Ch. 15 Infection Control - Key Terms
Small, living organism that is not visible to the naked eye
microorganism
Do not require oxygen to live
anaerobic
Smallest microorganisms, cannot reproduce unless they are inside another living cell
viruses
Multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes, spreads through eggs or larvae in contaminated food
helminths
Certain conditions that must be met for a disease to spread
chain of infection
Part of the normal flora of the body
nonpathogens
Simple, one celled organisms that multiply rapidly
bacteria
Causes hemorrhagic fever, starts with flu-like symptoms, and quickly progresses to massive hemorrhaging throughout the body
ebola
Means infection or disease originates inside the body
endogenous
A pathogen that can cause a disease
infectious agent
Cause infection and disease
pathogens
One celled animal like organisms often found in decayed materials
protozoa
Affects the liver and can lead to the destruction and scarring of liver cells
hepatitis B
Means infection or disease originates outside the body
exogenous
An area where the infectious agent can live
reservoir
Organism that lives in or on an organism of another species
parasite
Simple, plant like organisms that live on dead organic matter
fungi
Many individuals who contact this disease are asymptomatic; others have mild symptoms that are flu-like
hepatitis c
An infection acquired by an individual in a health care facility such as a hospital or long term care facility
health care associated infection
A way for the infectious agent to escape from the reservoir in which it has been growing
portal of exit
Require oxygen to live
aerobic
Parasitic microorganisms
rickettsiae
Suppresses the immune system, an individual with this cannot fight off many infections that would not affect a healthy person
AIDS
Infections that occur when the body’s defenses are weak
opportunistic
A way that the infectious agent can be transmitted to another reservoir or host where it can live
mode of transmission