25 - Asepsis & Infection Control

all key terms

aerobic

type of bacteria that need oxygen to live and grow

anaerobic

type of bacteria that don’t need oxygen to live and grow

host

living being where an infectious, parasitic, or pathogenic agent resides & receives sustenance

antimicrobial

drug that treats infection by killing or slowing the growth of causative microbes

infection

disease state resulting from presence of pathogens

pathogens

disease-producing microorganisms

bacteria

most significant & commonly observed infection-causing agents

virus

smallest of all microorganisms that cause infection

fungi

plantlike organisms (moles & yeasts) that cause infection

parasites

organisms that live on or in a host & rely on it for nourishment

virulence

ability to cause disease

endemic

disease that occurs with predictability in one specific region or population

pandemic

global outbreak of a novel virus that had no immunization or treatment

colonization

where bacteria resides in host that exhibits no signs of infection

reservoir

where infectious agent thrives on host

direct contact

transmitting organism via close proximity between host and carrier

indirect contact

transmitting organism via personal contact with infected that isn’t another person

vector

infected organism that transmits infectious agent to human

fomite

inanimate object that transmits infectious agent to human

droplet transmission

sneeze

airborne transmission

sneeze but faster bcs airborne particles are smaller than droplet

antigen

invader that triggers body’s immune response

antibody

produced in response to antigen and neutralizes it

asepsis

activites that prevent infection or break the chain of infectionm

medical asepsis/clean technique

procedure that reduces number and transfer of pathogens

surgical asepsis/sterile technique

practice used to render & keep objects & areas free from microorganisms

health care-associated infections (HAIs)

infection acquired from hospital setting

exogenous infection

causative organism acquired from other people

endogenous infection

causative organism comes from microbial life in person

iatrogenic infection

results from a treatment or diagnostic procedure

bundles

3-5 evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes

disinfection

destroys all pathogenic organisms except spores; use on skin and equipment not entering human body

sterilization

destroys all microorganisms including spores/endospores; use on equipment entering sterile part of body

personal protective equipment (PPE)

supplies that minimize/prevent exposure to infectious material; includes gloves, gowns, masks, and protective eye gear

contact tracing

identifying people with infectious disease and locating individuals and groups with whom they have come into direct contact to interrupt actual or potential transmission of the infectious disease oh my GODDDDDD