Ch. 15 Infection Control - Key Terms
What is AIDS?
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and suppresses the immune system
What is autoclave?
An autoclave is the most common piece of equipment used for sterilization.
What is chemical disinfection?
A process that uses chemical disinfectants to destroy or kill pathogenic organisms, mainly on objects
What is Disinfection?
A process that destroys or kills pathogenic organisms but is not always effective against spores and viruses
What is Exogenous?
An infection or disease that originates outside the body
What is aerobic?
Some microorganisms, called aerobic organisms, require oxygen to live
What is bacteria?
Bacteria are simple, one-celled organisms that multiply rapidly
What is Clean?
An object or area that does not contain disease-producing microorganisms
What is droplet precautions?
Used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by large-particle droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing.
What is Fomites?
Objects contaminated with infectious material that contains pathogens, such as doorknobs, bedpans, or linens
What is airborne precautions?
Airborne precautions (Figure 15-45) are used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei.
What is Bioterrorism
The use of microorganisms, or biologic agents, as weapons to infect humans, animals, or plants
What is communicable disease?
A disease that is transmitted from one individual to another.
What is Ebola?
filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fever, beginning with flu-like symptoms and progressing to massive hemorrhaging and death
What is Fungi?
Simple, plant-like organisms, such as yeasts and molds, that live on dead organic matter
What is anaerobic?
Others, called anaerobic organisms, live and reproduce in the absence of oxygen.
What is Cavitation?
A process used in ultrasonic units where microscopic bubbles strike the items being cleaned and explode, driving cleaning solution onto the article
What is contract precautions?
Used for patients known or suspected to be infected with epidemiological microorganisms transmitted by direct or indirect contact.
What is Endogenous?
An infection or disease that originates within the body
What is health care-associated?
An infection acquired by an individual in a health care facility, such as a hospital or long-term care facility
What is asepsis?
Asepsis is defined as the absence of disease-producing
microorganisms, or pathogens.
What is chain of disinfection?
A series of factors (infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host) that must be met for disease to occur and spread
What is Contaminated?
Organisms and pathogens are present on an object or area
What is Epidemic?
An infectious disease that affects a large number of people within a population, community, or region at the same time
What is Helminths?
Multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes