINOLOGIES:
Asepsis- Is the freedom from disease causing microorganisms.
Nosocomial infection- Infections that are associated with the delivery of health care services in a health
care facilities (Kozier, 2008)
Iatrogenic infection- Are the direct result of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures (Kozier, 2008)
Communicable Disease- any disease that spreads from one host to another, either directly or indirectly
Contagious Disease- disease that easily spreads directly from one person to another
Infectious Disease- disease not transmitted by ordinary contact but require a direct inoculation through
a break in a previously intact mucous membrane. On the other hand, all contagious diseases are
infectious.
Carrier- is an individual who harbors the organism and is capable of transmitting it to a susceptible host
without showing manifestations of the disease.
Contact - is any person or animal who is in close association with an infected person, animal, or freshly
soiled material

ASEPSIS AND INFECTION CONTROL

Asepsis- Is the freedom from disease causing microorganisms.
Two types:
1. Medical Asepsis – procedures used to reduce the number of microbes and prevent spread
2. Surgical Asepsis – procedures use to eliminate any microorganisms (sterile technique)
Type of Microorganism causing infections
1. Bacteria
2. Fungi
3. Parasites
4. Virus
Infection-Implantation and successful replication of an organism the tissue of the host resulting in signs
and symptoms
• Carrier-An individual who harbors the organism and capable of transmitting it to a susceptible
host but not show manifestations of a disease
• Contact-Any person or animal in close association with the source of infection
Disinfection-Destruction of pathogenic microorganisms outside the body through direct physical or
chemical means
• Concurrent-Done while the individual is still the source of infection
• Terminal-The patient is no longer the source of infection
Quarantine-Limitation of the freedom of movement of persons or animals which have been exposed to
a communicable disease for a period of time equivalent to the longest incubation period of that disease
Reservoir-Where the infectious agent lives
ISOLATION
• Strict isolation-Prevention of highly contagious or virulent infection (handwashing, PPEs)
• Contact isolation-Prevent infections transmitted primarily by direct contact
• Respiratory isolation-Prevent transmission over a short distance through the air
• Enteric isolation-Prevent the spread through direct contact from feces
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTS
• LEVEL A-Self-rebreathing apparatus with garment totally encapsulated chemical suit (gives the
highest protection)
• LEVEL B-Positive pressure with non-encapsulated chemical suit
• LEVEL C-Air purifying respirator
• LEVEL D-Standard work clothes without a respirator

