305.1.1 - infection control Flashcards
Define a pathogen
Microorganism - a producer of disease (suffering)
Define Micro-organism
A very small form of life
Define zoonotic
A disease that can be passed from humans to animals and vice versa
Define infection
The invasion and multiplication of micro-organisms within the body that causes injury or disease
Define contagion
The spread of disease from one animal to another
Define contamination
The entry of organisms into a wound, water, milk, in the air, food or any external body surface e.g. bandages
Define colonisation
A single bacterium in a culture forms a cluster of bacteria
Define mycotic
An infection caused by a fungus
Define a parasite
An organism that lives in or on another living organism (the host)
Define an ectoparasite
A parasite that lives ON the host
Define an endoparasite
A parasite that lives IN the host
Define a direct lifestyle
Only one host involved. The parasite usually has a free living phase where larval development takes place. The parasite goes straight to the host (e.g. Worm infects cat)
Define an intermediate host
The host carries the parasite for a short transition period. Some development stage is usually completed. (E.g. Work in mouse, cat eats mouse)
Define a transport host
No development takes place. (e.g. worm, mouse, cat). It is simply transported through the different animals
Define a paratenic host
Doesn’t develop the parasite but it maintains the life cycle of the parasite (like a transport host)
