Medical Asepsis Terminology Flashcards
Asepsis
- Absence of all disease producing microorganisms
- Free of pathogenic organisms, germ free, free of infection
Antiseptic
An agent that inhibits or prevents the growth of microorganisms but does not kill them.
Medical Asepsis
-Clean technique which limits the spread of pathogenic organisms.
Surgical Asepsis
Sterile technique. Those measures that render and maintain objects free from all microorganisms, both pathogens and non-pathogens
Bacteria
One cell organisms visible only through a microscope. Some are pathogenic or disease-producing
Resident Bacteria
Stable in number and type, are present in skin crevices and cracks and, therefore, difficult to wash out.
Transient Bacteria
Picked up in normal daily activities. Are attached loosely to skin and more easily removed by careful washing.
Bactericidal
Capable of destroying bacteria but not their spores.
Bacteriostatic
Capable of stopping growth or multiplication of bacteria.
Clean
Free of pathogenic organisms.
Contaminate
Make an area or item unclean or unsterile- may be direct or indirect.
Cross Contaminate
Dirty objects come into contact with clean ones. May be from one person to another including patients and staff.
Dirty
Contaminated.
Disinfectant
Stronger than antiseptic, destroys bacteria living outside of the body. Destroys pathogens but not their spores.
Concurrent Disinfection
Immediate destruction and disposal of discharges and infected or contaminated area or objects all through the course of illness or disease.
Terminal Disinfection
Same as concurrent, but at the end of disease or after a patient’s discharge from hospital.
Etiology
Cause of source of infection, study of specific causes.
Fomites
Inanimate objects or materials on which disease producing agents may be conveyed, objects other than food that may harbour microorganisms, e.g. dishes, cutlery, forceps, dressings.
Germicide
An agent that kills pathogenic microorganisms.
Infection
Invasion of the body by pathogenic organisms that multiply and overcome flora, and the subsequent physiologic reaction of the body to these organisms.
Nosocomial Infections
Hospital acquired infections (or similar institutions).
Pathogens
Microorganisms that produce disease.
Pathogenic
That which is capable of producing disease.
Sepsis
Condition that results when pathogens multiply and produce a “poison’ in the body, literally poisoning it.
Sterile
Free from all microorganisms and their pathogenic by-products.
