Infection Control Vocabulary

Flashcards about Infection Control

Airborne

Infectious agents that remain infectious over long distances when suspended in the air.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

A federal agency of the U.S. Government that provides facilities and services for the investigation, identification, prevention, and control of disease.

Cohorting

Grouping patients infected or colonized with the same infectious agent together to confine their care to one area and prevent contact with susceptible patients

Droplet

A small drop discharged from the mouth during coughing, sneezing, or speaking; these may transmit infections while airborne to others.

Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)

A federal advisory committee assembled to provide advice and guidance to the CDC and HHS regarding the practice of infection control.

Host

A person or other living animal that affords subsistence or lodgment to an infectious agent under natural conditions.

Incubation period

The time interval between initial contact with the infectious organism and the first appearance of symptoms associated with the infection.

Infection

The entry and development or multiplication of an infectious agent in the body of persons or animals.

Infectious Agent

An organism that is capable of producing infection or infectious disease.

Nosocomial infection

An infection occurring in a patient in a hospital or other health care facility in whom the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission.

Portal of entry

The means of entry for an infectious agent into a host.

Reservoir

Any person, animal, arthropod, plant, substance in which an infection agent normally lives and multiplies.

Susceptible

A person or animal not possessing sufficient resistance against a particular infectious agent to prevent contracting infection or disease when exposed to the agent.

Standard precautions

Concepts in which all body fluids are assumed to be infected with blood-borne pathogens.

Blood-borne pathogens

Microorganisms that are present in human blood, and can cause disease in humans.

Airborne pathogens

Microorganisms that are transported through the air.

Airborne Precautions

Prevent transmission of infectious agents that remain infectious over long distances when suspended in the air.

Droplet Precautions

Prevent transmission of pathogens spread through close respiratory or mucous membrane contact with respiratory secretions.

Contact Precautions

Prevent transmission of infectious agents, which are spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or the patient's environment.