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The Chain of Infection The chain of infection has six links: Understanding the chain of infection and how pathogens travel makes it easier to act at the right time and at the right place for better results. It makes it easier to optimize resources to efficiently prevent the spread of pathogens. Eliminating just one these steps will break the chain, making it much less likely — if not impossible — for infection to spread. Break the chain of infection with frequent cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces and ensure hand hygiene and isolation protocols and guidelines are strictly followed. 1.The infectious agent or pathogen These can be bacteria, viruses, spores or fungi. 2.The reservoir This is where pathogens can thrive and reproduce, such as environmental surfaces like light switches. Pathogens on such surfaces can easily spread to a hand and onto another surface. A person can also be a pathogen reservoir. Where germs live in a person’s body determines how they exit the body and contaminate other people or objects. It also determines how they attach to or enter the bodies of other people and potentially cause illness. 3.The portal of exit Pathogens can leave reservoirs via various paths. Gastrointestinal pathogens Exit path: vomit and diarrhea. How to break the chain: By isolating infected people or restricting them from certain objects and areas. Respiratory pathogens Exit path: sneezing, coughing, and even tiny droplets from the mouth when talking. How to break the chain: By sneezing into one’s elbow, and by having sick people use a respiratory mask when in the presence of healthy people. Bloodborne pathogens Exit path: only through the blood or body fluids of an infected person. How to break the chain: By enforcing special sanitation rules for blood and body fluids, as well as procedures for safely handling and disposing needles. Sweat is not considered a body fluid from a disease-transmission point of view. Chain of Infection 4. The mode of transmission Remember that to remain healthy, you must reduce the risk of a pathogen leaving the body of a sick or infected person and entering your body, making you sick. To stay healthy, we have to break the chain of infection and adapt our cleaning programs to optimize our chances of success. Strategies that break the chain of infection prevent the spread of illnesses and reduce overall costs. Once the germ leaves the reservoir, it must come into contact with objects or people, be ingested or inhaled. Through contact Isolate objects and areas to limit transmission. Thoroughly clean and disinfect elements of transmission. Frequency of cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces is also crucial for controlling the spread of germs through contact. Through inhalation Isolate sick individuals so that healthy people do not breathe contaminated droplets. Renew the ambient air more often; separate ventilation systems will also help to prevent the spread of airborne germs. Many germs have more than one mode of transmission. People may also need to fight off more than one contagious infection at a time. In some situations, it may be necessary to implement a combination of strategies for preventing transmission. 5. The portal of entry Through contact Isolate healthy people from infected objects and areas to limit exposure and possible transmission. Wearing disposable gloves, gowns and protective eyewear can protect against contacting or ingesting pathogens. Through inhalation Wear a suitable respiratory mask to protect against respiratory pathogens. Not all masks are equal, however. Only individuals who have done an fit test and who have received appropriate training should use respiratory protection equipment. Individuals who have not done an fit test and received the appropriate training should not enter the isolation area of an individual with an infectious respiratory disease. Hand hygiene is effective for breaking the chain of infection, primarily when it comes to the portal of exit, the mode of transmission and the portal of entry. For this reason, frequent and effective hand hygiene is the best way to keep oneself and others healthy. 6. The susceptible host Humans and other living matter possess an immune system that always defends against pathogen attacks. People can naturally develop a resistance or immunity to certain pathogens. In the industrialized world, we use immunization to confer protection against certain diseases. When a vaccine is available for protection against an infection, it is recommended that the vaccination be taken. This will protect you while also preventing you from spreading the disease to others.