Unit 5: Infection Prevention and Control Vocabulary

A complete set of 52 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, infection precautions, pathogens, and safety standards from Unit 5 of the CNA Course.

Infection Prevention

A set of methods or practices in healthcare facilities to prevent and control the spread of disease.

Infection Preventionist

A healthcare facility professional who oversees the infection prevention program at the facility.

Microorganism (MO)

A living thing, also called a microbe, that is visible only with a microscope and is always present in the environment.

Pathogen

A harmful microorganism that invades and multiplies within the body, causing an infection.

Localized Infection

An infection that is limited to a specific location in the body, presenting local symptoms located near the site of infection.

Systemic Infection

An infection that affects the entire body by traveling through the bloodstream, causing generalized symptoms such as fatigue, fever, chills, and confusion.

Healthcare-associated Infection (HAI)

An infection acquired in a healthcare setting during the delivery of medical care.

Signs and Symptoms of Localized Infection

Pain, redness, swelling, pus, drainage, and heat located near the site of infection.

Signs and Symptoms of Systemic Infection

Fever, body aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, and confusion or agitation.

Chain of Infection

A process describing how infection is spread through six interconnected links: pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Reservoir (Chain of Infection)

The place where a pathogen lives and grows, which can include people, animals, soil, food, or water.

Portal of Exit (Chain of Infection)

Any body opening on an infected person that allows pathogens to leave, such as through coughing/sneezing, bodily secretions, or feces.

Mode of Transmission

The method by which a pathogen travels from a reservoir to a new host, including direct contact, indirect contact, or vectors.

Portal of Entry (Chain of Infection)

Any body opening on an uninfected person that allows pathogens to enter, such as the mouth, nose, eyes, or cuts in the skin.

Susceptible Host

An uninfected person who could become ill, such as elderly individuals, infants, immunocompromised persons, or anyone.

Direct Contact

Transmission of disease that happens by touching an infected person or their secretions.

Indirect Contact

Transmission of disease that results from touching an object contaminated by an infected person.

Medical Asepsis

Healthcare practices such as handwashing and wearing clean gloves that reduce and prevent the spread of infection.

Surgical Asepsis

Sterile technique that removes all microorganisms from an object or area, used for procedures like catheter insertion.

Malnutrition

The state of not getting enough proper nutrients, which serves as a major risk factor for infection in the elderly.

Dehydration

The condition of having insufficient fluids in the body, increasing vulnerability to infection in elderly individuals.

Standard Precautions

Infection prevention guidelines that require treating blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as if infected, used at all times on every resident.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Infection control measures that vary based on how an infection is transmitted, used in addition to standard precautions for specific contagious diseases.

Biohazardous Waste

Waste containing blood or body fluids that poses a risk of infection and must be disposed of per facility policy.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Protective gear provided free of charge by employers to protect healthcare workers from exposure to infectious materials and bloodborne pathogens.

Hand Hygiene

Cleaning hands using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Clean Item

In healthcare, an item that has not been contaminated with pathogens.

Dirty Item

In healthcare, an item that is contaminated with pathogens.

Disinfection

A process carried out by pasteurization or chemical germicides that destroys MOST but not all pathogens on reusable equipment.

Sterilization

A process in surgical asepsis that destroys ALL microorganisms, including spores, using special devices like autoclaves or chemical agents.

Autoclave

A special machine that sterilizes medical items by using hot steam under pressure.

Spill Disinfectant Contact Time

The requirement that proper disinfectant must be allowed to stand wet on a cleaned spill area for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Microorganisms found in human blood, wound drainage, mucous membranes, and urine that can cause infection and disease in humans.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

A disease caused by HIV in which the immune system is severely weakened, preventing the body from effectively fighting off infections.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

A virus transmitted through blood or body fluids that weakens the immune system and can lead to AIDS.

Hepatitis

An inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses, alcohol abuse, IV drug use, certain medications, or trauma.

Hepatitis B (HBV)

A serious bloodborne disease spread by sexual contact, shared needles, grooming tools, or mother to baby, which can cause severe liver damage or cirrhosis.

Hepatitis B Environmental Viability

The ability of the Hepatitis B virus to survive outside the body for up to 7 days and still cause infection.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

A series of 3 shots offered free of charge by employers to healthcare employees to protect against Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C (HCV)

A bloodborne disease spread through transmission of body fluids that can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death, for which there is no vaccine.

Hepatitis A (HAV)

A viral disease spread through fecal-oral contamination, such as consuming food or water contaminated by stool from an infected person.

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

A federal law requiring healthcare facilities to protect employees from bloodborne hazards and outlining specific steps to follow if exposed.

Exposure Control Plan (ECP)

A written employer plan detailing step-by-step measures to eliminate or reduce employee exposure to infectious material.

Sharps Container

A puncture-resistant, leakproof, labeled or color-coded biohazard container used for the safe disposal of needles and sharp instruments.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A highly contagious airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is transmitted through air droplets and usually affects the lungs.

Latent TB Infection (LTBI)

A condition in which a person carries the TB bacterium, exhibits no signs or symptoms, and cannot spread the disease to others.

TB Disease

An active form of tuberculosis where signs and symptoms are present and the infected person can transmit the bacteria to others.

Multi-drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB)

A form of TB caused by bacteria resistant to medication, often developing when a patient fails to complete their entire prescribed medication regimen.

Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR)

A specialized room with controlled airflow directly exhausted outside or recirculated through a HEPA filter, used for isolating residents with airborne diseases like TB.

Multidrug-resistant Organisms (MDROs)

Microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that are resistant to one or more antimicrobials commonly used for medical treatment.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

An MDRO mostly spread by direct physical contact or contaminated objects, causing symptoms such as redness, drainage, fever, and chills.

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)

A spore-forming bacterium causing foul-smelling watery diarrhea, which is resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and requires handwashing with soap and water.

Infection Prevention

A set of methods or practices in healthcare facilities to prevent and control the spread of disease.

Infection Preventionist

A healthcare facility professional who oversees the infection prevention program at the facility.

Microorganism (MO)

A living thing, also called a microbe, that is visible only with a microscope and is always present in the environment.

Pathogen

A harmful microorganism that invades and multiplies within the body, causing an infection.

Localized Infection

An infection that is limited to a specific location in the body, presenting local symptoms located near the site of infection.

Systemic Infection

An infection that affects the entire body by traveling through the bloodstream, causing generalized symptoms such as fatigue, fever, chills, and confusion.

Healthcare-associated Infection (HAI)

An infection acquired in a healthcare setting during the delivery of medical care.

Signs and Symptoms of Localized Infection

Pain, redness, swelling, pus, drainage, and heat located near the site of infection.

Signs and Symptoms of Systemic Infection

Fever, body aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, and confusion or agitation.

Chain of Infection

A process describing how infection is spread through six interconnected links: pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Reservoir (Chain of Infection)

The place where a pathogen lives and grows, which can include people, animals, soil, food, or water.

Portal of Exit (Chain of Infection)

Any body opening on an infected person that allows pathogens to leave, such as through coughing/sneezing, bodily secretions, or feces.

Mode of Transmission

The method by which a pathogen travels from a reservoir to a new host, including direct contact, indirect contact, or vectors.

Portal of Entry (Chain of Infection)

Any body opening on an uninfected person that allows pathogens to enter, such as the mouth, nose, eyes, or cuts in the skin.

Susceptible Host

An uninfected person who could become ill, such as elderly individuals, infants, immunocompromised persons, or anyone.

Direct Contact

Transmission of disease that happens by touching an infected person or their secretions.

Indirect Contact

Transmission of disease that results from touching an object contaminated by an infected person.

Medical Asepsis

Healthcare practices such as handwashing and wearing clean gloves that reduce and prevent the spread of infection.

Surgical Asepsis

Sterile technique that removes all microorganisms from an object or area, used for procedures like catheter insertion.

Malnutrition

The state of not getting enough proper nutrients, which serves as a major risk factor for infection in the elderly.

Dehydration

The condition of having insufficient fluids in the body, increasing vulnerability to infection in elderly individuals.

Standard Precautions

Infection prevention guidelines that require treating blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as if infected, used at all times on every resident.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Infection control measures that vary based on how an infection is transmitted, used in addition to standard precautions for specific contagious diseases.

Biohazardous Waste

Waste containing blood or body fluids that poses a risk of infection and must be disposed of per facility policy.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Protective gear provided free of charge by employers to protect healthcare workers from exposure to infectious materials and bloodborne pathogens.

Hand Hygiene

Cleaning hands using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Clean Item

In healthcare, an item that has not been contaminated with pathogens.

Dirty Item

In healthcare, an item that is contaminated with pathogens.

Disinfection

A process carried out by pasteurization or chemical germicides that destroys MOST but not all pathogens on reusable equipment.

Sterilization

A process in surgical asepsis that destroys ALL microorganisms, including spores, using special devices like autoclaves or chemical agents.

Autoclave

A special machine that sterilizes medical items by using hot steam under pressure.

Spill Disinfectant Contact Time

The requirement that proper disinfectant must be allowed to stand wet on a cleaned spill area for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Microorganisms found in human blood, wound drainage, mucous membranes, and urine that can cause infection and disease in humans.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

A disease caused by HIV in which the immune system is severely weakened, preventing the body from effectively fighting off infections.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

A virus transmitted through blood or body fluids that weakens the immune system and can lead to AIDS.

Hepatitis

An inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses, alcohol abuse, IV drug use, certain medications, or trauma.

Hepatitis B (HBV)

A serious bloodborne disease spread by sexual contact, shared needles, grooming tools, or mother to baby, which can cause severe liver damage or cirrhosis.

Hepatitis B Environmental Viability

The ability of the Hepatitis B virus to survive outside the body for up to 7 days and still cause infection.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

A series of 3 shots offered free of charge by employers to healthcare employees to protect against Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C (HCV)

A bloodborne disease spread through transmission of body fluids that can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death, for which there is no vaccine.

Hepatitis A (HAV)

A viral disease spread through fecal-oral contamination, such as consuming food or water contaminated by stool from an infected person.

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

A federal law requiring healthcare facilities to protect employees from bloodborne hazards and outlining specific steps to follow if exposed.

Exposure Control Plan (ECP)

A written employer plan detailing step-by-step measures to eliminate or reduce employee exposure to infectious material.

Sharps Container

A puncture-resistant, leakproof, labeled or color-coded biohazard container used for the safe disposal of needles and sharp instruments.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A highly contagious airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is transmitted through air droplets and usually affects the lungs.

Latent TB Infection (LTBI)

A condition in which a person carries the TB bacterium, exhibits no signs or symptoms, and cannot spread the disease to others.

TB Disease

An active form of tuberculosis where signs and symptoms are present and the infected person can transmit the bacteria to others.

Multi-drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB)

A form of TB caused by bacteria resistant to medication, often developing when a patient fails to complete their entire prescribed medication regimen.