Microbiology and Infection Control Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering microorganisms, classifications of infectious agents, disease origins, the chain of infection, aseptic techniques, and standard precautions.

Microorganisms

Small living organisms not visible to the naked eye that must be viewed with a microscope and are found everywhere in the environment as well as on and in the human body.

Flagella

Tail like structure on bacteria for movement

Listeria

Serious infection usually caused by heating food contaminated with bacteria

Severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)

A respiratory syndrome is caused by a variant of the coronavirus family that causes a common cold or COVID-19

West Nile virus (WNV)

A transmitted by mosquito and can cause neurological diseases in serious complications

Monkey pox

hantaivirus that affects monkeys, other animals rodents that can spread to humans

Ebola

A flavorous that causes hemorrhagic fever disease

Hepatitis B

Virus caused by HPV virus, transmitted by blood and affects livers

Hepatitis C

A virus caused by HBVC Virus transmitting my blood in anyone can get the flu

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Disease caused by the human immune deficiency virus which attacks the immune system of the body cannot fight diseases

Infectious agent

A pathogen such as bacteria or virus that can cause disease

Reservoir

An area where the infectious ancient can live

Portal of exit

Away from the infectious agent can escape

Mode of transmission

With an infectious agent can be transmitted to another reservoir for host

Autoclave

Piece of equipment used to sterilize tools using steam or dry heat

Chemical disinfection

Chemicals used for antiseptic control

Ultrasonic unit

Pieces of equipment that clean using sound waves

Epidemic

Infectious disease that affects many people within a region at the same time and it’s pretty short

Pandemic

A disease that reaches many people around the whole world and his long-term

The six microorganisms

Bacteria, Protozoa, fungi, rickettsiae, Viruses

Do you know the chain of infection?

It starts with the infectious agent then it finds a way to the reservoir host for example, like a water bottle and then it finds a portal of exit and then it finds a mode of transmission and then a portal of entry into the susceptible host

What’s the difference between sterile antisepsis contaminated, disinfection, and sterilization?

Sterile means to be free from all organisms.

Contaminated means organism and pathogens are present

Antisepsis means to prevent growth of pathogens usually on the Skin

Disinfection means to destroy or kill pathogens, usually on objects

Sterilization means to destroy all microorganisms, not one single pathogen, bacteria, or virus at all usually that you do this by steam gas, radiation or chemical chemicals on the object

Three pathogens of major concern

HBV, HCV, HIV

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

The individual who first saw microorganisms under the microscope in 1693.

Aerobic

Organisms that live and reproduce with oxygen.

Anaerobic

Organisms that live and reproduce without oxygen.

Non-pathogens

Microorganisms that are beneficial to body processes.

Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause infections and disease, also known as "germs," which mostly prefer warm, dark environments.

Parasite

An organism that lives on or within another living organism.

Bacteria

Simple, one-celled organisms that multiply rapidly.

Cocci

Bacteria that are round or spherical in shape.

Diplococci

Cocci bacteria occurring in pairs that cause diseases such as gonorrhea, meningitis, and pneumonia.

Streptococci

Cocci bacteria arranged in chains that cause illnesses such as strep throat and rheumatic fever.

Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacteria that have the ability to form spores and may possess flagella (tails) for movement.

Spirilla

Spiral or corkscrew-shaped bacteria, including comma-shaped vibrio found most often in aquatic environments.

Superbugs

Bacterial strains known to be resistant to antibiotics due to overuse, such as MRSA.

Protozoa

One-celled, animal-like organisms found in decayed materials and contaminated water.

Fungi

Simple, plantlike organisms (such as yeast and molds) that live on dead organic matter and require antifungal medications for treatment.

Rickettsiae

Parasitic microorganisms that cannot live outside the cells of another living organism and are transmitted to humans by insect bites (fleas, lice, ticks, mites).

Helminths

Multicellular parasites transmitted by eating contaminated food, insect bites, or direct penetration through the skin.

Viruses

The smallest pathogens, requiring an electron microscope to see, which must reside inside another living cell to reproduce and are unaffected by antibiotics.

Endogenous

A disease classification referring to conditions that originate within the body, such as metabolic disorders, tumors, or congenital abnormalities.

Exogenous

A disease classification referring to conditions originating outside the body, such as from pathogens, trauma, or temperature extremes.

Healthcare-Associated Infection [HAI]

An infection acquired by an individual while in a healthcare facility.

Opportunistic

Infections that occur specifically when the body's defenses or immune system are weak.

Chain of Infection

The series of factors that lead to the transmission or spread of disease.

Fomites

Objects contaminated with infectious material that contains pathogens.

Direct Contact Transmission

Mode of pathogen transmission occurring from person-to-person physical contact.

Indirect Contact Transmission

Mode of pathogen transmission occurring from contaminated substances such as food, air, soil, insects, feces, clothing, or instruments.

Portal of Entry

The pathway or means by which pathogens enter a new reservoir or host, such as breaks in skin, respiratory tract, or digestive tract.

Susceptible Host

An individual who can contract a disease, often due to weakened body defenses or invasion by large numbers of pathogens.

Asepsis

The absence of all disease-producing organisms or pathogens.

Sterile

The condition of being free from all organisms.

Contaminated

The presence of organisms and pathogens on an object or surface.

Antisepsis

A level of asepsis control that prevents or inhibits the growth of pathogens and can usually be used directly on the skin.

Disinfection

A process that destroys or kills pathogens on inanimate objects, usually requiring a specific amount of exposure time.

Sterilization

A process that destroys all microorganisms, including spores and viruses, using steam under pressure, gas, radiation, and chemicals on objects.

Handwashing

The most important method used to practice aseptic technique.

Personal Protective Equipment [PPE]

Equipment that protects a person from contact with infectious material, including gloves, gowns, lab coats, masks, and face shields.

Standard Precautions

A set of infection control practices developed by the CDC in 1985 based on the assumption that every person is potentially infected with a transmissible organism.