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Chain of Infection Components						Print
																Related Pages
										The chain of components has six sections. They include:
**Microorganisms**: Disease producing, also called pathogens
Virus, parasite, fungus, bacterium
Risk factors: Virulence, pathogenicity, ability to enter host
**Reservoir/Source**: Environment/habitat where a pathogen can live and multiply
Environmental surfaces/equipment, body fluids (blood, saliva), urine/fecal material, food/water, soil, skin, respiratory tract
**Portal of Exit**: How the pathogen exits or leaves reservoir
Skin to skin, skin to surface, blood, mucous membranes, oral cavity, fecal
Other potentially infectious material (OPIM): Seminal fluid, joint fluid, saliva, urine/fecal material, any body fluid contaminated with blood
**Modes of Transport**: How a pathogen moves from reservoir to susceptible host
Direct Transmission: Airborne, droplet, contact (e.g., skin), bite, needlestick or other sharps injury
Indirect Transmission: Fomites – contaminated equipment or medication (multidose vials, single dose vials), vectors, food, water
**Portal of Entry**: Opening where the pathogen may enter
Body openings (e.g., mouth, eyes, urinary tract, respiratory tract), incisions, wounds
**Susceptible Host**: The person at-risk: patient or healthcare worker
Factors affecting susceptibility (e.g., age, health, co-morbidities, immune system, nutrition, infective dose, medications)Chain of Infection graphicPreviousNext
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  April 28, 2022						Source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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        Syndicate homeSafety Culture in Healthcare Settings
Training Informationplus icon
Introduction
Module 1: Safety Cultureplus icon
Why a Culture of Safety is Important
The Sociotechnical Model
Definition Examples of Safety Culture and Overlap with Safety Climate
Key Attributes and Joint Benefits of Safety Culture
Common Features of Positive Healthcare Worker Safety Culture
General Measurable Elements of a Safety Culture
Tools to Measure Safety Culture and Climate
A Snapshot of Safety Culture in U.S. Hospitals
References
Quiz 1Module 2: Work-Related Risks and Hazardsplus icon
Biological Hazardsplus icon
Chain of Infection Components
Risk Factors of Biological Agents and Unsafe Practices
Chemical Hazards
Enviromechanical Hazards
Physical Hazards
Psychosocial Hazards
Hazard Assessment/Determination
Case Study
References
Quiz 2Module 3: Prevention and Control of Work-Related Injury and Illnessplus icon
Hierarchy of Controls
Elimination: Physically Remove the Hazard
Substitution and Engineering Controls
Administrative Controls: Change the Way People Work
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Protect the Worker with PPE
Donning and Doffing PPE: Proper Wearing, Removal, and Disposal
References
Quiz 3Module 4: Leadership and Safe Work Environmentsplus icon
Commitment to Workplace Safety as High Priority and Through Role Modeling
Policies and Procedures and Safe Patient Handling
Hazard Analysis and Safe Staffing Workloads
State-of-the-Art Training and Handling Patients
Engage Healthcare Worker Champions and Observe Work
Transparency, Training, and Staff Safety Rounds
References
Quiz 4Module 5: Legal-Ethical Considerations to Promote Safe Working Conditionsplus icon
The Occupational Safety and Health Act and OSHA Standards
OSHA Healthcare Standards
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and OSHA Guidelines
What Workers Can Do
Ethics and Healthcare Worker Exposure Considerations
Ethical Principles
References
Quiz 5Safety Culture in Healthcare Settings: Resources Follow NIOSH Facebook
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