Infection Control and Medical Asepsis Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing concepts of asepsis, microbes, chain of infection, standard and transmission-based precautions, and PPE protocols.

Asepsis

Absence of disease-producing microbes.

Antisepsis

Processes or chemicals that kill microbes or prevent them from causing infection.

Medical asepsis

Clean technique; reduces the number of microbes and prevents their spread.

Surgical asepsis

Sterile technique; practices used to remove ALL microbes.

Sterile

Complete absence of all microbes.

Sterile field

A work area free of ALL microbes, including spores.

Sterilization

Process that destroys ALL microbes, including spores.

Disinfection

Process of killing many pathogens, but NOT necessarily spores.

Disinfectant

A chemical used to kill many or most pathogens, but not spores.

Contamination

Process of becoming unclean.

Cross-contamination

Passing microbes from one person/object to another through contaminated hands, equipment, or supplies.

Infection

Invasion and growth of microbes in the body.

Infection control

Practices and procedures used to prevent the spread of infection.

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)

An infection related to receiving healthcare that develops while a person is being cared for.

Pathogen

A harmful microbe that can cause infection.

Non-pathogen

A microbe that usually does not cause infection.

Normal flora

Microbes that normally live and grow in certain areas of the body.

Microorganism

A tiny living organism, or microbe, that can usually only be seen with a microscope.

Spore

A bacterium protected by a hard shell; spores are NOT destroyed by normal disinfection.

Immunity

Protection against a certain disease.

Vaccination

Giving a vaccine to produce immunity against an infectious disease.

Carrier

A human or animal that carries microbes and can spread them without developing the infection.

Vector

An animal or insect that carries and transmits disease.

Vehicle

A substance or material that transmits microbes.

Types of microbes

Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, rickettsiae, and viruses.

Microbe growth requirements

A reservoir; common reservoirs include people/animals, soil, food, and water.

Chain of infection

Infectious agent -> reservoir -> portal of exit -> mode of transmission -> portal of entry -> susceptible host.

Infectious agent

The pathogen/germ that causes the infection.

Reservoir

The place where a pathogen lives and grows.

Portal of exit

The way a pathogen leaves its reservoir.

Mode of transmission

The way a pathogen travels from one place/person to another.

Portal of entry

The way a pathogen enters a new person.

Susceptible host

A person who is more likely to become infected.

High-risk susceptible hosts

Very young/older adults, people who are ill, immunocompromised people, burn patients, transplant patients, and chemotherapy patients.

Common signs of infection

Fever, nausea, chills, and fatigue. Older adults may have less obvious symptoms and can sometimes show confusion.

Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs)

Microbes that have become resistant to medications that would normally kill them.

Importance of finishing prescribed antibiotics

Stopping them improperly can contribute to antibiotic resistance.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; can cause serious infections and requires CONTACT precautions.

VRE

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci; resistant to vancomycin and requires CONTACT precautions.

Biohazardous waste

Items contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions.

Communicable disease

A disease caused by a pathogen that spreads easily from person to person.

OPIM

Other Potentially Infectious Materials.

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment; clothing/equipment worn to protect against hazards or infection.

Standard Precautions

Infection-control practices used with EVERY patient regardless of known infection status.

Main parts of Standard Precautions

Hand hygiene, appropriate PPE, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, cleaning equipment/environment, and safe handling of textiles/laundry.

When PPE should be used

When exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, or other infectious material is possible.

Protection against splashes or sprays

Goggles or a face shield.

Donning

PUTTING ON PPE.

PPE donning order

Gown -> Mask/Respirator -> Goggles/Face Shield -> Gloves.

Doffing

REMOVING PPE.

PPE doffing order

Gloves -> Goggles/Face Shield -> Gown -> Mask.

Reason gloves are removed first during doffing

They are usually the most contaminated piece of PPE.

When PPE should be removed

Before leaving the isolation area according to facility procedure; plan your care so unnecessary entries/exits are limited.

Gowns in isolation

Generally single-use for an isolation encounter; discard appropriately after use.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Extra precautions used IN ADDITION to Standard Precautions for infections spread in specific ways.

Three Transmission-Based Precautions

Contact, Droplet, and Airborne.

Contact Precautions

Used for infections spread by direct or indirect contact; usually wear gloves and gown.

Contact Precautions examples

MRSA, VRE, C. diff/diarrheal illness, RSV, and certain wound infections.

Contact Precautions equipment

Use disposable or dedicated equipment when possible and limit unnecessary transport.

Droplet Precautions

Used for pathogens spread through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking.

Droplet Precautions examples

Influenza, pneumonia, whooping cough, and bacterial meningitis.

Droplet Precautions PPE

Wear a mask when entering/when required by precautions.