Infection Control & Communicable Diseases Lecture

A set of 75 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, pathogens, precautions, treatments, and procedures discussed in the lecture on infection control and communicable diseases.

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)

Respiratory viral illness causing fever, cough, possible anosmia; requires N95, vaccination, air purification, distancing.

Vehicle-borne transmission

Spread of pathogens via contaminated inanimate objects (elevator buttons, shared tools) rather than human contact.

Specialized PPE

Full protective gear—N95 respirator, eye shield, gown, gloves, shoe covers—used for high-risk pathogens like COVID or Ebola.

N95 respirator

Tight-fitting mask that filters ≥95 % of airborne particles; essential for airborne precautions.

Paxlovid

Oral antiviral for early outpatient COVID treatment, given within 48 h of exposure/onset.

Remdesivir

IV antiviral used in institutional care for COVID within 48 h of contact.

Loss of taste and smell

Classic early symptom of original COVID strain (anosmia/ageusia).

PCR swab

Polymerase-chain-reaction test (nasal/throat) detecting viral RNA for COVID diagnosis.

Supportive care

Symptom-relief management when no cure exists (fluids, antipyretics, oxygen).

Ebola virus disease

Severe hemorrhagic fever spread by direct contact; vaccine exists; requires full zip-up suit PPE.

Zika virus

Mosquito-borne flavivirus causing fever, rash, birth defects such as microcephaly.

Guillain-Barré syndrome

Neurologic paralysis that can follow Zika infection.

Microcephaly

Abnormally small head size in infants exposed to Zika in utero.

Community-acquired infection (CAI)

Illness contracted outside healthcare facilities and brought in, e.g., pneumonia from home.

Health-care associated infection (HAI)

Infection acquired during care or stay in a healthcare institution.

Nosocomial infection

Older term for HAI—hospital-derived infection.

Susceptible host

Individual with reduced ability to resist infection due to age, illness, or therapy.

Immunocompromised patient

Person with weakened defenses (HIV, chemo, steroids) increasing infection risk.

Contact precautions

Gloves and gown for organisms spread by touch (MRSA, C. diff).

Airborne precautions

N95, negative-pressure room for tiny droplet nuclei (TB, measles, COVID).

Droplet precautions

Surgical mask, eye protection for large droplets (influenza, meningitis).

Negative pressure room

Isolation room pulling air inward to prevent pathogen escape; used for TB, airborne COVID.

Environmental cleaning protocols

Scheduled surface disinfection, dedicated equipment, proper waste disposal to reduce pathogens.

Length of exposure time

Duration staff spend in contaminated room; longer time raises infection risk.

Multiple antibiotic therapy

Use of several antimicrobials; can disrupt normal flora and foster resistance.

High-risk care unit

Areas like ICU, burn, transplant units where invasive devices and critical illness abound.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Critical-care area with highest HAI risk due to tubes, lines, and immunosuppression.

Burn unit

Specialty ward for patients with open wounds and fluid shifts—high infection susceptibility.

Transplant unit

Unit housing immunosuppressed organ recipients; strict isolation protocols.

Neonatal ICU (NICU)

Critical care for premature/newborns with immature immunity.

Medical devices as infection risk

Foreign bodies (central lines, vents, catheters) that bypass defenses and harbor microbes.

Catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI)

Urinary infection linked to indwelling Foley; prevented by aseptic insertion and early removal.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)

Lung infection developing ≥48 h after intubation; prevented by head-up 30°, oral care bundles.

E. coli

Gram-negative rod often causing community or catheter UTIs.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Staph strain resistant to β-lactams; needs contact isolation and vancomycin therapy.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Resilient, foul-smelling gram-negative pathogen of wounds, urine, blood.

Hand hygiene

Most effective infection control; wash in/out, sing “Happy Birthday,” 20 s minimum.

Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR)

Sanitizer containing 60–95 % alcohol; apply till dry, do not rinse off.

Surgical asepsis

Sterile technique eliminating all microbes; used for OR, central line insertion.

Medical asepsis

Clean technique reducing, not removing, organisms (bed baths, feeding).

Sterile dressing change

Use of sterile gloves/instruments for deep wounds, central-line sites.

Simple dressing change

Clean-glove change of minor or superficial bandages.

Lumbar puncture sterility

Spinal tap performed under full sterile conditions to avoid meningitis.

Closed suction system

Vent circuit device allowing sterile suction without disconnecting tubing.

UV-C room disinfection

Portable ultraviolet light unit that counts and kills residual microbes post-cleaning.

Standard (universal) precautions

Treat all blood/body fluids as infectious; apply baseline PPE to every patient.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Gloves, gowns, masks, goggles, face shields used according to exposure risk.

Airborne pathogens

Microbes that remain suspended (measles, TB, varicella, some COVID variants).

Condom use for STD prevention

Barrier method reducing transmission of gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, HPV.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Oncovirus spread by sexual contact; linked to cervical cancer.

Gardasil vaccine

Immunization protecting against common cancer-causing HPV strains.

Antibiotic stewardship

Prudent antibiotic use—culture first, complete prescribed course, avoid colds.

Bactroban (mupirocin) ointment

Topical antibiotic applied intranasally/skin to decolonize MRSA.

Vancomycin

Glycopeptide IV/PO antibiotic of choice for MRSA and C. diff infections.

Peak and trough levels

Timed serum tests (esp. trough before 4th dose) guiding vancomycin dosing.

Red Man Syndrome

Histamine reaction causing flushing/hypotension from rapid vancomycin infusion.

Ototoxicity

Hearing damage risk from high vancomycin or aminoglycoside levels.

Creatinine normal range

Approx. 0.5–1.5 mg/dL; elevated value signals renal impairment during vanco therapy.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

Kidney function marker; normal ~10–20 mg/dL; monitored with nephrotoxic drugs.

Silver-alloy Foley catheter

Antimicrobial-coated indwelling catheter aiming to reduce CAUTI risk.

Intermittent catheterization

In-and-out straight cath preferred over long-term Foley to limit infection.

Closed urinary drainage system

Keeps Foley tubing sealed; bag below bladder to prevent backflow contamination.

30-degree head-of-bed elevation

Standard VAP prevention measure to reduce aspiration in ventilated patients.

Chlorhexidine oral care

Antiseptic mouth swabs used in ICU bundles to cut ventilator pneumonia incidence.

Granulation tissue

Beefy-red, healthy tissue indicating wound healing progress.

Purulent drainage

Thick, yellow/green, foul exudate signifying wound infection.

Mucous membrane moisturization

Keeping oral/nasal tissues moist to maintain integrity and lower infection risk.

70 % isopropyl alcohol

Minimum effective concentration often cited for sanitizer or wipes.

Gardasil age range

Recommended starting age 9 up to 26 y (2–3-dose series) before HPV exposure.

Contact isolation signage

Door notice listing gowns, gloves, handwashing before exit for resistant organisms.

UV bug count device

Robotic scanner that measures microbial load then emits UV-C to disinfect surfaces.

Community health nurse role

Education, surveillance, and referrals to curb outbreaks in local populations.

Home health education

Teaching families about air filtration, wound care, hand hygiene during outbreaks.

Oncovirus

Virus capable of triggering cancer development, e.g., HPV.

Mupirocin nasal decolonization

Twice-daily intranasal application to eradicate MRSA carriage before transfer.