Nvq 3 - 265 - Causes and Spread of Infection

Unit 265   - Causes and spread of infection | |

Unit | Learning outcome | Assessment Criteria | Evidence |
265 | 12 | 1.11.21.31.41.52.12.22.32.42.5 | There are four differences of micro-organisms that cause infection.   The differences   between these are as follows:Bacteria - This is a single celled micro-organism that does not contain a nucleus, which reproduces by cell division.Viruses – These are infectious agents which replicate itself through infecting a host.Fungi – This is a multi-cellular micro-organism which has a rigid cell wall, which reproduces through forming spores that are released to start a new cell elsewhere.Parasite – This is an organism that lives off another organism, thus obtaining food from it without contributing to the survival of the host.Some of the common illnesses and infections caused by these micro-organisms are as follows:Bacteria – causes tuberculosis, pneumonia, tetanus infections, MRSA.Viruses – cause chicken pox, influenza, measles and common coldsFungi – causes thrush, athlete’s footParasite – causes head-lice, scabies, tapeworm, malariaInfection – This can be described as an invasion of any part of the body by a pathogenic micro-organism that then multiplies and produces contamination or disease.Colonisation – This happens when a micro-organism establishes itself in a particular part of the body - under the skin but does not usually cause an infection. Systemic infection – This is manifested when several organs or the entire body becomes infected.   The symptoms manifested are high temperature or a sense of weakness and feeling under the weather.Localised infection – This is when an infection is confined to one area.   This can manifest by symptoms of redness, swelling or the area may be hot to the touch.The spread of infection is usually caused by poor health or hygiene practices, some of these are:   * Dirty hands – the hands carry a number of micro-organisms and these are transmitted to another host via touching; and...