key terms
new air replacements
air exchanges
a single-celled organism that inhabits water and soil
protozoan
bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic therapies
Super bugs
the process of using chemicals, heat, cold, pressure, or other forces to kill microorganisms on exposed surfaces
Sterilization
regional widespread contagious disease
Epidemic
the small, open space just below the spike adaptor where the drops of fluid from the IV bag into the tubing are counted by the nurse to determine the flow rate of the IV solution
Drip chamber
process of boiling a liquid and capturing the condensed gases or vapor back into a purified liquid form
Distillation
a chemical agent such as sterile 70% IPA used on inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy fungi, viruses, and bacteria, but not necessarily their spores
Disinfectant
an ISO-classified room (or two-room configuration of a cleanroom area) in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled to meet a specified airborne-particulate cleanliness class to prevent particle and microbial contamination of CSPs; also called the IV room or buffer room
Clean room
an ISO Class 7 or cleaner area where the PECs are physically located; also called the IV or cleanroom
Buffer room
A small, single-celled microorganism that can exist in three main forms, depending on type: spherical, rod-shaped, and spiral
Bacterium
slide clamp used to completely stop the IV solution from flowing
Auxiliary Clamp
a device that generates heat and pressure to sterilize objects, instruments, and measures vessels
Autoclave
the manipulation of sterile products and devices to avoid contamination by disease-causing organisms; includes cleanroom protocols and hand-washing and gowning procedures
Aseptic technique
a more aggressive soap and water hand washing procedure, followed by use of an antiseptic agent before donning sterile attire
Aseptic hand washing
the absence of pathogenic microorganisms
Asepsis
an ISO Class 8 room or area immediately before the buffer room in which hand washing, hygiene, and garbing are done and supplies and ingredients are gathered between the pharmacy department and the cleanroom or buffer area
Anteroom
wherever the unidirectional filtered air meets as resistance or blockage, particularly between the DCA and compounding technician; also the area at the edges of the compounding counter where the horizontal airflow meets the buffer room air
Zone of turbulence
when an infection is so threatening to the body that the immune system begins to attack the body’s own blood vessels and organs causing inflammation, leaky vessels, organ failure and septic shock
Sepsis
air is being blown into a room and therefore it has higher pressure than the adjacent space so the net airflow is out of the area
Positive Pressure
IV tubing sets that have a smaller diameter and provide smaller drops and more drops per milliliter, such as 60 gtts/mL, used for pediatric patients and other who need more gradual dosing
Microdrip IV Tubing
IV tubing sets that have a sufficient diameter to deliver 10, 15, 20 per milliliter (10 gtts/mL, 15 gtts/mL, 250 gtts/mL), used for adult patients
Macrodrip IV Tubing
IV solutions of more than 250 mL that may contain medications, nutrients, or electrolytes
LVP (Large Volume Parenteral)
a small-volume parenteral (SVP) infusion (50 mL, 100 mL, 250 mL) containing medication attached to a primary LVP IV solution
IVPB
an air quality classification from the International Organization for Standardization measures the amount of particulate matter in room air; the lower the ISO number, the less particulate matter is present in the air.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)