Ch. 15 Infection Control - Key Terms
What is AIDS?
caused by the human immunodeficiency virus and suppresses the immune system
What are bacteria?
simple, one-celled organisms that multiply rapidly
What does clean mean?
objects or parts of objects that don’t contain disease-producing organisms and therefore have minimal chance of spreading the disease
What are droplet precautions?
used for patients infected with a transmissable pathogen
What are fomites?
objects contaminated with infectious material that contains the pathogens
What does aerobic mean?
Requires oxygen to live
What is bioterrorism?
the use of microorganisms, or biological agents, as weapons to infect humans, animals, or plants
What are communicable diseases?
caused by a pathogenic organism that can be easily transmitted to others
What is ebola?
filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fever, a disease that begins with flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, headache, myalgia, and a skin rash
What are fungi?
simple, plant-like organisms that live on dead organic matter
What does anaerobic mean?
can live and reproduce in the absence of oxygen
What is cavitation?
a process where bubbles strike the items being cleansed and they explode
What are contract precautions?
must be followed for any patients known or suspected to be infected with epidemiological microorganisms that can be transmitted by either direct or indirect contact
What does endogenous mean?
infection or disease originates within the body
What does health care-associated mean?
an infection acquired by an individual in a health care facility such as a hospital or long-term care facility
What is asepsis?
the absence of disease-producing microorganisms, or pathogens
What is chain of disinfection?
a process that uses chemical disinfectants to destroy or kill pathogenic organisms
What does contaminated mean?
organisms and pathogens are present
What is an epidemic?
occurs when a communicable disease spreads rapidly from person to person and affects a large number of people at the same time
What are helminths?
multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes
What is an autoclave?
a piece of equipment that uses steam uinder pressure or gas to sterilize equipment and supplies
What is chemical disinfection?
chemicals used for aseptic control
What is disinfection?
a process that uses chemical disinfectants to destroy or kill pathogenic organisms
What does exogenous mean?
infection or disease originates outside the body
What is hepatitis B?
caused by the HBV virus and is transmitted by blood, serum, and other body secretions