Ch. 15 Infection Control
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, caused by HIV
autoclave
A piece of equipment that uses steam under pressure or gas to sterilize equipment and supplies
A few chemicals will kill spores and viruses, but these chemicals frequently require that instrument be submerged in the chemical for 10 or more hours
Disinfection
A process that uses chemical disinfectants to destroy or kill pathogenic organisms
Exogenous
The infection or disease originates outside the body
Aerobic
requires oxygen
bacteria
simple, one-celled organisms
clean
Means that the object or part of objects do not contain disease-producing organisms
Droplet precautions
Use ppe, hand hygiene, private room for patient, and limit transport
Fomites
Objects contaminated with infectious material that contains the pathogens
airborne precautions
Used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei
bioterrorism
The use of microorganisms as weapons to infect humans, animals, or plants
communicable disease
caused by a pathogenic organism that can be easily transmitted to others
Ebola
Severe, often fatal illness
Fungi
Simple, plant-like organisms that live on dead organic matter
anaerobic
doesn't require oxygen
cavitation
When the bubbles strike the items being cleaned they explode
contact precautions
Must be followed for any patients known or suspected to be infected with epidemiological microorganisms that can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact.
Endogenous
The infection or disease originates within the body
Health care-associated
An infection acquired by an individual in a health care facility such as a hospital
asepsis
The absences of disease-producing microorganisms
chain of infection
Certain conditions that must be met for a disease to occur and spread from one individual to another
contaminated
Organisms and pathogens are present
Epidemic
When a communicable disease affects a large number of people at the same time
Helminths
Multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes