Microbiology and Infection Control Flashcards

A comprehensive set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering microbiology, infection types, transmission cycles, and sterilization techniques.

Microscopic organisms

Entities including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and prions that transmit diseases and function as the disease itself.

Fomites

Dirty objects such as linens and dirty table tops that can transmit disease by accident.

Vectors

Organisms like ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes that transmit disease.

Vehicles

Organic things such as blood, food, or water that go inside the human body and transport microbes.

Vector diseases

Diseases such as malaria, plague, and rocky mountain spotted fever which are spread via vectors.

Yeasts and molds

Specific types of fungi that can infect the human body.

Ringworm

A type of fungal infection that often affects the skin.

Nail bed fungus

A fungal infection characterized by a crusty, yellow appearance on the nails.

Scalp fungal infection

An infection that results in a red, itchy, scaly, and stinky scalp.

Cycle of infection

A process starting with an infectious organism, followed by a reservoir, portal of exit, transmission, portal entry, and a susceptible host.

Infectious/pathogenic organism

The starting point of the cycle of infection.

Reservoir of Infection

The second stage in the infection cycle where the organism creates a place to replicate.

Portal of exit

The pathway by which an infectious organism leaves the reservoir.

Transmission of Disease

The movement of an organism from a portal of exit to a portal of entry.

Portal entry

The site where an infectious organism enters a susceptible host.

Susceptible host

An individual who is at risk of infection at the end of the infection cycle.

Viruses

The smallest of the microbes including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and prions.

Bacteria

Microbes classified by their shape and staining abilities, such as gram positive or gram negative.

Cocci

Round-shaped bacteria.

Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Spirochete

Spiral-shaped bacteria.

Passive immunity

Immunity acquired from a secondary source, such as an immunization for varicella or a baby drinking breast milk.

Active immunity

Immunity developed by the immune system making its own antibodies after suffering through a full-blown disease.

Protozoa

Single-celled organisms that can be motile or non-motile.

Motility mechanisms

Tools used by protozoa to move, such as a flagella, cilia, or bending their body.

Virulence factors

Tools pathogens use to overcome host defenses, including mutations, changing shape, or breaking down cell membranes.

Normal flora

Microbes that benefit the body and do not shapeshift to replicate and take over.

Reservoir

Warm moist areas that act as cesspools for infection where microbes replicate better in fluid.

Unsuitable environment

Conditions of hot heat and extreme freezing that are not conductive to microbial growth.

Airborne transmission

Method of spread for Mycobacterioum tuberculosis, rubeola virus, and varicella virus.

Viral treatment limitation

Microbes that are often difficult to treat due to a sparse selection of medications developed for a limited number of them.

Rectum

An anatomical area that is not considered a portal of entry according to logical healthcare practice.

STI/STD

Sexually transmitted infections or diseases.

Direct contact transmission

How STIs like syphillis, HSV, gonorrhea, and HIV are transmitted.

Nosocomial infections

Healthcare acquired infections received in a facility that are unrelated to the original cause of the visit.

Linen handling

Technique of changing dirty linens by starting at one end and folding them into a ball toward the middle.

Skin flakes

Materials that may be dispersed if linens are picked up and shaken.

Isolation

The practice of separating infectious patients and controlling items that come into contact with them.

Protective precautions

A system where the radiographer keeps themselves from getting an infection, such as by dropping an image receptor into a sterile cover.

Image receptor (IR) bag removal

Process of opening a bag from the outside, peeling it back, and dropping the IR into a holder before disposal.

Isolation removal sequence

The process of removing a gown and peeling off gloves followed by the mask and cap.

Droplet precautions

Measures taken for patients sneezing or coughing, requiring the patient to wear a mask during transport.

Neutropenic isolation

Precautions for compromised patients with no immune system where healthcare workers must protect the patient from themselves.

Medical asepsis

Reducing the probability of infectious organisms being transmitted by wiping down and cleaning rooms after use.

Airborne precautions

Measures typically involving the use of an N-95 respirator and placing a sign on the patient's door.

Surgical mask

A protective item that is not considered up to standard for airborne precautions.

HIV/AIDS surface solution

A CDC-recommended mixture of $10$ parts water to $1$ part bleach.

Needle recapping

A practice that should never be performed according to CDC and testing standards.

Sharps box

The disposal container for needles and entire syringe assemblies that must not be taken apart.

Hand washing

The CDC-recommended hygiene method when hands are visibly dirty, sticky, or grimey.