Causative
agent

Susceptible
host Reservoir

Portal of
entry
Portal of exit
Mode of
transmission

The chain of infection is a way of gathering the information needed to interrupt or prevent an epidemic.
Each of the links in the chain must be favorable to the organism for the epidemic to continue. Breaking
any link in the chain can disrupt the epidemic. Which link it is most effective to target will depend on the
organism.
The Organism: What is the organism? Bacteria, virus, protist, parasite, or fungi? The type of organism
informs you of the types of disinfectants, antiseptics and antimicrobials to use. Is it aerobic or anaerobic?
What are its virulence factors? Toxin production in particular effect the course of the infection. What is
its target host tissue?
The Reservoir: Where do you find the organism in between outbreaks? What is the continual source of
the infection? A reservoir can be environmental, the hospital setting or the water supply, or in a living
organism, a rodent, bird or even snail. Humans are the only reservoir for many human pathogens.
Portal of Exit: How does the organism leave the reservoir? Does it leave in feces, blood or mucus; in
contaminated water; or in the blood meal of an insect.
Transmission: How is the organism transmitted from one host to the next host? Does it need a living
vector like a mosquito or flea? Some organisms like malaria have complicated life cycles involving more
than one species. Can it be passed human to human? When passed human to human, it is transmitted
by respiratory droplets, blood contact, semen or other secretions? Is it transmitted on the hands of
health care workers or the hospital ventilation system? Hand-to-mouth is a common mode for
gastrointestinal pathogens.
Portal of Entry: How does the organism enter the body? Does it come through inhalation, a break in the
skin or mucus membrane, an insect bite, contaminated food? The portals of entry would be through the
nose, skin, or mouth. Portal of entry tells you what type of personal protective equipment (PPE) to use
to keep health care workers, family and visitors safe.
Vulnerable Populations: Who is most vulnerable to this organism? Common vulnerable populations are
the very young and the very old, and the immune suppressed (due to genetics, transplant drugs,
malnutrition, or viral infection like HIV). Occupational exposure should be considered. For many human
pathogens, all of the non-immune is vulnerable. The non-immune is everyone who has not been
previously exposed and generated a specific immune response to the pathogen. Previous exposure
comes from either a previous infection or vaccination, or rarely with infection of a similar species that
gives cross-immunity.
CAUSATIVE AGENT- Any microbe capable of producing disease (bacteria, virus, fungie, protozoa, etc)
RESERVOIR OF INFECTION- Where organisms survives and multiplies
PORTAL OF EXIT- Path through which the organism leaves the reservoir (Respi, GUT, GIT,skin, mucus
mem)
MODE OF TRANSMISSION-Means by which the infectious agent passes through from portal of exit to
the susceptible host (easiest link to break)
• Contact Transmission
o Direct (person-to-person)
o Indirect (contaminated objects/fomites)
o Droplet spread (respiratory secretions that settles on surfaces)
• Air-borne Transmission-Microbes remain suspended in the air for prolonged period
• Vehicle transmission-Spread through articles or substances that harbor the microorganism
• Vector-borne transmission-Occurs when intermediate carriers transfer the microbes to another
living organism
o Biological
o Mechanical
o Transoviral
PORTAL OF EXIT- Venue through which the organism gains access into the susceptible host
SUSCEPTIBLE HOST- Persons with weak immune system.
LEVELS OF PREVENTIVE CARE
• PRIMARY PREVENTION
o “True prevention”
 o Applied to clients that are healthy
o Health promotion, health education, immunization, nutrition, physical fitness
• SECONDARY PREVENTION
o Focuses on ill or sick individuals, and those at risk of developing complications
o Directed towards diagnosis and intervention
o Screenings, surgery, medications
• TERTIARY PREVENTION
o Focuses on permanent or irreversible disability
o Minimizing the long-term effects of illness
o Rehabilitation (PT)

Period of
Illness
(early s/sx)

Prodromal Period of
Period Decline
(early s/sx) (s/sx
subsides)

Incubation Convalescent
Period period
(infection to 1st (recovery)
s/sx)
STANDARD PRECAUTION- “universal precautions ”applied to all clients performed whenever there is a
possibility of contact with: blood, body fluids (except sweat), secretions, mucus membrane and
breaks in skin
CONTACT PRECAUTIONS-These are used with organism that can be transmitted by hand or skin to skin
contact, such as during client care activities or when touching the client’s environmental surfaces or care
items
DROPLET PRECAUTION-These are used for microorganisms transmitted by LARGE PARTICLE DROPLETS
through coughing, sneezing or talking which disperse into air currents
AIRBORNE PRECAUTION-These are used for microorganisms transmitted by SMALL PARTICLE
DROPLETS that can remain suspended and become widely dispersed by air currents.
Transmission based precautions
1. Airborne precaution
Ø These are used for microorganisms transmitted by SMALL PARTICLE DROPLETS that can
remain suspended and become widely dispersed by air currents.
2. Droplet precaution
Ø These are used for microorganisms transmitted by LARGE PARTICLE DROPELTS through
coughing, sneezing or talking which disperse into air currents.
3. Contact precautions
Ø These are used with organism that can be transmitted by hand or skin to skin contact, such
as during client care activities or when touching the client’s environmental surfaces or care
items.
Isolation System-Refers to techniques used to prevent or to limit the spread of infection
1. Standard Precautions
2. Transmissions-based precautions
3. Protective Isolation
Protective Isolation- Implemented to prevent infection for people whose resistance to infection/body
defenses are lowered or compromised

The following rules must be implemented:

1. The use of search engines (e.g. Google, Yahoo) are allowed.

2. Use navigation techniques as mentioned in the required readings.
3. Students must submit this accomplished worksheet through email or Canvas upload.

