Course Description
Although medical imaging technologists may or may not be aware of it, they are exposed to various infectious diseases throughout the day. Understanding the differences between these diseases, as well as how they are transmitted, can help reduce the risk of transmission from patient to patient, patient to healthcare worker, and healthcare worker to healthcare worker. There are diseases that are both infectious and noninfectious in nature. There are also 2 types of disease processes. Pathologic processes occur within a single patient and cannot be transmitted to anyone else. Infectious processes associated with pathologic processes or that result from pathologic processes can be transmitted to others. Because medical imaging professionals frequently encounter patients prior to diagnosis, they need to apply standard precautions to each and every patient as well as follow isolation procedures when they are in place. Following isolation instructions, proper hand hygiene, and facility procedures and protocols for infection control processes will significantly reduce their chances of becoming infected and the potential for transmitting these infections to patients or other healthcare workers. The following article discusses several infectious diseases that radiologic technologists may encounter and methods for reducing transmission.

Learning Objectives
After reading this article, the participant should be able to:

• Define the difference between infectious and pathologic disease processes.
• Discuss the means by which infectious diseases are transmitted.
• Describe methods medical imaging technologists can use to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases from patient to patient, patient to healthcare worker, and healthcare worker to healthcare worker.

Categories: Professional Development/Patient Care Quality

CE Information
In order to receive CE credit, you must first complete the activity content. When completed, go to the “Take CE Test!” link to access the post-test.

Submit the completed answers to determine if you have passed the post-test assessment. You must obtain a score of 75% to receive the CE credit. You will have no more than 3 attempts to successfully complete the post-test.

Participants successfully completing the activity content and passing the post-test will receive 1.0 ARRT Category A credits.

Approved by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists for ARRT Category A credit.

Approved by the state of Florida for ARRT Category A credit.

Texas indirect credit.

This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors. ARRT does not allow CE activities such as Internet courses, home study programs, or directed readings to be repeated for CE credit in the same or any subsequent biennium.