NS1881 Nursing Practice 1-Week 1 Terminology

Sepsis

A life‑threatening organ dysfunction caused by the body’s overwhelming and dysregulated response to infection.

Asepsis

The absence of disease‑causing microorganisms. In practice, it means creating and maintaining a clean, microbe‑minimised environment.

Aseptic Non-Touch Technique

A clinical practice framework that prevents contamination by not touching key parts (e.g., needle tips, sterile dressings) and maintaining asepsis during procedures.

Infection

The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, causing local or systemic signs of illness.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)

An infection acquired after admission to a healthcare facility that was not present or incubating at the time of entry.

Antiseptic

A chemical used on living tissue (e.g., skin) to reduce or eliminate microorganisms. Example: chlorhexidine.

Disinfectant

A chemical used on non‑living surfaces to destroy microorganisms. Example: hospital‑grade disinfectant wipes.

Standard Precautions

The minimum infection‑prevention practices used for every patient, every time, include hand hygiene, PPE, respiratory hygiene, sharps safety, environmental cleaning, and safe handling of equipment.

Causative Agent

Any pathogen (bacteria, virus, fungus, or parasite) that can cause disease or infection in a host.

Reservoir

A place where pathogens can live and multiply, often within a host or environment. Examples include humans, animals, and contaminated water sources.

Portal of Entry

The route through which a pathogen enters a susceptible host, which can include mucous membranes, skin breaks, or the respiratory tract.

Mode of Transmission

How a pathogen moves from one host to another. Types: contact, droplet, airborne, vector, common vehicle.

Portal of Exit

The path by which a pathogen leaves a reservoir to enter a new host, commonly through secretions, excretions, or other bodily fluids.

Susceptible Host

A person who is at risk of infection due to a weakened immune system or other factors that make them more vulnerable to pathogens.

Occupational Exposure

Exposure to infectious agents in the workplace that may result in infection, commonly occurring in healthcare settings. It can include incidents such as needlesticks, cuts, or contact with contaminated surfaces.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Specific measures used to prevent the spread of infectious agents when caring for patients known or suspected to be infected with transmissible pathogens. These precautions include contact, droplet, and airborne precautions.

Direct Contact

A method of transmission where infectious agents are transferred directly from one person to another through physical touch. e.g., touching a wound, assisting with hygiene, or turning a patient.

Indirect contact

A method of transmission where infectious agents are transferred indirectly through contaminated objects or surfaces. Examples include touching items like bed rails, call bells, or medical equipment that have come into contact with an infected person.

Droplet (=spray)

Large respiratory droplets (>5 microns) travel short distances (usually 1m) and land on mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth). Precautions include wearing masks and protective eyewear to prevent the spread of pathogens transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Influenza, pertussis, RSV, meningococcal disease.

Airborne (=float)

Transmission of pathogens via small particles (<5 microns) that can remain suspended in the air for extended periods, potentially travelling long distances. Precautions include using N95 respirators or masks to reduce the risk of inhaling infectious agents, such as those that cause tuberculosis and measles.