Standard Precautions Flashcards
AIDS
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. When suppressed the patient is vulnerable to a host of opportunistic infections.
Antibody
a protein substance developed by the body to fight disease organisms. Not effective against a virus that hides inside a cell.
Antimicrobial
an agent that prevents the development or pathogenic action of microbes.
Antiseptics
agents that are applied to body tissues, such as skin or mucous membrane, to destroy or retard that growth of microorganisms.
Asepsis
the absence of disease-producing microorganisms.
Auto-infections
infections that arise from an individuals own body flora.
Bacteriostatic
a a substance that prevents the growth or multiplication of bacteria.
Barrier nursing
any technique that reduces the risk of cross contamination.
Biohazard waste
any solid or liquid waste that may present a threat of infection.
Carrier
an individual or animal without signs of illness but who carries pathogens on or within his or her body that can be transferred to others.
Colonization
organisms present in body tissue but not multiplying or invading the tissue.
Contagious disease
a disease conveyed easily to others.
Contamination
introduction of disease, germs, or infectious material into or on normally clean or sterile objects.
Detergents
compounds (surfactants) that posses a cleaning action, often referred to as soaps. They are composed of a hydrophilic and lipophilic substance.
Disinfectants
chemical agents that are used to destroy or reduce microorganisms on inanimate surfaces and objects.
Disinfection
a process that employs physical and chemical means to remove, control, or destroy most of the organisms that may be present or equipment or materials.
Endogenous
related to organisms natural to an individuals own body.
Enteric precautions
isolation practices designed to prevent transmission of pathogens through contact with fecal matter and vomitus.
Epidemic
an outbreak of a disease that is widespread or can spread rapidly.
Epidemiology
that study of distribution or patterns and determinants (causes) of health-related events in defined populations.
Exogenous
related to organisms external to an individuals own body.
False negative
a negative test in someone who in fact has been infected by a microorganism but for some reason has not developed antibodies.
False postive
a positive test for an antibody, usually the result of an artifact of the laboratory test, in an individual who has not in fact been exposed to the microorganisms. All individuals who test positive should have the test repeated.
Healthcare - Associated Infections (HAI)
an infection not present and without evidence of incubation at the time of admission to a health care setting.
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus; a blood borne retrovirus that has a different life cycle from a normal virus.
Host
an animal or individual on which or within which microorganisms live.
Incubation period
that time between infection from a microorganism and the onset of symptoms. it seems to range from 6 months to 7 years for AIDS.
Infection
establishment of a disease process that involves invasion of the body tissue by microorganisms and the reaction of the tissues to their presence and to the toxins generated by them.
Isolation technique
practices designed to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases.
MDR-TB
multidrup-resistant tuberculosis; an in vitro resistant strain of TB to antituberculosis drugs.
Medical asepsis
all practices that limit the number and growth of microorganisms and their transmission.
Microorganism
minute living body, such as a bacterium, protozoan, or virus, not perceptible to the naked eye.
Nosocomial infection
HAI
Outbreak
a critical incident in which infections occur above an established level and are caused by the same infective agent.
Pandemic
en epidemic of an infectious disease that becomes widespread, affecting a whole region or large area such as a continent.
Pathogen
a microorganism that can cause infectious disease in the human body
PEP
postexposure prophylaxis; recommendations from the CDC on how to treat a healthcare worker’s exposure to HIV.
Protocol
description of steps to be taken in exact order- may be legally binding.
Resident (normal) flora
organisms natural to an individuals own body. Organisms multiply in the environment, not merely surviving there.
Retrovirus
a virus with a life cycle in which the genetic information is in reverse of that in an ordinary virus: The RNA code is transcribed backward into DNA.
Sepsis
a condition resulting from the presence of pathogenic bacteria and their products.
Sterile
free from any living microorganisms
Surgical asepsis
practices that will maintain area free from microorganisms, as by a surgical scrub or sterile technique.
Susceptible site
an area that is sensitive to or can be invaded by a bacterium or other infectious agent.
Virulence
that ability of recognized pathogenic organisms to invade and propagate in normal, intact, and uncompromised individuals. Some organisms that are avirulent for normal individuals become pathogenic when defense mechanisms are impaired.
Virus
a minute, parasitic organism that depends on nutrients inside cells for its metabolic and reproductive needs. These organisms cause a variety of infectious diseases and stimulate host antibodies. Unlike bacteria, viruses are unable to survive long on their own and are not affect by antibiotics.
Waterless antiseptic agent
an antiseptic agent that does not require use of exogenous water. Agent dries automatically after applying to hands and rubbing hands together.
