WARNING!!! The following may be a bit graphic. If you have a weak stomach you may want to
refrain from eating while reading this blog!
Years ago, when I first started down this path of
educating on the use of disinfectants for infection prevention I had lunch with
a veteran ICP. We were sitting across
from each other (less than 1 meter apart) over soup and salads chatting about
transmission of various pathogens. Being
a bit naïve, I asked her about the importance of a TB claim on products as I
had received several inquiries pertaining to products that carried TB claims
for use in populations with high TB prevalence.
Let me tell you, I got schooled on Airborne Transmission that day!
educating on the use of disinfectants for infection prevention I had lunch with
a veteran ICP. We were sitting across
from each other (less than 1 meter apart) over soup and salads chatting about
transmission of various pathogens. Being
a bit naïve, I asked her about the importance of a TB claim on products as I
had received several inquiries pertaining to products that carried TB claims
for use in populations with high TB prevalence.
Let me tell you, I got schooled on Airborne Transmission that day!
The ICP put down her spoon, looked at me and shook her
head….you know the kind of shake you get when someone can’t believe you’ve just
said something really, really dumb? As
my ICP friend went on to explain airborne transmission occurs when bacteria or
viruses travel on dust particles or on small respiratory droplets that may
become aerosolized when people sneeze, cough, laugh, or exhale. They hang in
the air much like invisible smoke. They can travel on air currents over
considerable distances. With airborne transmission, direct contact with someone
who is infected is not necessary to become ill. The amount of exposure
necessary varies from disease to disease. With chickenpox, a child could easily
catch it from another aisle in a supermarket. With tuberculosis, closer contact
and less air circulation are often needed.
head….you know the kind of shake you get when someone can’t believe you’ve just
said something really, really dumb? As
my ICP friend went on to explain airborne transmission occurs when bacteria or
viruses travel on dust particles or on small respiratory droplets that may
become aerosolized when people sneeze, cough, laugh, or exhale. They hang in
the air much like invisible smoke. They can travel on air currents over
considerable distances. With airborne transmission, direct contact with someone
who is infected is not necessary to become ill. The amount of exposure
necessary varies from disease to disease. With chickenpox, a child could easily
catch it from another aisle in a supermarket. With tuberculosis, closer contact
and less air circulation are often needed.
She said “Let me put it to you this way. If I had TB, coughed up a “phlegm-ball”, spit
it in your soup and you ate it….you would not catch TB. The ONLY way you can catch TB is to breathe
in enough of the air particles I have exhaled that are carrying TB. Diseases such as TB that are only transmitted
by inhalation of infectious particles carried in the air are not transmitted by
touching surfaces or “eating” someone’s phlegm.”
it in your soup and you ate it….you would not catch TB. The ONLY way you can catch TB is to breathe
in enough of the air particles I have exhaled that are carrying TB. Diseases such as TB that are only transmitted
by inhalation of infectious particles carried in the air are not transmitted by
touching surfaces or “eating” someone’s phlegm.”
As I learned that day, while some organisms such as
Chickenpox can be spread by both contact with the open lesions and via air,
there are a number of organisms such as TB that are solely transmitted by air.
The best way to avoid airborne infections is to be in a different room from the
person who is ill, with a closed door in between. If you need to be in the same
room, wearing a mask such as an N95 respirator will help for a brief exposure.
Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in the patient room is still an important
part of infection control to keep down the bio-burden levels, but for organisms
that are solely transmitted by air, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces does
help in stopping or preventing transmission.
Cough etiquette - covering the mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing
also decreases droplet spread to some degree as such patients with suspected
infections caused by pathogens that are spread by airborne transmission should
be given a mask to wear until they can be isolated or if being transported.
Chickenpox can be spread by both contact with the open lesions and via air,
there are a number of organisms such as TB that are solely transmitted by air.
The best way to avoid airborne infections is to be in a different room from the
person who is ill, with a closed door in between. If you need to be in the same
room, wearing a mask such as an N95 respirator will help for a brief exposure.
Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in the patient room is still an important
part of infection control to keep down the bio-burden levels, but for organisms
that are solely transmitted by air, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces does
help in stopping or preventing transmission.
Cough etiquette - covering the mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing
also decreases droplet spread to some degree as such patients with suspected
infections caused by pathogens that are spread by airborne transmission should
be given a mask to wear until they can be isolated or if being transported.
I love soup, but even 8 years later, whenever I eat
chicken noodle soup, I still recall the story my ICP friend told me and hope no
one has spit in my soup! I know I won’t
get TB, but who knows what else I could pick up!
chicken noodle soup, I still recall the story my ICP friend told me and hope no
one has spit in my soup! I know I won’t
get TB, but who knows what else I could pick up!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
