Aids
Syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus
autoclave
Safest most efficient sterilization method
Chemical disinfection
The term used for when chemicals are used for aseptic control.
disinfection
Process that uses chemical disinfectants to destroy or kill pathogenic organisms
exogenous
The infection or disease originates outside the body
Aerobic
Requires oxygen to live
bacteria
Simple, one celled organism that multiply rapidly
clean
Means that objects or parts of objects do not contain disease-producing organisms and therefore have minimal chance of spreading the disease
Droplet precautions
Infection control measures to prevent the spread of pathogens in health care settings.
fomites
Objects contaminated with infectious material that contain the pathogens
Airborne precautions
Precautions used for patients that are known or suspected to be infected
bioterrorism
Use of microorganisms or biological agents, as weapons to infect humans, animals, or plants.
Communicable disease
Caused by a pathogenic organism that can be easily transmitted to others.
Ebola
Virus that causes hemorrhagic fever, a disease, and begins with flu-like symptoms.
fungi
Plant-like organisms that live on dead organic-matter.
Anaerobic
Live and reproduce without oxygen
cavitation
During the use of a ultrasonic unit, bubbles are created, when these bubbles strike items they explode.
Contact precautions
Precautions that must be followed by a patient's known or suspected to be infected with epidemiological microorganisms that can be transmitted by either direct or indirect contact
endogenous
The infection or disease originates within the body.
Health care associate infection
An infection acquired by an individual in a health care facility such as a hospital or long-term care facility.
asepsis
The absence of disease-producing microorganisms or pathogens
Chain of infection
For disease to occur and spread from one individual to another, certain conditions must be met.
contaminated
Organisms and pathogens are present
epidemic
Occurs when the communicable disease spreads rapidly from person to person affecting a large number of people at the same time
helminths
Multicellular parasitic organisms, also called worms or flukes.