I. Activity title: MAPit happen!

1. Definition and other terminologies in Infection Control.

A concept map can help a student gain more information and understand complex ideas, this can
serve as a guide to better comprehend big chunks of information and discover new links through
visual approach.

Instructions: Using the topic Infection Control as the main concept, create a conceptual map that will
discuss and expound the topic in Asepsis and Infection Control, from its’ types/examples, prevention
etc. Be creative, make your conceptual map colorful, lively and interactive as possible. Have fun!

Types of infection according to:

ü Classification of infectious disease
ü Types of infection
ü Patterns of infection
ü Chain of infection
II. Activity Title: Thru CriTIQUE and thin

Article review or critique can help students understand and evaluate the content of the article, it can
also serve as a platform for them to express and share their opinions and ideas on public and social
matters

Instructions:

Please write a review on this article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-

3099(19)30642-5/fulltext (Links to an external site.)

Be guided on the following questions:

1. Based on the article, what are the different types of infectious disease outbreaks we had in
2019? What do you think is the culprit of this outbreak?
2. On your opinion, how important it is for health care professionals like us to raise awareness
about communicable and infectious diseases and the importance of vaccines to prevent us
from acquiring this disease, relate your answer to the article.
3. Based on your knowledge on patterns and chain of infection, can you think of a new project
or program that the government should start to help reduce if not eliminate the infectious
diseases mentioned in the article.
4. As a student nurse, how can you help the government rebuild the trust of the community
members who for some reasons implied in the article became “Non-believers of vaccines”

III. Scientific Knowledge Base

1. Development of an infection occurs in a cycle that depends on the following elements.
a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

2. Explain the most common modes of transmission.

a. Direct

b. Indirect

c. Droplet
 d. Airborne

e. Vehicles

f. Vector

IV. The Infectious Process

1. Infections follow a progressive course by four stages. List and explain each stage.
a.

b.

c.

d.

2. Explain the normal body defense against infection.

a. Normal Flora
b. Body system defenses
c. Inflammation
3. Define the following types of health care-associated infections (nosocomial).
a. Exogenous
b. Endogenous
4. identify the sites of health care-associated infections.
a.
b.
c.
d.
5. The following factors influence a patient’s susceptibility to infection. Briefly explain them, giving
an example of each.
a. Age
b. Nutritional Status
c. Stress
d. Disease Process
V. Nursing Process. (Identify a cause for the following risk of infections)
a. Chronic disease
b. Lifestyle behaviors
c. Occupation
d. Diagnostic procedures
e. Hereditary
f. Travel history
g. Trauma
h. nutrition
VI. Nursing Diagnosis (Identify some common nursing diagnoses that apply to patients at risk ow
who have an actual infection.
a. .
b. .
c. .
 d. .
e. .
f. .
VII. Planning (List four common goals for a patient with an actual or potential risk of infection.
a. .
b. .
c. .
d. .
VIII. Implementation (List the ways a nurse can teach patients and their families to prevent an
infection from developing or spreading in community and health care settings).
Community settings
a. .
b. .
c. .
d. .
Health care settings
a. .
b. .
c. .
IX. Evaluation (The expected outcome is the absence of signs and symptoms of infection. List
some ways the nurse can monitor the patient).
a. .
b. .
c. .
d. .

Date Completed:
Date Submitted:

Textbooks:
Potter, Patricia A. et al. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing, vol. 1&2, 9th ed. Singapore: Elsevier.
Potter, Patricia A. et al. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing: Laboratory Manual, 9th ed. Singapore:
Elsevier.
Websites:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(19)30642-5/fulltext

Journals:
Julie Henderson, Eileen Willis, Allison Roderick, Kasia Bail, Genevieve Brideson. (2020). Why do nurses miss
infection control activities? A qualitative study. Collegian, 11-17.