Ch. 15 Infection Control - Key Terms
AIDS
Caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and suppresses the immune system so an individual cannot fight off many cancers and infections.
Aerobic
Organisms that require oxygen to live.
Airborne Precautions
applied in the context of preventing the spread of airborne infections
Anaerobic
Organisms that live and reproduce in the absence of oxygen.
Asepsis
The absence of disease-producing microorganisms, or pathogens.
Autoclave
The most common piece of equipment used for sterilization; uses steam under pressure, gas, or radiation.
Bacteria
Simple, one-celled organisms that multiply rapidly and are classified by shape and arrangement.
Bioterrorism
The use of microorganisms, or biologic agents, as weapons to infect humans, animals, or plants.
Cavitation
A process in ultrasonic units where microscopic bubbles explode to drive cleaning solution into small spaces on instruments.
Chain of Infection
A series of factors/conditions that must be met for disease to occur and spread.
Chemical Disinfection
A process that uses chemical disinfectants to destroy or kill pathogenic organisms; used mainly on objects.
Clean
An object or area that does not contain pathogens.
Communicable Disease
described as a disease that can occur and spread from one individual to another
Contact Precautions
relates to transmission via direct or indirect contact,
Contaminated
Means that organisms and pathogens are present.
Disinfection
Process that destroys pathogenic organisms but is not always effective against spores and viruses; used on objects, not people.
Droplet Precautions
relates to breathing in droplets carrying infections
Ebola
A filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fever, beginning with flu-like symptoms and progressing to massive hemorrhaging and death.
Endogenous
Infection or disease that originates within the body.
Epidemic
An infectious disease that affects a large number of people within a population, community, or region at the same time.
Exogenous
Infection or disease that originates outside the body.
Fomites
Objects contaminated with infectious material that contains pathogens, such as doorknobs or bedpans
Fungi
Simple, plant-like organisms that live on dead organic matter (e.g., yeasts and molds).
Health Care-Associated Infection
An infection acquired by an individual in a health care facility (formerly called nosocomial).
Helminths
Multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes.