Patient Care · Infection Control

Cycle of Infection

Follow the six links of the infection cycle, from infectious agent to susceptible host, to see where radiographers break it.

Mode of transmissionAlso called the means of transmission

How the organism travels from reservoir to host. Six routes: direct contact, droplet, airborne, fomite (a contaminated object), vehicle (contaminated food, water or soil) and vector (an insect).

Break it here

This is the radiographer’s link. Hand hygiene first — medically aseptic handwashing is an easy and effective way to control transmission. Then the fomite route, which is yours to own: dusting, disinfecting equipment, handling linens and disposing of waste are all medical asepsis, and your imaging table is the fomite.

Patient Care lessonInfection control