Week Three Glossary Terms Flashcards
Antiseptic
A chemical agent (dilute solution of chemical disinfectant) that inhibits microbial growth. Used on the living tissue prior to invasive procedures (non-toxic)
Asepsis
Free of microorganisms; Medical (clean) or Surgical (sterile)
Aseptic / Sterile
Free of any living microorganisms
Bacterial Agent
One which kills bacteria
Bacteriostatic Agent
One which inhibits the growth of bacteria
Biocidal
Kills all forms of life
Bacillus
Rod-shaped bacterium
Coccus
Spherical shaped bacterium
Clean
equipment - referring to that which has been sterilized, but is not packaged to preserve sterility
technique - referring to a procedure or method that prevents the spread of microorganisms from one place to another
Contaminated
That which has been rendered unsterile or unclean; opposite of sterile; one or more micro-organisms are present
Disinfectant
A toxic chemical agent used to kill microorganisms on inanimate surfaces (i.e. countertops, floors)
Disinfection
A process whereby the vegetative cells of infectious microorganisms may be destroyed or rendered non-functional.
Since a disinfectant may or may not be capable of killing any or all of the following: bacterial spores, fungi and their spores, viruses or Mycobacterium tuberculosis, sterilization cannot be considered to have occurred
Drape
A sterile cloth or paper (usually green) of varying sizes and shapes, used to create and demarcate the sterile field
Envelope Wrap
A standard type of packaging of some sterile items. IT involves four flaps, with the flap corners folded back to provide handles for aseptic opening
Fungicidal
Kills fungi
Fungistatic
Inhibits the growth of fungi
Germicidal
Kills germs (microorganisms)
Gram Positive
Bacteria that Stan a deep purple using the Gram’s stain
Gram Negative
Bacteria that stains pink or red using the Gram’s stain
Infection
Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissue
Infectious Disease
A pathology caused by infection
Medical Asepsis
The state of being clean
Normal Flora
The microbiological life usually present in or characteristic of an area of the body
Nosocomial Infection
An infection acquired in the hospital
Sanitation
A decrease in the level of microorganisms to an acceptable low level set by public health authorities
Spore
A structure produced by bacteria as protection against unfavourable environmental conditions. Spores are able to withstand much better than the ordinary vegetative bacterial cells, the effects of sterilants and disinfectants. Only a few types of bacteria produce spores
Sporicidal
Kills spores
Sterilization
The act or process, physical or chemical, which destroys or eliminates all forms of life such as microorganism spores and viruses. An object or substance is sterile or not sterile; it can never be partially sterile
Sterile Field
Area within which and above which all linens, equipment, solutions and personnel are sterile and remain sterile (anything below/behind not sterile)
Surgical Asepsis
The state of being sterile
Vegetative Bacterial Cell
The normal state of the bacterial cell which functions metabolically and multiplies. Cells that are vegetative are more vulnerable to killing by sterilants and disinfectants than cells which have formed spores
Virucidal
Kills viruses
Virus
A submicroscopic particle which is infectious
Tuberculocidal
Able to kill the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis
