Chapter 5 Flashcards
Infection prevention
Measures practiced in healthcare facilities to prevent and control the spread of disease
Microorganism (MO)
A living thing or organism that is so small that it can be seen only through a microscope; also called microbe
Infections
The state resulting from pathogens invading the body and multiplying
Pathogens
Microorganisms that are capable of causing infection and disease
Localized infection
An infection that is limited to a specific location in the body Ave has local symptoms
Systemic infection
An infection that is in the bloodstream and is dead throughout the body, causing general symptoms
Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)
An infection acquired within a healthcare setting during the delivery of medical care
Chain of infection
A way of describing how disease is transmitted from one living being to another
Causative agent
A pathogen or microorganism that causes disease
Reservoir
A place where the pathogen lives and grows
Portal of exit
Any body opening on an infected person that shows pathogens to leave
Mode of transmission
Method of describe how a pathogen travels from one person to the next person
Direct contact
Touching an infected person or his secretions
Indirect contact
Touching something contained by an infected person
Portal of entry
Any body opening on an infected person that slows pathogens to enter.
Mucous membranes
Membranes that line body cavities, such as the mouth, nose, eyes, rectum, and genitals
Susceptible host
An uninflected person ego could get sick
Translation
Passage or transfer
Infectious
Contagious
Medical asepsis
Practices such as hand washing that reduce, remove, abs control the forward of microorganisms
Surgical asepsis
The state of being free of all micrograms; also called sterile technique
Malnutrition
Poor nutrition due to improper diet
Dehydration
A condition that results from inadequate fluid in the body
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
A federal government agency that makes roles to protect workers from hazards on the job
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
A government agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that issues information to protect the health of individuals and communities
Isolate
To keep something separate, or by itself
Standard Precautions
A method of infection control in which all blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucus membranes are treated as if they were infected with an infectious disease
Sharps
Needles or other sharp objects
Hand Hygiene
Washing hands with either plain or antiseptic soap abs water and using alcohol based hand rubs
Antimicrobial
An agent that destroys, resists, or prevents the development of pathogens
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Equipment the helps protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with workplace hazards
Don
To put on
Doff
To remove
Perineal Care
Care of the genitals and anal area
Non-intact soon
Soon that is broken by abrasions, cuts, rashes, acne, pimples, or boils
Biodegradable
Capable of breaking down or being decomposed by bacterial or other living organisms
Clean
In health care, a condition in which objects are not contaminated with pathogens
Dirty
In health care, a condition in which objects have been contaminated with pathogens
Disinfection
Process that kills pathogens, but not all pathogens; it reduces the pathogens count to a level that is considered non infectious
Sterilization
A method used to decrease the spread of pathogens and disease by destroying all microorganisms, including those that form spores
Disposable
Only to be used once and then discarded
Transmission-Based Precautions
Method of infection prevention used when caring for persons who are infected or suspected of being infected with a disease
Multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs)
Microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that are resistant to one or more microbial agents
Blood borne pathogens
Microorganisms found in human blood that can cause infection and disease in humans
HIV
The virus that attacks the body’s immune systems and gradually disables it; eventually can cause AIDS
Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such as alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma
Jaundice
A condition in which the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes appear yellow
Blood borne Pathogens Standard
Federal law that requires that healthcare facilities protect employees from blood borne health hazards
Exposure control plan
Plan designed to eliminate or reduce employee exposure to infectious material
Tuberculosis (TB)
A highly contagious lung disease caused by a bacterium that is carried on mucus droplets suspended in the air
Latent TB infection
Type on tuberculosis in such the person carries the disease but does not show symptoms and cannot infect others
TB disease
Type of tuberculosis in which the person shows symptoms of the disease and can spread TB to others
Multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)
A type of tuberculosis that can develop when a person with active TB does not take all the prescribed medication
Resistant
State in which drugs no longer work to kill specific bacteria
Phlegm
Thick mucus from the respiratory passage
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
An infection caused by specific bacteria that have become resistant to many antibiotics
VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus)
A genetically changed strain of enterococcus that originally developed in people who were exposed to the antibiotic vancomycin
Clostridium difficile (C. diff, C. difficile)
Bacterial illness that can cause diarrhea and colitis; spread by spores in feces that are difficult to kill
