Ch2: Key Terms

Question 1

Autoclave

Answer 1

Instrument for sterilizing that uses steam under pressure.

Question 2

Autogenous infection

Answer 2

Infection from one’s own flora.

Question 3

biohazard

Answer 3

Anything that is potentially hazardous to humans, living organisms, or the environment.

Question 4

blood-borne Pathogen

Answer 4

A pathogen that is spread by blood and body fluids containing blood. Typically, the pathogens are hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Question 5

body substance isolation (bsi)

Answer 5

The type of isolation that expanded universal precautions to require glove use when contacting all body substances.

Question 6

category-specific isolation

Answer 6

Isolation based on the category (strict, respiratory, etc.) of isolation.

Question 7

chemical Hazard

Answer 7

Any element, chemical compound, or mixture of elements and/or compounds that causes physical or health hazards.

Question 8

communicable Disease

Answer 8

Disease that is spread from person to person.

Question 9

Disease-specific isolation

Answer 9

Isolation based on the type of disease infecting the patient.

Question 10

employee input

Answer 10

Involvement of nonmanagerial, frontline employees in decisions for the use of needle safety devices.

Question 11

engineering controls

Answer 11

Controls that isolate or remove blood-borne pathogens hazardous for the workplace.

Question 12

exposure control Plan

Answer 12

A plan that identifies those tasks and procedures in which occupational expo-sure may occur and identifies the positions whose duties include those tasks or procedures.

Question 13

irritant contact Dermatitis

Answer 13

Irritation and redness of the skin by direct contact with a chemical irritant.

Question 14

Latex Allergy

Answer 14

An allergy to natural rubber latex. It is an allergy to the latex proteins that are released in the use of latex-containing products.

Question 15

Local infection

Answer 15

An infection affecting only one area of the body.

Question 16

Nosocomial infection

Answer 16

Also known as health care–associated or hospital-acquired infection. Infection that develops in a patient 48 hours or more after admission to a hospital or health facility

Question 17

Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)

Answer 17

Human body fluids, unfixed tissue or blood, and organs or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV.

Question 18

Personal Protective equipment (PPe)

Answer 18

Equipment that is used to protect the health care associate from exposure to blood and body fluids.

Question 19

Recordkeeping

Answer 19

Maintaining information and records of any job-related injuries.

Question 20

sharps container

Answer 20

Specially labeled puncture-resistant containers for the disposal of sharp items such as needles, scalpels, and syringes.

Question 21

standard Precautions

Answer 21

Assumes that all blood and most body fluids are potentially infectious. A principle maintaining that personal protective equipment must be worn for contact with all body fluids whether blood is visible or not.

Question 22

systemic infection

Answer 22

An infection affecting the entire body.

Question 23

transmission-based
Precautions

Answer 23

Isolation precautions taken for patients diagnosed or suspected of a specific
transmissible disease. The precautions are based on whether the disease is transmitted by airborne, droplet, or contact.

Question 24

Universal Precautions

Answer 24

A principle to protect health care associates from infections as a result to exposure to body fluids. A term now replaced by standard precautions.

Question 25

Work Practice Controls

Answer 25

Work practice controls are practices that are incorporated into all health care associates’ work habits to prevent the spread of infection.

Question 26

Housekeeping

Answer 26

General rules for housekeeping involve cleaning up spills and decontaminating soiled areas immediately with a disinfectant such as 10 percent bleach that has been made up fresh daily.

Question 27

Hepatitis b vaccination

Answer 27

The HBV vaccine must be available at no charge to the phlebotomist. The vaccine is effec-tive for 15 or more years in protecting the phlebotomist from contracting the disease or becoming a carrier.

Question 28

Private Rooms

Answer 28

A private room reduces the possibility of transmission of infection by separating the patient with a disease from other patients and health care associates. The room should ideally have an anteroom where anyone entering or leaving the room can wash their hands and change protective garments.

Question 29

Handwashing

Answer 29

Handwashing is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene must be performed after each patient contact even when gloves are used. Disinfec-tant alcohol-based hand cleaners may be used in place of handwashing unless the hands are visibly soiled. To further protect yourself, you should wash hands instead of a disinfectant hand cleaner before and after eating and before and after using the restroom.