Chain of INFECTION

Jhessie L. Abella, RN, RM, MAN

Chain of Infection
The "chain of infection" is the name of the model that describes the way how infections spread through a population. This chain of infection is made up by six different elements. All these elements need to be present and linked to each other in order for an infection to be able to spread.

Chain of Infection

Chain of Infection
Infectious Agent This can be a bacteria, virus, parasites or prions. Any organism is capable of causing infection if all the links/components are present.

Reservoir A reservoir is the place where an infectious agent lives and reproduces in such a manner that it can be transmitted. Infectious agents can live in or on people, animals, insects, soil or water.

Chain of Infection
Portal of Exit Path by which infectious agent leaves the reservoir.
excretions and secretions non intact skin (e.g., draining wounds) respiratory tract (e.g., sneezing, coughing, talking) gastrointestinal tract (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, stool) mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, vagina)

Chain of Infection
Portal of Exit

Chain of Infection
Modes of Transmission
The method of transmission is how the pathogen moves from place to place
Contact transmission is the most common route of transmission of organisms in health care settings. Droplet transmission refers to large droplets that are generated from the respiratory tract of infected individual during coughing, sneezing or laughing or during such procedures as suctioning. Airborne transmission occurs when an individual with an organism/disease that is transmitted by the airborne route expels the organism from their respiratory tract by coughing, laughing, singing and sneezing.

Portal of Entry
The point where the infectious agent enters a new host lace. nonintact skin (e.g., broken skin such as bed sores or wounds coming in contact with contaminated material) respiratory tract gastrointestinal tract (e.g., eating contaminated food)

Chain of Infection
Susceptible Host
The susceptible host is the person who may become infected. The host cannot have immunity to the pathogen such as may occur through previous infection with the pathogen or through immunization.

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NOROVIRUS

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause inflammation of the stomach and large intestine lining (gastroenteritis); they are the leading cause of gastroenteritis in the U.S. The norovirus was originally called the Norwalk virus after the town of Norwalk, Ohio, the location of the first confirmed outbreak in 1972 Humans are the only known reservoir for noroviruses. It has been hypothesized that there may also be an animal reservoir, but, although related caliciviruses have been found in many animal species, there have not been any documented cases of cross-species transmission.

NOROVIRUS

Once someone is infected from contaminated food, the virus can quickly pass from person to person through shared food or utensils, by shaking hands or through other close contact. People who have a weakened immune system are particularly susceptible to catching noroviruses. Infected food handlers can contaminate any foodstuff, and outbreaks of NoV infections can be associated with any food that is handled and will be eaten without a further cooking step. Contamination can occur during the preparation of foods as well as during the harvesting of fresh produce such as soft fruits

NOROVIRUS

What Are the Symptoms of a Norovirus Infection? If you come down with a norovirus infection, you'll probably go from being completely healthy to feeling absolutely miserable within a day or two after being exposed to the virus. Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting (more often in children), watery diarrhea (more often in adults), and stomach cramps.