Aseptic terms Flashcards
Antiseptic
a substance commonly used on living tissue that inhibits the growth and reproduction of microorganisms to prevent infection
Asepsis
the absence of pathogenic organisms or a state of sterility
“no putrefaction”
Aseptic Technique
any activity or procedure that prevents infection or breaks the chain of infection
Medical Asepsis
procedures performed to reduce the number of microorganisms or minimize their spread
“clean technique”
Surgical Asepsis
procedures performed to eliminate the presence of all microorganisms and/or to prevent the introduction of microorganisms into an area
Bactericidal
descriptor of a substance that destroys/kills bacteria
Bacteriostatic
descriptor of a substance that restrains the further development or reproduction of bacteria
Bioburden
the number of microorganisms and amount of organic debris on an object at any given time
Contamination
the presences of pathogenic materials
Cleaning
the physical removal of blood, body fluids and/or gross debris from an inanimate object
Cross contamination
the transference of pathogenic materials from one person or object to another
Decontamination
to remove any injurious agent from the environment
to reduce bioburden on a person, object, or in the environment
Disinfectant
chemical agent that kills most microorganisms, but not usually spores
commonly used on inanimate objects since these compounds are too powerful for use on living tissue
Disinfection
destruction of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins or vectors by direct exposure to chemical or physical agents
Fomite
an inanimate object that is the site of viable microorganisms capable of causing infection
Infection
invasion of human tissue by pathogenic microorganisms that reproduce and cause disease
Nosocomial
a new condition acquired during a hospital stay or during health care procedures
“hospital” “disease” “to care for”
Pathogen
any microbe capable of causing disease
Sepsis
infection, resulting from the presences of pathogenic microorganisms
usually accompanied by fever
Event-related sterility
sterility is determined by how a package is handled rather than expiration date
remains sterile until opened or a sterile parameter is violated
Spore
a dormant form assumed by some bacteria to render it resistant to heat or cold, drying, and chemicals
under favorable conditions, it reverts to the active vegetative bacterial state
Sporicidal
a substance that kills/destroys bacteria in a spore state
Sterile
a term designating items that have been rendered free of all living microorganisms
Sterile Field
a specified area that is considered free of microorganisms
includes portions of the draped patient, mayo stand, back table, and sterile team members
Sterile technique
practices taken to protect a patient against infection causing microorganisms preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively
Sterilization
the destruction of all microorganisms - including spores - in or about an object by thermal, chemical, or radiation methods
Sterilize
a term denoting a process capable of destroying all living microorganisms, including spores, on inanimate surfaces
Surgically clean
a term indicating items that have been mechanically cleaned and disinfected but do not meet the criteria of sterility
Terminal disinfection
chemical and mechanical methods used to render items safe to handle at the end of a surgical procedure by reducing bioburden
Vector
an animal carrier, usually invertebrate, that transmits disease among vertebrates
Resident flora
bacteria that normally inhabit internal and external surfaces of healthy animals
Transient flora
microorganisms that reside on a body surface and are easily removed during a surgical scrub
Strike-through contamination
contamination of a sterile field secondary to puncture or fluid passage through a sterile barrier
Surgical site infection
primary mode of airborne bacteria in the OR is the surgical team
most are caused by the patient’s own flora contaminating the wound by direct contact
Indirect contact
infection spread by contaminated surgical instruments
Airborne spread
infection through the air - from sneeze droplets
Common vehicle spread
infection carried in blood products
High-level disinfection
kills all microorganisms except spores, and may kill spores with sufficient contact time
only sterilization assures a higher level of asepsis
Intermediate-level disinfection
kills most microorganisms except spores
Low-level disinfection
kills fungi, bacteria, and hydrophobic viruses. not effective against some viruses, such as M. tuberculosis. ineffective against spores
Terminal sterilization
sterilization of instruments following a procedure to render them safe to personnel who will prepare the instruments for reuse
usually accomplished with the use of a washer-sterilizer unit
