Preventing the Spread of Respiratory Illnesses

This assignment focuses on preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses. It outlines best practices for covering coughs and sneezes, using tissues properly, washing hands frequently, and avoiding contact with mucous membranes. The guidelines aim to minimize transmission of respiratory pathogens through proper hygiene and etiquette.

Students Name: Admin no:
Date:
1. Provide examples of good personal hygiene practices to follow when working in healthcare
facilities and the importance of hand care
Some of the good personal hygiene practices include eating, drinking and smoking only in the
designated areas that are away from places where hazardous materials are kept. Others include
maintaining the work clothes in a good condition, washing of the skin, eyes or clothing promptly
if hazardous materials splash on them even when there are no apparent symptoms. Removing
contact lenses when working in areas with presence of vapour and always washing hands before
patient contact and aseptic procedures, after patient contact, as well as contact with the patient’s
environment. According to Boyce and Pittet (2002), hand care is essential in the prevention of
the spread of bacteria from the patient’s environment and the patient himself.
2. Identifying the likelihood and severity of harm in the hospital set up
Needle stick injury
The risk rating is significant, the severity of the harm is major, and the likelihood is significant.
The immediate action is to wash the exposed area with soap and plenty of water and then notify
the supervisor or the department responsible for managing the exposures. The risk management
procedure would be to identify the source and access and check the risk status of the individual
source (Doan et al., 2012).
Blood spill on the corridor
The risk rating is negligible, the severity of harm is low, and the likelihood is negligible. The
immediate action would be to identify the source of the spillage and clean it whereas the risk
management procedure would be to treat the wounds producing the spill.

Exposure to blood/body fluids
The risk rating is low, the severity of harm is significant, and the likelihood is significant. The
immediate action would be to report the exposure to the person in charge and report on how long
the fluid was in your body. The risk of management especially the risk of becoming infected
after the exposure would be low, but it is good to report the vulnerability right away.
Contamination of materials, equipment and aerosols
The risk rating is high, the severity of harm is major, and the likelihood is high. The immediate
action would be to report to the person in charge.
3. Tasks involved in terminal cleaning room and personal protective equipment required
during these cleaning procedures
The following are some of the tasks involved in terminal cleaning: Gathering all the equipment
required for the terminal cleaning, wearing the personal protective equipment (PPE), discarding
all disposables in the room as clinical waste, preparing disinfecting\cleaning solutions in a
container (Grol and Grimshaw, 2003). Ventilation of the room cleaned must be adequate and
when there is the absence of windows the door should be left open during application of chlorine
dioxide\hypochlorite solutions. After cleaning before drying rinse with water, always
decontaminate your hands after removing and disposing of PPE. Some of the personal protective
equipment required during the cleaning include: double gloves, coverall or disposable gown
made of fluid resistance fabric, disposable, waterproof apron, heavy duty, reusable waterproof
apron, fluid resistance surgical/medical mask, eye protection equipment e.g. goggles or face
shield and lastly the waterproof boots.
4. Susceptible hosts and why they are at high risk of developing an illness
Susceptible hosts are the individuals with small resistance alongside certain organism but when
exposed to the same organism they are likely to develop the illness (Jackson et al., 2008).
Examples of vulnerable hosts include aged and young ones- the ageing process is deleterious of
fitness and this makes it easier for aged to be vulnerable to disease, persons with malnutrition –
malnutrition is a result of energy deficit. This leads to immunodeficiency hence making one
susceptible to diseases, persons with high level of stress- which is a mental tension state and

