Ch. 9 Key Terms

Question 1

Infection resistance to a specific organism that occurs after an individual has been infected with the organism, or that is conferred from a vaccine: also called active immunity

Answer 1

Acquired immunity

Question 2

Mode of transmitting infection by dust containing spores, or droplet nuclei, which are particles measuring 5(?)m or smaller that contain microorganisms and remain suspended in the air for long periods of time.

Answer 2

Airborne transmission/contamination

Question 3

An immunoglobulin produced by lymphocytes in response to bacteria, viruses, or other antigenic substances. These are specific to an antigen. They are responsible for acquired immunity and for allergic responses.

Answer 3

Antibodies

Question 4

small, unicellular microorganism

Answer 4

Bacterium (plural, bacteria)

Question 5

Means of disease transmission in which infectious organisms are transferred to a susceptible host by the touch of an infected individual.

Answer 5

Direct contact

Question 6

Means of disease transmission that occurs across a short distance, usually not more then 3 feet, when an infectious individual coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings in the vicinity of a susceptible host.

Answer 6

Droplet contamination

Question 7

A form assumed by certain bacteria in which they resist drying and can live for long periods without warmth, moisture, or nutrients.

Answer 7

Endospore

Question 8

Nonliving material, such as bed linen, that can transmit microorganisms.

Answer 8

Fomite

Question 9

A type of organism that requires an external carbon source. The two basic types are molds and yeasts.

Answer 9

Fungus (plural fungi)

Question 10

A hospital acquired infection, also called nosocomial infection, defined as an infection that occurs more than 48 hours after being admitted to the hospital.

Answer 10

Healthcare associated infection (HAI)

Question 11

Capable of spontaneous but unconscious or involuntary movement

Answer 11

Motile/motility

Question 12

Barriers that prevent microorganisms from entering the body, examples include intact skin, mucous membranes, and chemicals such as tears and acids produced by the skin.

Answer 12

Natural resistance

Question 13

Microorganisms within the human body that do not usually cause disease and may be beneficial

Answer 13

Normal flora

Question 14

Hospital acquired disease

Answer 14

Nosocomial infection

Question 15

An infection caused by normally nonpathogenic organisms in a host whose resistance has been decreased by disorders such as diabetes mellitus, HIV infection, or cancer, or by cancer treatment that causes immunosuppression.

Answer 15

Opportunistic infection

Question 16

Short-term resistance to infection produced by preformed antibodies. Preformed antibodies can be injected in the form of pooled immune globulin from the general population, they are passed to infants in utero or in breast milk.

Answer 16

Passive immunity

Question 17

Any microorganism capable of producing disease

Answer 17

Pathogen

Question 18

The process by which certain cells engulf and destroy microorganisms and cellular debris.

Answer 18

Phagocytosis

Question 19

The smallest and least understood of all microbes, infectious protein.

Answer 19

Prion

Question 20

Single-cell microorganism of the sub kingdom protozoa.

Answer 20

Protozoon/protozoa

Question 21

A reproductive unit of some genera of fungi or Protozoa; also a common term for endospore, a form assumed by some bacteria that is resistant to heat, drying, and chemicals

Answer 21

Spore

Question 22

An animal in whose body a pathogen multiplies or develops before becoming infective to a new host.

Answer 22

Vector

Question 23

Any substance, such as food or water, that can serve as a mode of transmission for infectious agents.

Answer 23

Vehicle

Question 24

A rudimentary virus particle with a central nucleoid surrounded by a protein sheath or capsid.

Answer 24

Virion

Question 25

Characteristics of certain microorganisms that cause them to be pathogenic and distinguish them from normal flora. These factors enable bacteria to destroy or damage host cells and resist destruction by the host’s cellular defenses.

Answer 25

Virulence factors