Health Science unit 15 flashcards

acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

A disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which attacks the immune system destroying the body’s ability to fight infections.

aerobic

Requiring oxygen to live and grow.

airborne precautions

Methods of infection control that must be used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei.

anaerobic

Not requiring oxygen to live and grow; able to thrive in the absence of oxygen.

antisepsis (ant″-ih-sep′-sis)

Aseptic control that inhibits, retards growth of, or kills pathogenic organisms; not effective against spores and viruses.

asepsis (a-sep′-sis)

Being free from infection.

autoclave

Piece of equipment used to sterilize articles by way of steam under pressure and/or dry heat.

bacteria

One-celled microorganisms, some of which are beneficial and some of which cause disease.

bioterrorism

The use of biological agents, such as pathogens, for terrorist purposes.

cavitation (kav″-ih-tay′-shun)

The cleaning process employed in an ultrasonic unit; bubbles explode to drive cleaning solution onto article being cleaned.

chain of infection

Factors that lead to the transmission or spread of disease.

chemical disinfection

Chemicals used for aseptic control.

clean

Free from organisms causing disease.

communicable disease

Disease that is transmitted from one individual to another.

contact precautions

Methods of infection control that must be used for patients known or suspected to be infected with epidemiological microorganisms that can be transmitted by either direct or indirect contact.

contaminated

Containing infection or infectious organisms or germs.

disinfection

Aseptic-control method that destroys pathogens but does not usually kill spores and viruses.

droplet precautions

Methods of infection control that must be used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by large particle droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing.

Ebola

A filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fever disease.

endogenous

Infection or disease originating within the body.

epidemic

An infectious disease that affects a large number of people within a population, community, or region at the same time.

exogenous

Infection or disease originating outside of or external to the body.

fomites

Substances or objects that adheres to and transmits infectious material.

fungi (fun′-guy)

Group of simple, plantlike animals that live on dead organic matter (for example, yeast and molds).

health care–associated infection (HAI)

An infection acquired by an individual in a health care facility such as a hospital or long-term care facility.

helminths

A parasitic worm (for example, a tapeworm or leech).

hepatitis B

A virus caused by the HBV virus and is transmitted by blood, serum, and other body secretions; affects the liver and can lead to the destruction and scarring of liver cells; also called serum hepatitis.

hepatitis C

A virus caused by the hepatitis C virus, or HCV; transmitted by blood and blood-containing body fluids; any individuals who contract the disease are asymptomatic; others have mild symptoms that are often diagnosed as influenza or flu; can cause serious liver damage that may result in death.

infectious agent

A pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus that can cause a disease.

microorganism (my-crow-or′-gan-izm)

Small, living plant or animal not visible to the naked eye; a microbe.

mode of transmission

A way that the infectious agent can be transmitted to another reservoir or host where it can live.

nonpathogens

Microorganisms that are not capable of causing disease.

opportunistic

Characterizes infections that occur when the body’s defenses are weak.

pandemic

An infectious disease that affects many people over a wide geographic area; a worldwide epidemic.

parasite

Organism that lives on or within another living organism.

pathogens (path′-oh-jenz′)

Disease-producing organisms.

personal protective equipment (PPE)

Protective barriers such as a mask, gown, gloves, and protective eyewear that help protect a person from contact with infectious material.

portal of entry

A way for the infectious agent to enter a new reservoir or host.

portal of exit

A way for the infectious agent to escape from the reservoir in which it has been growing.

protective (reverse) isolation

designed to protect the child from other people's germs, as opposed to protecting other people from a patient who might be sick.

protozoa (pro-toe-zo′-ah)

Microscopic, one-celled animals often found in decayed materials and contaminated water.

reservoir

An area where the infectious agent can live.

rickettsiae (rik-et′-z-ah)

Parasitic microorganisms that live on other living organisms.

standard precautions

Recommendations that must be followed to prevent transmission of pathogenic organisms by way of blood and body fluids.

sterile

Free of all organisms, including spores and viruses.

sterile field

An area that is set up for certain procedures and is free from all organisms.

sterilization

Process that results in total destruction of all microorganisms; also, surgical procedure that prevents conception of a child.

susceptible host

A person likely to get an infection or disease, usually because body defenses are weak.

transmission-based precautions

Methods or techniques of caring for patients who have communicable diseases.

ultrasonic units

Pieces of equipment that clean using sound waves.

viruses

Programs that contain instructions to alter the operation of computer programs, erase or scramble data on the computer, and/or allow access to information on the computer.