Asepsis & Infection Control

Question 1

antibody

Answer 1

immunoglobin produced by body in response to a specific antigen

Question 2

antigen

Answer 2

foreign material capable of inducing a specific immune response

Question 3

antimicrobial

Answer 3

antibacterial agent that kills bacteria or suppresses their growth

Question 4

asepsis

Answer 4

absence of disease-producing microorganisms; prevent infection

Question 5

bacteria

Answer 5

most significant & commonly observed infection-causing agents

Question 6

colonization

Answer 6

presence of an organism residing in an individual’s body with no clinical signs of infection

Question 7

disinfection

Answer 7

destroy microorganisms; destroys all pathogenic organisms except spores

Question 8

endemic

Answer 8

occurs with predictability in one specific region or population

Question 9

endogenous

Answer 9

infection which the causative organism comes from microbial life harbored within person

Question 10

fungi

Answer 10

plant-like organisms causing infection (ex: athlete’s foot, yeast infections); treated with antifungal medication, though some are resistant to treatment

Question 11

healthcare-associated infections (HAI)

Answer 11

infection not present on admission, but develops over course of treatment for other conditions

Question 12

host

Answer 12

animal or person on or within which microorganism lives

Question 13

iatrogenic

Answer 13

infection that occurs as a result of a treatment or diagnostic procedure

Question 14

infection

Answer 14

disease state resulting from pathogens in or on body

Question 15

isolation

Answer 15

protective procedure; prevent transmission of specific microorganisms

Question 16

medical asepsis

Answer 16

practices designed to reduce number and transfer of pathogens

Question 17

nosocomial

Answer 17

originating or taking place in hospital (infection)

Question 18

parasites

Answer 18

organism that lives on or in host and relies on it for nourishment (ex: malaria)

Question 19

pathogens

Answer 19

disease-producing microorganisms

Question 20

PPE

Answer 20

gloves, gowns, masks, protective eye gear

Question 21

reservoir

Answer 21

natural habitat for growth and multiplication of microorganisms

Question 22

sterilization

Answer 22

all microorganisms, including spores, are destroyed

Question 23

surgical asepsis

Answer 23

areas free from microorganisms

Question 24

standard precautions

Answer 24

used in care of all patients

Question 25

vector

Answer 25

nonhuman carriers (mosquitoes, lice, ticks) that transmit organisms from one host to another

Question 26

virulence

Answer 26

ability to produce disease

Question 27

virus

Answer 27

smallest of all microorganisms

Question 28

6 components of infection

Answer 28

• infectious agent
• reservoir
• portal of exit
• means of transmission
• portals of entry
• susceptible host

Question 29

stages of infection

Answer 29

1. incubation
2. prodromal
3. illness
4. convalescence

Question 30

incubation

Answer 30

showing no signs or symptoms; can infect others

Question 31

prodromal

Answer 31

showing no signs or symptoms; most infectious

Question 32

illness

Answer 32

showing signs and symptoms; body beginning to restore health

Question 33

convalescence

Answer 33

body restoring health

Question 34

organism’s potential to produce disease

Answer 34

• number of organisms
• virulence or ability to cause disease
• person’s immune systems competence
• length of contact between person & microorganism