Infection Control and Biomedical Waste Management Flashcards

Vocabulary-style practice flashcards covering core terms and definitions from the lecture on infection, transmission, defenses, asepsis, standard precautions, and biomedical waste management.

Infection

The invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in the body, with or without the appearance of signs and symptoms.

Contamination

Presence of microorganisms on a surface or object.

Colonization

Presence and multiplication of microorganisms without tissue invasion or disease.

Disease

Infection that produces signs and symptoms.

Virulence

The ability of a microorganism to produce disease.

Pathogenicity

The ability of an organism to cause disease.

Chain of Infection

The sequence through which an infectious organism is transmitted from a source to a susceptible person, consisting of six links.

Infectious Agent

An organism capable of causing infection, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or parasites.

Reservoir

The place where an infectious organism normally lives, grows, and multiplies.

Asymptomatic Carrier

A person who harbors an organism and can transmit it without obvious symptoms.

Portal of Exit

The route through which microorganisms leave the reservoir.

Direct Contact Transmission

Transmission that occurs through direct physical contact with an infected source.

Indirect Contact Transmission

Transmission that occurs through a contaminated object or surface, such as bed linen or medical equipment.

Droplet Transmission

Transmission via large respiratory droplets produced during coughing, sneezing, talking, or procedures.

Airborne Transmission

Transmission where very small particles or droplet nuclei remain suspended in the air and travel over distances.

Vehicle Transmission

Transmission through contaminated food, water, blood, medications, or medical products.

Vector Transmission

Transmission through insects or other living vectors such as mosquitoes, flies, or ticks.

Portal of Entry

The route through which microorganisms enter the susceptible host.

Susceptible Host

A person who is unable to adequately resist infection.

Endogenous Infection

Infection caused by microorganisms originating from the patient's own body.

Exogenous Infection

Infection acquired from outside the patient's body.

Local Infection

An infection limited to a specific area of the body.

Systemic Infection

An infection that spreads throughout the body.

Primary Infection

The initial infection caused by a pathogen.

Secondary Infection

An infection that develops following another infection or condition.

Reinfection

A new infection occurring after recovery from an earlier infection.

Cross-infection

Transmission of infection from one person to another, particularly within healthcare settings.

Opportunistic Infection

Infection caused by microorganisms that usually do not cause disease in healthy people but cause disease when immunity is impaired.

Incubation Period

The interval between entry of the microorganism and appearance of the first signs and symptoms.

Prodromal Period

The period of infection when early, nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, and mild fever appear.

Illness Stage

The acute stage of infection when characteristic signs and symptoms are fully developed.

Decline Stage

The stage of infection where symptoms and the number of microorganisms begin to decrease.

Convalescent Stage

The stage during which the patient gradually returns to the normal state of health.

Innate Defenses

Nonspecific body defense mechanisms present naturally from birth that provide a rapid response.

Adaptive Immunity

Specific body defense that develops after exposure to an antigen and features immunological memory.

Inflammation

A protective response of vascularized tissue to injury or infection.

Rubor

The cardinal sign of inflammation representing redness, caused mainly by increased blood flow.

Calor

The cardinal sign of inflammation representing heat, caused due to increased blood flow.

Tumor

The cardinal sign of inflammation representing swelling, caused due to accumulation of fluid in tissues.

Dolor

The cardinal sign of inflammation representing pain, associated with inflammatory mediators and tissue pressure.

Functio Laesa

The cardinal sign of inflammation representing loss of function, occurring because of pain, swelling, or tissue damage.

Humoral Immunity

Adaptive immunity mainly mediated by B lymphocytes, plasma cells, and antibodies.

Cell-mediated Immunity

Adaptive immunity mainly mediated by T lymphocytes, important for defense against intracellular pathogens and abnormal cells.

Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI)

An infection associated with the provision of healthcare, commonly referred to as nosocomial infection when acquired in healthcare facilities.

Asepsis

Practices used to prevent contamination with microorganisms and reduce the risk of infection.

Medical Asepsis

Clean technique aimed at reducing the number and spread of microorganisms in routine care.

Surgical Asepsis

Sterile technique aimed at preventing contamination of a sterile field and maintaining sterility during invasive procedures.

Standard Precautions

Basic infection-prevention measures used for the care of all patients, regardless of their suspected or confirmed infection status.

Biomedical Waste

Waste generated during diagnosis, treatment, immunization, research, or healthcare activities involving humans or animals.

Yellow Waste Category

Biomedical waste category used for human anatomical waste, soiled waste, and certain pharmaceutical and laboratory waste.

Red Waste Category

Biomedical waste category used for contaminated recyclable plastics such as IV sets, tubing, catheters, urine bags, and gloves.

White/Translucent Waste Category

Biomedical waste category used for sharps including needles, syringes with fixed needles, blades, and scalpels.

Blue Waste Category

Biomedical waste category used for contaminated glassware, medicine vials or ampoules, and metallic implants.