Infection Control Important Terms

Question 1

Infection

Answer 1

when a pathogen invades tissues and begins growing within a host

Question 2

Colonization

Answer 2

the presence and growth of microorganisms within a host but without tissue invasion or damage

Question 3

Communicable disease

Answer 3

a disease that can be transmitted directly from one person to another

Question 4

Symptomatic

Answer 4

if the pathogens multiply and cause clinical signs and symptoms

Question 5

Asymptomatic

Answer 5

if clinical signs and symptoms are not present

Question 6

Resident flora

Answer 6

permanent residents of the skin and within the body, where they survive and multiply without causing illness (ie. in saliva, oral mucosa, GI and GU tracts)

Question 7

Virulence

Answer 7

ability to produce disease

Question 8

Immunocompromised

Answer 8

has an impaired immune system

Question 9

Transient microorganism

Answer 9

microorganisms that attach to the skin when a person has contact with another person or object

Question 10

Reservoir

Answer 10

a place where microorganisms survive, multiply, and await transfer to a susceptible host

Question 11

Spore

Answer 11

resistant to drying and can live on inanimate surfaces for long periods

Question 12

Bactericidal

Answer 12

a temperature or chemical that destroys bacteria

ideal temp for pathogen growth - 20 C to 43 C (68 F to 109 F)
Ideal pH for path growth - 5.0 to 7.0
most thrive in dark environments

Question 13

Broad spectrum antibiotics

Answer 13

eliminate a wide range of normal flora organisms (not always just the ones causing infection)

Question 14

Types of exudate (fluid leakage)

Answer 14

serous (clear, like plasma)
sanguineous (containing red blood cells)
purulent (containing WBC and bacteria)

Question 15

Another word for healthcare-associated infection (HAIs)

Answer 15

nosocomial

Question 16

Exogenous infection

Answer 16

HAI that occurs from microorganisms outside the individual (don’t exist as normal flora) (exogenous - exterior)

Question 17

Endogenous infection

Answer 17

HAI that occurs when part of patient’s flora becomes altered and an overgrowth occurs (often from broad-spectrum antibiotics)

Question 18

Iatrogenic infectioin

Answer 18

HAI caused by an invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure

Question 19

disinfection

Answer 19

eliminating many or all microorganisms with the exception of bacterial spores

Question 20

sterilization

Answer 20

eliminates or destroys all forms of microbial life, including spores

Question 21

sterile field

Answer 21

an area free of microorganisms that is prepared to receive sterile items (1in border)

Question 22

asepsis

Answer 22

absence of germs or microorganisms