AH 2001: CHAPTER 3 (abbreviations)

AF

acid fast

CA, Ca

cancer

CIS

carcinoma in situ

FUO

fever of unknown origin

Gm+ 

Gram-positive 

Gm-

Gram-negative

MRSA

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staph

Staphylococcus 

Strep

Streptococcus

VRSA

vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

ADL

activities of daily living

BP

blood pressure

bpm

beats per minute

C

Celsius

CC

chief complaint 

c/o, co

complains of

EOMI

extraocular muscles intact

ETOH

alcohol (ethyl alcohol) 

F

Farenheit

HEENT

head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat

HIPPA

Health INsurance Portability and Accountability Act

h/o

history of

H&P

history and physical

HPI

history of present illness

HR

heart rate

Hx

history

I&O

intake and output

IPPA

inspection, palpitation, percussion, auscultation

IVDA

intravenous drug abuse

NAD

no apparent distress

NKDA

no known drug allergies

P

pulse

PE

physical examination 

PE(R)RLA

pupils equal (regular) react to light + accommodation

PMH

past medical history

pt

patient 

R

respiration

R/O

rule out

ROS

review of systems

T

temperature

TPR

temperature, pulse, respiration

VS

vital signs 

WD

well developed

WNL

within normal limits

w/o

without

YO, y/o

years old

ABC

aspiration biopsy cytology

AFP

alpha-fetoprotein

BS

bowel sounds, breath sounds

bx

biospy

CAM

complementary + alternative medicine 

Ci

Curie (unit of radioactivity)

C&S

culture (and drug) sensitivity (of bacteria)

CT

computed tomography

D/C, dc

discontinue

Dx

diagnosis

EBL

estimated blood loss

ED

emergency department

ICU

intensive care unit

I&D

incision + drainage 

MET

metastasis

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

NCCAM

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 

NS, N/S

normal saline

OR

operating room

PCA

patient-controlled analgesia

PET

positron emission tomography

PICC

peripherally inserted central catheter

postop

postoperative

preop

preoperative

PSS

physiologic saline solution

RATx

radiation therapy 

Rx

drug, prescription, therapy

SPECT

single-photon emission-computed tomography

TNM

(primary) tumor, (regional lymph) nodes, (distant) metastases 

UV

ultraviolet

AP (radiography)

anteroposterior

LL (radiography)

left lateral

PA (radiography)

posteroanterior

RL (radiography)

right lateral

AMA

against medical advice 

AMB

ambulatory

BRP

bathroom privileges

CBR

complete bed rest

DNR

do not resuscitate

KVO

keep vein open

NPO

nothing by mouth

OOB

out of bed

QNS

quantity not sufficient

QS

quantity sufficient 

STAT

immediately

TKO

to keep open

APAP

acetaminophen 

ASA

acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

ASHP

American Society of Health System Pharmacists

cap

capsule 

elix

elixir

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

INH

isoniazid (antituberculosis drug) 

MED(s)

medicine(s), medication(s)