Medical Asepsis Terminology

Question 0

Asepsis

Answer 0

• Absence of all disease producing microorganisms

- Free of pathogenic organisms, germ free, free of infection

Question 1

Antiseptic

Answer 1

An agent that inhibits or prevents the growth of microorganisms but does not kill them.

Question 2

Medical Asepsis

Answer 2

-Clean technique which limits the spread of pathogenic organisms.

Question 3

Surgical Asepsis

Answer 3

Sterile technique. Those measures that render and maintain objects free from all microorganisms, both pathogens and non-pathogens

Question 4

Bacteria

Answer 4

One cell organisms visible only through a microscope. Some are pathogenic or disease-producing

Question 5

Resident Bacteria

Answer 5

Stable in number and type, are present in skin crevices and cracks and, therefore, difficult to wash out.

Question 6

Transient Bacteria

Answer 6

Picked up in normal daily activities. Are attached loosely to skin and more easily removed by careful washing.

Question 7

Bactericidal

Answer 7

Capable of destroying bacteria but not their spores.

Question 8

Bacteriostatic

Answer 8

Capable of stopping growth or multiplication of bacteria.

Question 9

Clean

Answer 9

Free of pathogenic organisms.

Question 10

Contaminate

Answer 10

Make an area or item unclean or unsterile- may be direct or indirect.

Question 11

Cross Contaminate

Answer 11

Dirty objects come into contact with clean ones. May be from one person to another including patients and staff.

Question 12

Dirty

Answer 12

Contaminated.

Question 13

Disinfectant

Answer 13

Stronger than antiseptic, destroys bacteria living outside of the body. Destroys pathogens but not their spores.

Question 14

Concurrent Disinfection

Answer 14

Immediate destruction and disposal of discharges and infected or contaminated area or objects all through the course of illness or disease.

Question 15

Terminal Disinfection

Answer 15

Same as concurrent, but at the end of disease or after a patient’s discharge from hospital.

Question 16

Etiology

Answer 16

Cause of source of infection, study of specific causes.

Question 17

Fomites

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Germicide

Answer 18

An agent that kills pathogenic microorganisms.

Question 19

Infection

Answer 19

Invasion of the body by pathogenic organisms that multiply and overcome flora, and the subsequent physiologic reaction of the body to these organisms.

Question 20

Nosocomial Infections

Answer 20

Hospital acquired infections (or similar institutions).

Question 21

Pathogens

Answer 21

Microorganisms that produce disease.

Question 22

Pathogenic

Answer 22

That which is capable of producing disease.

Question 23

Sepsis

Answer 23

Condition that results when pathogens multiply and produce a “poison’ in the body, literally poisoning it.

Question 24

Sterile

Answer 24

Free from all microorganisms and their pathogenic by-products.