Chapter 6-Infection Prevention and Control Flashcards
antimicrobial
an agent that destroys, resists, or prevents the development of pathogens
autoclave
an appliance used to sterilize medical instruments or other objects by using steam under pressure
bloodborne pathogens
microorganisms found in the human blood that can cause infection and disease
Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
federal law requiring that healthcare facilities protect employees from bloodborne health hazards
body fluids
tears, saliva, sputum(mucus coughed up), urine, feces, semen, vaginal secretions, pus or other wound drainage, and vomit
carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae(CRE)
bacteria that have developed resistance to carbapenems, which is a category of antibiotics
carrier
person who carries a pathogen, usually without signs or symptoms of disease, but who can still spread the disease
catheter
tube inserted through the skin or into a body opening that is used to administer or drain fluid
C. difficile or C. diff
an abbreviation for Clostridioides difficile; a bacterium that is spread by spores in feces that are difficult to kill; it causes symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea and can lead to serious inflammation of the colon (colitis)
CDC`
federal government agency responsible for improving the overall health and safety of the people in the US
clean
in health care, a condition in which an object is not contaminated with pathogens
communicable disease
an infectious disease transmissible by direct contact or by indirect contact
contagious disease
type of communicable disease that spreads quickly from person to person
contaminated
soiled, unclean; having disease causing organisms or infectious material on it
cross-infection
the physical movement or transfer of harmful bacteria from one person, object, or place to another, or from one part of the body to another
dehydration
an excessive loss of water from the body; a condition that occurs when fluid loss if greater than fluid intake
direct contact
way to transmit pathogens through touching the infected person or his secretions
dirty
in health care, a condition in which an object has been contaminated with pathogens
disinfection
process that destroys most, but not all, pathogens and other types of microorganisms
doff
to remove
don
to put on
drainage
flow of fluids from a wound or cavity
exposure control plan
plan that outlines specific work practices to prevent exposure to infectious material and identifies step-by-step procedures to follow when exposures do occur
exposure incident
specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, nonintact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee’s duties
fomite
an object that is contaminated with a pathogen to another person
hand hygiene
washing hands with either plain or antiseptic soap and water and using alcohol based hand rubs
hand rub
an alcohol-containing preparation designed for application to the hands for reducing the number of microorganisms on the hands
healthcare-associated infections (HAI)
an infection acquired within a healthcare setting during the delivery of medical care
hepatitis
inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such as alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma
immunity
resistance to infection by a specific pathogen
incubation period
the period of time between exposure to a pathogen and the time it causes visible signs and symptoms of disease or illness
indirect contact
way to transmit pathogens by touching something contaminated by the infected person
infection
the state resulting from pathogens invading the body and multiplying
infection prevention
set of methods used to prevent and control the spread of disease
infectious disease
any disease caused by growth of a pathogen
isolate
to keep something separate, or by itself
localized infection
an infection that is limited to a specific location in the body and has local symptoms
malnutrition
a serious condition in which a person is not getting proper nutrition
medical asepsis
measures used to reduce, remove, and control the spread of pathogens
microbe
a living thing or organism that is so small that it is only visible under a microscope; also called a microorganism
microorganism (MO)
a living thing or organism that is so small that it is only visible under a microscope; also called a microbe
MRSA
an abbreviation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus; bacteria that have developed resistance to the antibiotic methicillin
mucous membrane
the membranes that line body cavities that open to the outside of the body, such as the linings of the mouth, nose, eyes, rectum, or genitals
multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs)
microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that are resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents that are commonly used for treatment
noncommunicable disease
a disease not capable of being spread from one person to another
nonintact skin
skin that is broken by abrasions, cuts, rashes, acne, pimples, lesions, surgical incisions, or boils
normal flora
microorganisms that normally live in and on the body and do not cause harm in a healthy person, as long as the flora remain in that particular location
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
a federal government agency that makes and enforces rules to protect workers from hazards on the job
pathogens
microorganisms that are capable of causing infection and disease
perineal care
care of the genitals and anal area
personal protective equipment (PPE)
equipment that helps protect employees form serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with workplace hazards
reinfection
being infected again with the same pathogen
resistance
the body’s ability to prevent infection and disease
sanitation
ways individuals and communities maintain clean, hygienic conditions that help prevent disease, such as the disposal of sewage and solid waste
Standard Precautions
a method of infection prevention in which all blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes are treated as if they were infected with an infectious disease
sterilization
cleaning measure that destroys all microorganisms, including pathogens
surgical asepsis
the state of being completely free of microorganisms; also called sterile technique
systemic infection
an infection that is in the bloodstream and is spread throughout the body, causing general symptoms
transmission
the way and means by which disease is spread
vaccine
a product that is administered to produce immunity to a specific disease
VRE
an abbreviation for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus; bacteria that have developed resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin
