Infection Control with Standard Precautions

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, microbiology, isolation types, OSHA standards, and standard precautions in infection control.

Infection Control Program

A program present in healthcare facilities whose primary goal is to reduce the risk of endemic and epidemic infections in patients, personnel, and visitors.

Bloodborne Pathogen

Pathogenic organisms present in blood that cause disease.

Infection

Invasion of the body with pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, or parasites.

Microorganisms

Small, living organisms capable of causing disease that are only visible with a microscope.

Viruses

The smallest microorganisms, visible only with an electron microscope, that are resistant to chemotherapy.

Protozoa

Unicellular microorganisms that move by cilia or false feet (pseudopodia).

Fungi

Microorganisms that grow as mold at $25^\times\text{C}$ and yeast at $37^\times\text{C}$, reproduce by budding, live on dead or decaying items, and feed on antibiotics.

Bacteria

The most numerous microorganisms, many of which are pathogenic to humans, categorized by shapes such as cocci and bacilli.

Gram-positive Bacteria

Bacteria characterized by a thick cell wall that stain purple under a Gram stain.

Gram-negative Bacteria

Bacteria characterized by a thin cell wall that stain pink under a Gram stain.

Rickettsia

Gram-negative, coccobacilli bacteria transmitted by insects that can cause diseases like Rocky Mountain fever and Lyme disease, and can be killed by antibiotics.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Acid-fast bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB), showing as red branching bacilli on a blue background in an acid-fast stain.

Nosocomial Infection

An infection acquired AFTER a person has entered a hospital, clinic, nursing home, or rehab facility; also termed a healthcare-associated infection (HAI).

Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)

The most common type of healthcare-associated infection (HAI).

Contaminated Laundry

Laundry soiled with blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Contaminated Sharps

Any contaminated objects that can penetrate the skin.

Decontamination

The use of physical or chemical means to remove or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface.

Engineering Control

Controls that isolate or remove a bloodborne pathogen hazard from the workplace.

Parenteral Contact

Contact caused by piercing mucous membranes or skin barriers.

Needlestick Safety & Prevention Act

An act directing OSHA to revise the Bloodborne Pathogen standard regarding exposure control plans, employee input, engineering control definitions, and sharps injury logs.

Exposure Incident

Specific eye, mouth, nose, other mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or infectious material resulting from performance of duties.

Occupational Exposure

Reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard.

Source Individual

Any person, living or dead, whose blood or other fluids may be a source of occupational exposure.

Regulated Waste

Waste materials that must be disposed of following guidelines and using an approved waste disposal company.

Standard/Universal Precautions

An infection control approach treating all human blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as if known to be infectious.

Chain of Infection

A series of components (Infectious Agent, Reservoir, Exit Pathway, Means of Transmission, Entry Pathway, Susceptible Host) required to create an infection, which is prevented if any link is broken.

Susceptible Host

An immunocompromised person or individual who cannot fight off a pathogen, including newborns, elderly, unvaccinated, acute/chronically ill, or immune suppressed individuals.

Contact Isolation

Isolation precautions for patients with diseases spread by direct contact, requiring equipment to be disposed of or left in the room.

Droplet Isolation

Isolation precautions for patients infected with pathogens transmitted by droplets larger than $5\text{ micrometers}$.

Airborne Isolation

Isolation precautions for patients infected with pathogens spread by droplets smaller than $5\text{ micrometers}$, requiring placement in an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) with negative pressure.

Protective Isolation

Also called Reverse or Neutropenic Isolation; precautions designed to protect non-infectious patients who are highly susceptible to infection.

Enteric Isolation

Isolation precautions used for patients with intestinal infections such as Salmonella, Shigella, Hepatitis A, or Hepatitis B.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration; a federal agency that mandates and enforces safe working conditions in healthcare facilities.

NIOSH

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; established in 1970 to conduct research and make recommendations for preventing work-related illnesses and injuries.

Sharps Container Disposal Guidelines

OSHA rules requiring sharps containers to be placed close to the work area, never overfilled or reached into, and replaced when $\frac{2}{3}$ full.