Infection Control

Introduction

In this section, you'll review how microorganisms grow and survive.

 

Microorganisms

Healthcare professionals are always working on preventing the spread of infection and promoting health in their patients. Sometimes, it's the simplest tasks that can make the biggest difference in decreasing the spread of infection. Some of what you'll learn here can be incorporated into your everyday life to help you and your family to stay healthy.

Since the early nineteenth century, morbidity and mortality from infectious disease has been on the decline due to major advances in medicine like antibiotics and vaccines. Healthcare professionals and scientists also conducted many studies on ways to reduce the spread of infection. The results of many of these studies have provided the foundation of our modern infection control principles.

Do you remember the definition of infection control? The goal of infection control is to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. To best understand how infections are spread, look at the basic process of infection.

The body contains living microorganisms that help maintain certain bodily functions. Think of the normal flora in your intestinal tract. They're beneficial microorganisms you need to help aid in the digestion of the food you eat. Other microorganism, called pathogens, cause infectious diseases. Pathogens cause disease when the opportunity arises and they're allowed to grow and multiply in the human body.

 

For microorganism to grow and survive, they must be in an environment that's suitable for them. One pathogen may thrive in one type of environment, and another pathogen may not. The following list includes the environmental factors required for growth to occur:

1. Oxygen. Some microorganisms need oxygen to live, but many others don't. Microorganisms that require oxygen are called aerobic. Those that require very little or no oxygen at all are called anaerobic. An example of anaerobic bacteria is streptococcus, which is the common pathogen that causes strep throat.

2. Moisture. Microorganisms thrive in moist areas. Our bodies do provide moisture for pathogens.

3. Food. All microorganisms need a food source to grow and thrive. Our bodies can provide plenty of nutrients for pathogens.

4. Temperature. Different microorganisms can grow and multiply at varying temperatures depending on the individual organism. However, the human body provides a nice warm place at approximately 98.6°F, which is an optimal temperature for many microorganisms. One reason people develop a fever when sick with certain pathogens is that the higher temperature is unsuitable for the pathogens to thrive

5. Limited light/darkness. Sunshine and bright light can dry out a moist area. Microorganisms prefer dark areas that are more consistently moist.

6. Neutral or slightly alkaline pH. Most microorganisms don't like acidic environments. Most prefer a neutral or even slightly alkaline area to grow and thrive.

 

Key Points

• The goal of infection control is to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• Microorganisms called pathogens cause infectious disease when they're able to grow and multiply within the body.
• Microorganisms that require oxygen are called aerobic; those that require little or no oxygen are called anaerobic.