PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION CONTROL

Question 1

infectious disease

Answer 1

caused by pathogens or agents. these pathogens are microorganisms or organisms that are too small to be seen without a microscope.

Question 2

infective agent

Answer 2

agent may be a virus, bacterium, protozoa, fungus, or rickettsia

Question 3

reservoir host

Answer 3

potential hosts include contaminated people, insects, animals, food, water, or other objects including medical equipment. The reservoir host is where the pathogen resides prior to infecting a person.

Question 4

portal of exit

Answer 4

how the agent leaves the host and spreads to another.

Question 5

transmission

Answer 5

can occur with either direct or indirect contact. The pathogen might be expelled into the air from the host, transmitted by contaminated food or drink, or deposited on an inanimate object called a fomite.

Question 6

fomite

Answer 6

an inanimate object

Question 7

portal of entry

Answer 7

how the pathogen is picked up and deposited. Could be the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, reproductive system, or any open area in the skin of the susceptible host.

Question 8

vector

Answer 8

an insect or animal that is capable of passing the pathogen on to a human host

Question 9

chain of infection

Answer 9

1. infective agent
2. reservoir host
3. portal of exit
4. transmission
5. portal of entry
6. susceptible host

Question 10

susceptible host

Answer 10

the pathogen must be able to survive in the environment of the host

Question 11

acute infection

Answer 11

has rapid onset of symptoms but the illness lasts only a short time; example is the common cold

Question 12

chronic infection

Answer 12

the illness lasts for an extended period and may be lifelong; example is hepatitis B

Question 13

latent infection

Answer 13

persists with periods of activity and latency; example is herpes simplex

Question 14

slow infection

Answer 14

has slow onset over a long period of time; examples are untreated Lyme disease and syphilis

Question 15

asepsis

Answer 15

the absence of infection or infectious material

Question 16

medical asepsis

Answer 16

comprises the removal or destruction of pathogens after they leave the body

Question 17

surgical asepsis

Answer 17

is the removal or destruction of pathogens before they enter the body

Question 18

sanitization

Answer 18

the process of preparing instruments to be disinfected or sterilized

Question 19

ultrasonic sterilization

Answer 19

uses a special cleanser in a bath, which cleans the instruments with bubbles caused by sound vibrations

Question 20

disinfection

Answer 20

the process of killing or inactivating pathogens on objects

Question 21

antiseptics

Answer 21

are used on the skin, commonly used to clean the skin and to decrease the number of organisms at the site of injections

Question 22

autoclave

Answer 22

uses a combination of steam, heat, and pressure for a prescribed amount of time to sterilize different items. This method kills all organisms and spores, and is considered sterilized for a 28 day period