worry which is caused by problems in life. Stress causes low immune system by creating
continual inflammatory situation as well as weakening the immunity and persons undergoing
medical therapy. However, patients exposed to microorganisms may develop a commensal
connection as well as keep the organism to be the asymptomatic carrier and grow a disease
process which is very active (Klionsky et al., 2008).
5. Meaning of the following terminologies
Colonisation -This is the presence of microorganisms in the body that makes a person sick, but
there are no signs and symptoms seen.
Infection-This is a microorganism present in the body and where they cause damage to the body
tissues, it’s in the presence of acute inflammation, e.g. swelling, redness and pain. Here, the
germs are in the body and make you sick resulting in signs and symptoms.
Disease-This is an abnormal condition not caused by any external force which impacts an
organism but it comprises of disorder functions usually serving as evolutionary disadvantages.
6. Routes or modes of transmission for infections and examples of infections that may be
transmitted via each
• Contact; is a frequent form of transmission of infections. It can either be direct or indirect.
When there is a direct body surface interaction between two organisms and a physical transfer of
pathogens from an infected people to another individual through touch, it is called direct contact
transmission while indirect contact transmission occurs between a contaminated object and a
person and microorganisms remain on its surface. Examples of infections which can be
transmitted through this mode is Noroviruses
• Droplet transmission; this route of transmission occurs especially when droplets having
bacteria are propelled in the air and they land on a different individual entering into his system
via contact with the nasal mucosa, mouth and conjunctivae. The droplets are generated during
sneezing, coughing, and even talking. An example of infection transmitted through this mode is
Influenza (Ridzon et al., 1997).

• Airborne; This occurs via airborne droplets nuclei and dust particulates with infectious
agents. The agents ferried through such mode usually remain afloat in the air and can be flown
by the air currents. M.tuberculosis is one of the microorganisms transmitted through airborne
route.
• Vehicle; this applies to germs transmitted through contaminated items medical devices plus
equipments. Example of microorganism transmitted through vehicle mode of transmission is
cholera (bacteria)
• Vector-borne; here the vertical transmission from the vector to the progeny occurs through
the transovarial passage of the infectious agent while horizontal transmission occurs when
infected vector transfer the agent to the host. An example of microorganism transmitted through
the vector-borne mode of transmission is Malaria.
7) Differences between bacteria, fungi and virus by and define each with examples that you
may come across in a hospital.
Bacteria are prokaryotic single-celled organisms which replicate asexually, and it can be harmful
or beneficial depending on the type of bacteria, while viruses are cellular non-living pathogens
and they need host cells to reproduce. Fungi are eukaryotic and living organisms which can
either be very complex multicultural or single-celled organisms. Most of the fungi species are
saprophytic, which decompose dead matter (Boyce and Pittet, 2002). Examples of bacteria that
you may come across in a hospital environment include Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium
sordellii, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii. Examples of the
virus include Hepatitis A Band C, Influenza, Human immunodeficiency virus and Notovirus.
Examples of fungi microorganisms include Sartini M, Spagnolo AM, Lombardi R and Orlando
P.
8) Defining the elements of the chain of infection and how it is transmitted from one person
to another.

A pathogen is a disease-causing organism and leads to an illness when they enter the host body.
Examples include bacteria, fungi and protozoans.
A susceptible host is when an organism contracts a disease because it is unable to fight the
infection or the disease successfully. Examples include persons who are ill, elderly as well as the
debilitated.
Portal of entry refers to how germs enter the host’s body either through ingestion, inhalation or
penetration. However, the degree of an infection can vary with the depth of penetration.
Examples of the portal entries in an organism include open wounds, urinary and respiratory tract
to mention just a few
Transmission is defined as to how germs or pathogens are spread. The transmission can either
be direct or indirect where for the direct it requires a close link with the infected organism or host
but not necessarily physical contact, and for the indirect transmission, a vector is used. Examples
of the common ways of transmission include indirect contact, needle stick injury insects or
animals and contaminated objects among others.
Portal of exit is how germs or pathogens leave the hosts body. This can either be through body
fluids such as saliva, mucus, urine, through intestinally and respiratory tract and open wounds.
Reservoir; this is the environment where pathogens live and multiply. The reservoirs can either
be in contaminated food or water, in humans and soils not to forget insects and animals (Doan et
al., 2012).
9. Steps of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
The first step is to cover the mouth or the nose with non reusable single-use tissues, especially
during sneezing, blowing /wiping noses as well as coughing. Second, contain the secretion of
respiratory substances with a tissue. Third, dispose the tissues immediately after use. Fourth, in
the event where tissues are not available, sneeze or cough inside the inner elbow instead of hand.
Fifth, wash your hands immediately after direct contact with the contaminated materials or
secretions. Lastly, keep your hands off the mucous membrane of the eye as well as the nose.

References
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