Medical terms

Question 1

Biosecurity

Answer 1

A set of measures to prevent introduction and spread of infectious diseases

Question 2

Asepsis

Answer 2

Absence of microorganisms that cause disease

Question 3

Aseptic technique

Answer 3

Method to prevent contamination by microorganisms

Question 4

Antisepsis

Answer 4

Exclusion, destruction or inhibition of growth or multiplication of microorganisms from body tissues and fluids

Question 5

Antiseptics

Answer 5

Chemical compounds inhibiting the growth of microorganisms without necessarily killing them

Question 6

Sterile

Answer 6

Free of living organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi & protozoa)

Question 7

To sterilize

Answer 7

To make an object sterile

Question 8

Sterile technique

Answer 8

Method by which contamination with microorganisms is prevented to maintain sterility throughout the surgical procedure

Question 9

Disinfection

Answer 9

Chemical or mechanical destruction of pathogens

Question 10

Decontamination

Answer 10

Cleaning and disinfecting or sterilizing processes carried out to make contaminated items safe to handle

Question 11

Infection

Answer 11

Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites) that are not normally present at the site

Question 12

Draping (what, who, how)

Answer 12

a) Creating and maintaining a sterile field around the operative site with nonabsorbant towels
b) Performed by gowned and gloved team member when antiseptics have dried
c) One at a time, once placed it should not be readjusted!

Question 13

Hemorrhage

Answer 13

-Bleeding, an abnormal escape of blood from an artery, vein, arteriole, venule or capillary network.
-Caused by traumatic injury/medical condition
-External or internal
-Primary or secondary
-Arterial, venous, capillary or parenchymatous

Question 14

Surgical site infection

Answer 14

-Infection that directly results from surgical procedures
-Either incisional or organ/space
-Incisional is superficial or deep
-Organ/space = Infection of anatomic part that was manipulated
-Infection occurs within 30d after surgical procedure or within 1y of associated with surgical implant

Question 15

Implants

Answer 15

Foreign substances used to support, rebuild or mimic function of an anatomic structure

Question 16

Biofilm

Answer 16

Colony of microorganisms within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substance that they produce (biofilm microorganisms usually resistant to AB)

Question 17

Prophylactic use of antibiotics

Answer 17

-Significant risk of infection
-Infection would be catastrophic
Must be present at the site during the time of potential contamination
-Given 30-60min IV before incision and discontinued within 24h (ideally at the end of procedure)

Question 18

Therapeutic use of antibiotics

Answer 18

-Ideally based on culture and susceptibility results
-Delay might be problematic
-Based on clinical judgement, knowledge of antibiotic’s mechanism of actions, microbiological factors
-Indicated in patients with:
1.Overwhelming systemic infection
2.When infection is present at the surgical site or in a body cavity
3.With any contaminated or dirty surgical procedure
-Generally instituted before surgery and continued 2-3d after apparent resolution of infection

Question 19

Wound

Answer 19

Injury to the body that result in disruption of the continuity of the body structure. Can be classified in several ways such as clean, contaminated, open, closed…

Question 20

Dead space

Answer 20

Dead space = Resulting from suturing of large wounds promotes fluid accumulation, which is good medium for growth of bacteria.

Question 21

Drainage

Answer 21

Necessary in moderate contamination or large dead space. Removal as soon as possible.
1. Passive drain=penrose drain
-Easier to insert, cost less
-Draining under gravity
-Risk of ascending infection
2.Active drains
-Creation of vacuum that removes fluid by suction
-Can be placed anywhere on the body
-Containers need to be emptied regularly

Question 22

Debridement

Answer 22

Removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue to promote healing. In case of debris or nectoric tissue. Anesthesia usually required. Objective is to convert the open contaminated wound into surgically clean wound. Methods: Surgical, mechanical, autolytic, enzymatic, chemical or biosurgical.

Question 23

Nosocomial infections

Answer 23

Caused by environmentally resistant bacteria during hospitalization/surgery.

Question 24

Flail chest

Answer 24

Paradoxical movement of a floating thoracic segment. Diagnosed by physical examination, treatment mostly conservative; surgery sometimes indicated.