Infection Control, Aseptic Technique, and Vital Signs: Key Concepts for Healthcare

Antibiotics

Medications used to treat bacterial infections.

Antifungal

Medications used to treat fungal infections.

Antimicrobial drugs

Substances that kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

Bacteria

Single-celled organisms that can cause infections.

Carrier

An individual who harbors a pathogen without showing symptoms.

Fomites

Inanimate objects that can carry infectious agents.

Fungi

A group of organisms that includes yeasts and molds, some of which can cause infections.

Pathogenicity

The ability of an organism to cause disease.

Prion

A type of infectious agent composed of protein that can cause neurodegenerative diseases.

Sepsis

A life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to infection.

Standard Precautions

Infection control practices that treat all patients as potentially infectious.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Additional infection control practices used for patients with known or suspected infections.

PPE

Personal protective equipment used to protect healthcare workers from exposure to infectious agents.

Viruses

Small infectious agents that can only replicate inside living cells.

Virulence

The degree of pathogenicity of a microorganism.

Nosocomial infection

An infection acquired in a healthcare setting.

Iatrogenic infection

An infection caused by a medical procedure.

Community-acquired infection

An infection that a patient has when entering a healthcare setting.

Exogenous

Infections from external sources

Endogenous

Infections from internal sources

Medical Asepsis

A technique that reduces the number and spread of pathogens.

Surgical Asepsis

A technique that eliminates all microorganisms and spores.

Disinfection

A process that removes most microorganisms, but not spores.

Sterilization

A process that removes all microorganisms, including spores.

Vital signs

Measurements that indicate the state of a patient's essential body functions.

Normal Values for Temperature

Adult 97.8-99°F | Child 97.8-98.6°F | Infant 99-99.7°F

Normal Values for Pulse

Adult 60-90 bpm | Child 90-100 bpm | Infant 120 bpm

Normal Values for Respiration

Adult 15-20 | Child 20-30 | Infant 30-60

Normal Values for Blood Pressure

Adult 90-120/50-70 mmHg | O₂ Sat: 95-100%