Question

What are the five different ways that infections are spread, provide a brief explanation of each and outline what PPE or infection control procedures you would use to prevent it

Answer 1

ANSWER :

Different ways of infection spread :

a)Airborne :

• When a person coughs or sneezes droplets from nose and throat infect the other person directly( direct inhalation) or indirectly( through fomites)
• Examples : Pneumococcal pneumonia , Hemophilus influenza type b , TB etc

Prevention :

• Maintain social or physical distancing
• Wearing mouth masks when sick
• Maintaining hygiene of hand by frequent hand washing
• Self isolation or quarantine when having the symptoms
• Don't touch your face with unhygienic hands
• Wearing PPE kit when providing care infected people

b)Feco- oral route :

• Microscopic amount of feces of infected person can spread the infection
• Hands , food, water or other objects soiled with feces when comes in contact to mouth can cause infection
• Examples : Hepatitis A ,Giardiasis etc.

Prevention :

• Environmental sanitary measures : proper excreta disposal
• Proper hand washing and maintaing water and food hygiene

c)Food and water borne diseases :

• Infection spread through food and water contaminated with the pathogen or toxins
• Examples : Salmonella , cholera etc

Prevention :

• Maintain good personal hygiene
• Drink properly treated water
• Wash raw vegetables properly and cook meat well in clean utensils
• Environmental sanitation

d)Blood or body fluids :

• When blood or body fluids of infected persons come in contact with mucous membranes or bloodstream or open woubds of another person can spread the infection
• Examples : HIV ,Hepatitis B and C etc

Prevention :

• Avoid contact with blood and body fluids
• Cover any open wounds or cuts on skin
• Use gloves , gowns and masks when providing care to infected persons
• Hand washing after providing care to infected person

e)Sexually transmitted infections :

• Genital to genital , oral to genital , oral or genital to rectal
• Examples : Gonorrhoea , HIV ,Syphilis

Prevention :

• Safe sex : using condoms
• Avoid sharing undergarments and towels
• Maintain proper hygiene of genitals after intercourse
• Hepatitis B vaccination