A concise and brief description of all six links

1. Chain of Infection
Ms. Kelly
8th Grade Health

2. Infection:
• An invasion of pathogens or
microorganisms into the body that are
capable of producing disease.
• The invasion and reproduction of
microorganisms in a body tissue that
can result in a local or systemic clinical
response such as cellulitis, fever etc.

3. Infection Control:
• Includes all of the practices used to
prevent the spread of microorganisms that
could cause disease in a person.
• Infection control practices help to protect
clients and healthcare providers from
disease by reducing and/or eliminating
sources of infection.

4. The Six Links…
• Pathogen
• Reservoir
• Place of Exit
• Method of Transmission
• Port of Entry
• Susceptible Host

5. 10/10/2009 Dr. Salwa Tayel 5
Agent
Susceptible Host Reservoir
Mode of transmission
Cycle of infection
Portal of ExitPortal of Inlet
IP
PC

6. Reservoir
• The place for a pathogen to live and
grow
– Direct transmission:
Human or animal body (host)
– Indirect transmission:
Contaminated food or water
Animal/insect
Infected soil

7. Place of Exit
• Ways pathogens escape the
reservoir
– Mouth
– Nose
– Broken skin

8. Method of Transmission
• A way to get to a new host
• Directly
– Body fluids (i.e. blood, secretions)
• Indirectly
– Intermediate hosts (i.e. toothbrushes,
animals, drinking fountains, food)

9. Port of Entry
• Ways to enter a new host
– Broken skin
– Mouth
– Nose
– Eyes
– Genitals
– Insect bites

10. Susceptible Host
• Those that have little (if any)
resistance to the pathogen and
thus, lack the ability to fight them off
• Carriers: Those who carry germ,
but show no signs or symptoms;
can spread disease, but often do so
unknowingly

11. Do all 6 links need to be
connected in order for a
disease to be transmitted?YES

12. …if even ONE link is
broken, an infection will
not occur!

13. Break the Chain…
• Kill the pathogen
• Prevent contact
• Prevent its escape
• Prevent Transmission
• Block the Ports
• Resistant Host

14. Kill Pathogen
• If you kill the pathogen, you stop it
from spreading
• Method
– Antibiotics or other medications
– Wash hands

15. Prevent Contact
• By preventing things from coming
in contact with an infected source,
the pathogen has no place to
escape to
• Method:
– Quarantine/
isolate
those with
disease

16. Prevent Escape
• If the pathogens cannot get out of
its host, the disease cannot spread
• Method:
– Cover your mouth when you sneeze
– Wear a band-aid to cover wounds

17. Prevent Transmission
• By not giving pathogens a means to
travel, we can stop the spread
• Method
– Kill/control infected animals/insects
– Ensure proper treatment of sewage
– Chlorinate drinking water

18. Block the Ports
• If you do not have ways for
pathogens to get into a new host,
they cannot infect
• Method
– Cover wounds
– Do not eat “shady” food

19. Resistant Host
• By making smart choices about
your health and developing a
strong immune system, your body
can fight off pathogens without you
ever feeling sick
• Method
– Exercise
– Eat well-balanced diet
– Get immunizations