Definitions

Question 1

any agent that kills or suppresses the growth of microorganisms

Answer 1

Antimicrobial agent

Question 2

substance that prevents or arrests the growth or action of microorganisms by inhibiting their activity or by destroying them. this term is used especially for preparations applied topically to living tissue

Answer 2

antiseptics

Question 3

techniques for preventing infection during invasive procedures

Answer 3

aseptic techniques

Question 4

prevention of contact with microorganisms

Answer 4

asepsis

Question 5

Activities, disciplines, and methods that are available to identify, implement, and monitor the available evidence in healthcare, such as those practices meant to enhance patient care or limit risks

Answer 5

best practices

Question 6

the area that has been prepared to contain the equipment necessary for acupuncture in such a way as to protect the sterility o the needles. by extension this includes not only the ______ on which equipment will be placed, but also the patient’s skin around prepared points and anything that touches the skin

Answer 6

clean field

Question 7

the use of techniques designed to reduce the risk of infection of patients practitioners, and office personnel by reducing the number of pathogens

Answer 7

clean technique

Question 8

the introduction of viruses, bacteria, or other organisms onto previously clean or sterile objects, rendering them unclean

Answer 8

contamination

Question 9

“the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal”

Answer 9

decontamination

Question 10

usually a chemical agent that destroys disease causing pathogens or other harmful microorganisms, but might not kill bacterial spores

Answer 10

disinfectant

Question 11

an infection that is acquired from healthcare-associated facilities and procedures, including hospitals and other than acute-care facilities; and infections acquired through outpatient care

Answer 11

nosocomial infection

Question 12

other potentially infectious material. it includes synovial fluid, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, semen, and vaginal secretions, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, saliva (in dental procedures only), and any fluids visibly contaminated with blood or stool. it includes all body fluids where it may be difficult to differentiate between contaminated and non0contaminated fluids

Answer 12

OPIM

Question 13

specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. general work clothes not intended to function as protection against a hazard are not considered to be in this group

Answer 13

PPE

Question 14

an agent that reduces the number of bacterial contaminants to safe levels as judged by public health requirements, that is commonly used with substances applied to inanimate objects.

Answer 14

sanitizer

Question 15

often synonymous with “customary practice”. it is a legal term that is commonly defined as what a minimally competent healthcare provider in the same field would do in the same situation with the same resources

Answer 15

standard practice

Question 16

a set of basic infection prevention practices intended to prevent transmission of infectious diseases from one person to another

Answer 16

standard precautions

Question 17

a validated process used to render a product free of all forms of viable microorganisms. this is expressed in terms of probability. the probability can be reduced very low, but can never be reduced to zero.

Answer 17

sterilization