Microorganisms and Asepsis Flashcards
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
an often fatal condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
alcohol hand disinfectant (AHD)
an alcohol-based gel used to wash hands when water is not available
antibiotic
a substance ingested, injected, or applied to a living being that has the power to inhibit the growth of or to destroy pathogens
antiseptic
a chemical cleaning agent used on the skin to remove or to inhibit the growth of bacteria
asepsis
the absence of or the control of microorganisms
bacteria (singular bacterium)
one-celled microorganisms; may be found singularly or in chains
bactericide
an agent or a process that kills bacteria
bacteriology
the study of bacteria
bacteriostasis
the process of inhibiting or controlling bacterial growth
blood-borne pathogen
any type of disease-causing organism that lives in and i transmitted through blood
chain of infection
elements necessary for disease to spread: reservoir, host, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host
contagion
the spread of disease by contact with a pathogen
disinfectant
a bacteriostatic chemical agent used to clean and to decrease the number of pathogens on inanimate objects (such as surgical instruments, countertops); does not sterilize
emerging infections
recently appearing infectious diseases in a population or diseases that are rapidly increasing or threatening to increase in the near future
endemic
an increase in the normal number of a specific disease in a defined geographic area or locale
fomite
contaminated food or drink and contaminated objects such as soiled hands; provide avenue for indirect transmission of microbes
general asepsis
common techniques and procedures to reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the normal environment and to decrease the opportunity for further spread
health-care-acquired infection (HAI)
infection a patient acquires when in a health care facility, typically a hospital setting; also known as nosocomial infection
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
pathogen that causes AIDS
medical asepsis (clean technique)
techniques and procedures that reduce the number of microorganisms in a health care environment and decrease opportunities for further spread
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
a bacterium responsible for a severe difficult to treat skin infection since it is resistant to methicillin and many other antibiotics
microorganisms
microbes or germs; living organisms that are too small to see with the naked eye
mycology
the study of fungi
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
a federal agency that develops and monitors guidelines and mandates that address health and safety in the work place
outbreak
an excess of the normal of occurrences of a specific disease
pandemic
an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people
parasite
an organism that lives at the expense of another organism
parasitology
study of worms, protozoa, and other parasites
pathogens
microorganisms that cause disease
portals of entry or means of entrance
routes by which microorganisms enter the body
spores
encapsulated bacteria in an inactive or resting state
sterilization
process of destroying all living organisms
surgical asepsis (sterile technique)
techniques and procedures intended to eliminate all microorganisms in an environment
virology
study of virus
