Chapter 5: Infection Control Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering disease conditions, pathogens, immunity, and infection control protocols based on the Chapter 5 lecture notes.

Etiology

The study of the causes of diseases.

Pathology

The study of disease.

Diagnosis

The process of identifying or determining the nature and cause of a disease or injury through evaluation.

Prognosis

A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.

Acute

A condition or disease with a rapid onset and short duration.

Chronic

A condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects or a disease that comes with time.

Remission

A period during which the symptoms of a disease subside or disappear.

Epidemic

A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread across a large region, typically multiple continents or worldwide.

Endemic

A disease regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.

Outbreak

A sudden rise in the incidence of a disease.

Exogenous

A disease condition caused by factors outside the body.

Endogenous

A disease condition caused by factors within the body.

Congenital

A condition or disease present at birth.

Degenerative

A classification of disease involving progressive impairment or breakdown of organs or tissues.

Opportunistic

An infection caused by pathogens that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available, such as a host with a weakened immune system.

Nosocomial

An infection acquired specifically within a hospital or healthcare facility setting.

Aerobic bacteria

Bacteria that require oxygen to grow and survive.

Anaerobic bacteria

Bacteria that do not require oxygen to grow and can even die in the presence of oxygen.

Facultative

Organisms that can adapt to different conditions, such as bacteria that can live with or without oxygen.

Flagella

Long, thin, whip-like appendages that help some bacteria move.

Spores

Highly resistant, thick-walled structures formed by some bacteria to survive harsh conditions.

Pathogens

Microorganisms capable of causing disease.

Rickettsia

A group of microorganisms that are smaller than bacteria but larger than viruses, often transmitted by vectors.

Saprophytes

Organisms that live and feed on dead or decaying organic matter.

Nematodes

A classification of multicellular organisms commonly known as roundworms.

Commensal

Organisms that live together in a relationship where one benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parenteral

A port of entry for infection that occurs through means other than the digestive tract, such as through a needle stick or skin break.

Carrier

An individual who harbors a pathogen and can transmit it to others but does not show symptoms of the disease.

Vector-borne

Diseases transmitted to humans by animals or insects, such as ticks or mosquitoes.

Virulence

The degree of pathogenicity or the strength of an infectious agent to cause disease.

Antigen

A foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body.

Antibody

A blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen.

Attenuated microbes

Microorganisms that have been weakened or reduced in force for use in vaccines.

Sanitation

The process of maintaining clean conditions to help prevent disease.

Sterilization

The total killing of all microbes, including spores.

Asepsis

The state of being free from disease-causing contaminants or pathogens.

Disinfection

The process of obtaining a germ-free area.

Critical

Items or procedures that are invasive and carry a high infection risk, requiring sterilization via autoclave, dry heat, or chemical vapor.

Semicritical

Items that contact mucous membranes but do not penetrate, requiring high-level disinfection.

Noncritical

Items that contact only intact skin and require hospital-level disinfection.

Bacteriostatic

A chemical agent that inhibits the growth and reproduction of bacteria without necessarily killing them.

Germicide

An agent that destroys microorganisms or germs.

Antiseptic

A substance that inhibits the growth of microorganisms on living tissue.

Holding solution

A solution used to soak instruments to prevent blood and debris from drying on them before cleaning.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Papers containing information on the potential hazards of chemical products and how to work safely with them.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Barriers such as gloves, masks, and eyewear used to protect healthcare providers from infection.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

Established or prescribed methods to be followed routinely for the performance of designated operations.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)

The government agency concerned with ensuring safe and healthful working conditions.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The lead national public health institute of the United States.