Hand hygiene

Collective term for washing with soap and water, using hand sanitizer, or using antiseptic scrubs like Hibiclens.

Transmission based precautions

The current CDC recommendation for isolating patients with known infections.

Wound infection precautions

Conditions that use contact precautions only, rather than airborne or droplet precautions.

Sterilization

The use of an autoclave or gas to make items or an environment completely germ free.

Microbial dilution

A cleaning process that does not result in $100\%$ killing of germs.

Disinfection

A germ reduction method that does not ensure $100\%$ microbial destruction.

Surgical asepsis

A state that theoretically kills $100\%$ of germs, generally called sterilization.

Chemical sterilization

A sterilization method that lacks a visual indicator on the package to confirm sterility.

Sterilization indicators

A strip or tape indicator found only on autoclaved, gas, and plasma sterilized items.

Sterile pack opening

The first step involves opening the first flap or pulling the closure away from you.

Autoclave heat sensitivity

Items such as long plastic tubing that buckle or melt under heat cannot be processed this way.

Gas plasma technology

The next safest method for sterilizing instruments with long, thin lumina, though it is expensive.

Conventional gas technology

Sterilization using Freon or ethylene oxide which requires packages to air out because it emits toxins.

Autoclave candidates

Materials like metal and steel scissors, hammers, and mallets that can withstand high heat.

Sterile package criteria

Includes being within expiration date, having changed indicators, and being clean, dry, unopened, and unpunctured.

Presurgical skin prep

Cleaning with iodine or hibiclens which does not require the use of a gown.

Presurgical skin prep supplies

A cleaning solution, gauze or sponge, and a medicine cup.

Shared skin cleaner protocol

The practice of pouring out a small amount first to remove dirty solution from the lid or top.

Surgical hand scrub and rub

Two hygiene methods considered equal for test purposes naturally, despite different surgical standards.

Surgical hand scrub time

A procedure involving scrubbing for $5$ minutes at the sink from arms up to under the fingernails.

Surgical dressings

Bandages applied using sterile technique, though removing them does not require it.

Open glove technique

Grasping the first glove by the fold and the second glove by inserting fingers under the cuff.

Closed glove technique

A method used after putting on a sterile gown, often assisted by a surgical tech.

Topical Betadine

A solution typically used for skin cleansing or prep before injections or arthrograms.

Surgical attire sequence

Putting on surgical caps, masks, scrub tops, and bottoms before washing hands.

Scrubbing gowns and gloves

The final items put on when preparing for a sterile case.

Flagella

A whip-like structure used by motile protozoa for movement.

Cilia

Hair-like structures used by motile protozoa to move around.

Mycobacterioum tuberculosis

The specific spelling used in the text for the bacterium causing tuberculosis transmitted by air.

Rubeola virus

The virus responsible for measles, transmitted through the air.

Varicella virus

The virus responsible for chicken pox, transmitted via airborne routes.

Syphillis

A sexually transmitted infection spread by direct contact.

HSV

Herpes Simplex Virus, an STI transmitted via direct contact.

Gonorrhea

A bacterial STI transmitted through direct contact.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, an STI transmitted by direct contact.

Hibiclens

A specific antiseptic scrub mentioned for hand hygiene and presurgical skin prep.

Freon

A chemical used in conventional gas technology for sterilization.

Ethylene oxide

A toxic gas used in conventional sterilization that requires aired-out packages.

Image receptor (IR)

The device dropped into a clean or sterile cover during protective precautions.

N-95

A specific respirator recommended for airborne precautions to catch fine particles.

Autoclave

A big heat chamber used for surgical asepsis of metal and steel instruments.

Asepsis

A general term for medical or surgical practices intended to reduce or eliminate germs.

Shapeshifting

A virulence factor where pathogens change shape to replicate and take over the host.

Airborne illnesses

Contagions that can float in the air for several hours after being expelled.

Wound infections

Infections that do not require airborne or droplet precautions but do require contact precautions.

Sterility tape

An indicator found on gas or plasma sterilized items to confirm the process occurred.

Medicine cup

A supply used during presurgical skin prep to hold cleaning solution poured from a shared bottle.

Gauze/Sponge

Materials used to spread cleaning solution during presurgical skin preparation.

Scrub tops and bottoms

Elements of surgical attire that are put on before scrubbing hands.

Staining abilities

A characteristic used to classify bacteria into gram positive or gram negative categories.