Module 2: Key Terms Flashcards
Acute Infection
An infection of short duration that is often severe.
Blood-borne Disease
Disease such as HBV, HCV, or HIV infection that is caused by microorganisms such as viruses or bacteria that are carried in blood.
Chain of Infection
Conditions that all must be present for infection to occur.
Chronic Infection
An infection of long duration.
Communicable Disease
Condition caused by an infection that can be spread from person to person or through contact with body fluids.
Direct Contact
Touching or contact with a patient’s blood or saliva.
Droplet Infection
An infection that occurs through mucosal surfaces of the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Immunity
Ability of the body to resist disease.
Indirect Contact
Touching or contact with a contaminated surface or instrument.
Infection Control
Policies and practices designed to prevent the spread of infectious agents.
Latent Infection
Persistent infection with recurrent symptoms that “come and go.”
Occupational Exposure
Any reasonably anticipated skin, eye, or mucous membrane contact or percutaneous injury involving blood or any other potentially infectious materials.
Pathogen
Disease-causing organism
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Items such as protective clothing, masks, gloves, and eyewear used to protect employees.
Standard Precaution
Standard of care designed to protect healthcare providers from pathogens that can be spread by blood or any other body fluid via excretion or secretion; expands upon the concept of
Universal Precautions
Guidelines based on treating all human blood and body fluids (including saliva) as potentially infectious.
Virulence
Strength of a pathogen’s ability to cause disease; also known as pathogenicity.
Antiseptic
Substance for killing microorganisms on the skin.
Bio Burden
Blood, saliva, and other body fluids.
Broad-Spectrum Activity
Capable of killing a wide range of microbes.
Clinical Contact Surface
Surface touched by contaminated hands, instruments, or spatter during dental treatment.
Disinfectant
Chemical used to reduce or lower the numbers of microorganisms on inanimate objects.
Environmental Surface
Surface within a healthcare facility that is not directly involved in patient care, but that may become contaminated during the course of treatment (e.g., countertops, floors, walls, instrument control panels).
Fungicidal
A product that is capable of killing fungi.
Glutaraldehyde
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)–registered high-level disinfectant.
High-Level Disinfectant
Hospital disinfectant with tuberculocidal activity.
Hospital Disinfectant
Disinfectant with the ability to kill Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Housekeeping Surfaces
Surface that is not contaminated during dental treatment (e.g., floors, walls).
Immersion Disinfectant
Disinfectant used for immersion (soaking) of heat-sensitive instruments.
Intermediate-Level Disinfectant
Liquid disinfectant with EPA registration as a hospital disinfectant with tuberculocidal activity. It is used for disinfecting operatory surfaces.
Iodophor
EPA-registered, intermediate-level hospital disinfectant.
Low-Level Disinfectant
Disinfectant that destroys certain viruses and fungi; used for general house cleaning (e.g., walls, floors).
Precleaning
Removal of bioburden before disinfection.
Residual Activity
Action that continues long after initial application, as with disinfectants.
Reuse Life
Time period that a disinfectant should remain effective during use and reuse.
Shelf Life
How long a product may be stored before use.
Single-Use Items
Items that are used on only one patient and then are thrown away.
Sodium Hypochlorite
Surface disinfectant commonly known as household bleach.
Splash, Splatter, and Droplet Surface
Surface that does not contact members of the dental team or contaminated instruments or supplies.
Sporicidal
Capable of killing bacterial spores
Sterilant
Agent that kills all microorganisms
Sterilization
Process that kills all microorganisms
Surface Barrier
Fluid-resistant material used to cover surfaces likely to become contaminated.
Synthetic Phenol Compound
EPA-registered intermediate-level hospital disinfectant with broad-spectrum disinfecting action.
Touch Surface
Surface directly touched and contaminated during procedures.
Transfer Surface
Surface not directly touched but often contacted by contaminated instruments.
Tuberculocidal
Capable of inactivating tuberculosis-causing microorganisms.
Virucidal
Capable of killing some viruses.
Autoclave
Instrument for sterilization by means of moist heat under pressure.
Biologic Indicators
Vials or strips, also known as spore tests, that contain harmless bacterial spores; used to determine whether sterilization has occurred.
Biologic Monitoring
Verifies sterilization by confirming that all spore-forming microorganisms have been destroyed.
Chemical Vapor Sterilization
Sterilization by means of hot formaldehyde vapors under pressure.
Clean Area
Place where sterilized instruments, fresh disposable supplies, and prepared trays are stored.
Contaminated Area
Place where contaminated items are brought for precleaning.
Critical Instrument
Item used to penetrate soft tissue or bone.
Noncritical Instrument
Item that comes in contact with intact skin only.
Process Indicators
Tapes, strips, or tabs with heat-sensitive chemicals that change color when exposed to a certain temperature.
Process Indicators
Strips placed in packages that change color when exposed to a combination of heat, temperature, and time.
Semi-Critical Instrument
Item that comes in contact with oral tissues but does not penetrate soft tissue or bone.
Single-Parameter Indicators
Tapes, strips, or tabs with heat-sensitive chemicals that change color when exposed to a particular temperature. Also known as process indicators.
Ultrasonic Cleaner
Instrument that loosens and removes debris by sound waves traveling through a liquid.
Use-Life
Period of time during which a germicidal solution is effective after it has been prepared for use
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Federal agency that is non-regulatory and that issues recommendations on health and safety.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal regulatory agency whose responsibility it is to protect and restore the environment and public health through environmental laws.
Food and Drug Administration
Federal regulatory agency that regulates food, drugs, medical devices, animal feed and drugs, cosmetics, and radiation-emitting products (cell phones, lasers, microwaves, etc.).
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Federal agency that is nonregulatory and provides national and worldwide leadership to prevent work-related illnesses and injuries.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Reasearch (NIDCR)
Federal agency whose mission is to improve oral, dental, and craniofacial health through research, research training, and the dissemination of health information.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
One of the world’s foremost research centers.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Federal regulatory agency whose mission is to ensure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards.
Organization for Safety, Asepsis and prevention (OSAP)
The premier infection control agency in the United States.
Acute Exposure
High levels of exposure over a short period.
Chemical Inventory
Comprehensive list of every product used in the office that contains chemicals.
Chronic Exposure
Repeated exposures, generally to lower levels, over a long time.
Contaminated Waste
Items such as gloves and patient napkins that may contain the potentially infectious body fluids of patients.
Hazard Communication Standard
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard regarding employees’ “right to know” about chemicals in the workplace.
Hazardous Waste
Waste that poses a risk to humans or to the environment.
Infectious Waste
Waste that is capable of transmitting an infectious disease.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Form that provides health and safety information regarding materials that contain chemicals.
Regulated Waste
Infectious waste that requires special handling, neutralization, and disposal.
Toxic Waste
Waste that can have a poisonous effect.
