3515 Module I Terms

Alopecia

absence or loss of hair

Caries

decay of teeth with the formation of cavities, which result from failure to remove plaque

Cerumen

ear wax

Cheilosis

an ulceration and dry scaling of the lips with fissures at the angles of the mouth due to oral cavity, lack of iron, or B vitamin deficiencies, and skin irritation

Gingivitis

inflammation of the gingiva, the tissue that surrounds the teeth

Glossitis

inflammation of the tongue, due to deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron

Halitosis

strong mouth odor or persistent bad taste in the mouth, may be the first indication of periodontal disease 

Pediculosis

infestation with lice 

Periodontitis/Periodontal Disease

inflammation of the gums that involves degeneration of the dental periosteum (tissue) and bone

Plaque

an invisible, destructive bacterial film that builds up on everybody’s teeth and eventually leads to the destruction of tooth enamel

Stomatitis

inflammation of the oral mucosa

Tartar

hard deposits from plaque build-up on the gum lines

Afebrile

without fever, temperature in a normal range

Apnea

absence of breathing

Auscultatory Gap

a period of diminished or absent Korokoff sounds, occurs in the latter part of phase I and during phase II

Blood Pressure

force of blood against arterial walls

Bradycardia

a decrease in heart rate, cardiac output, and pulse rate below 60 beats/min in adults

Bradypnea

a decrease in respiratory rate, less than 10 breaths/min

Diastolic Pressure

the lowest pressure present on arterial walls

Dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing (shortness of breath)

Dysrhythmia

irregular pattern of heartbeats

Eupnea

normal, unlabored respirations

Febrile

a person with a fever

Fever

increase above normal body temperature

Hypertension

blood pressure that is above normal for a sustained period, with systolic pressure higher than 130 mm Hg or diastolic pressure 80 mm Hg or higher

Hyperthermia

high body temperature

Hypotension

below-normal blood pressure, lower than 90/60 mm Hg

Hypothermia

low body temperature

Korotkoff Sounds

series of sounds that correspond to changes in blood flow through an artery as pressure is released

Orthopnea

shortness of breath when lying flat

Orthostatic Hypotension (Postural Hypotension)

a decrease in blood pressure, systolic greater than 20 and diastolic greater than 10, from sitting or lying to standing

Pulse

throbbing sensation that can be palpated over a peripheral artery

Pulse Deficit

a difference between the apical and radial pulse rates

Pulse Pressure

difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures

Pyrexia (Fever)

an increase above normal in body temperature

Respirations

ventilation, diffusion, and perfusion

Systolic Pressure

the highest pressure created during ventricular contraction

Tachycardia

rapid heart rate, decreased cardiac filling time, decreased stroke volume, and cardiac output

Tachypnea

increased respiratory rate of more than 24 breaths per minute

Temperature

difference between the amount of heat produced by the body and the amount of heat lost to the environment, measured in degrees

Vital Signs

 indicators of physiologic functioning and reflect the health status of a person; include temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure

Aerobic

bacteria that require oxygen to live and grow

Airborne transmission:

smaller than 5 micrometers, and are transported when someone coughs, sneezes, talks, or when the organism becomes attached to dust particles

Anaerobic

bacteria that can live without oxygen

Antibody

the body responds to the antigen and produces antibodies

Antigen

foreign material

Antimicrobial

drugs that treat infections by killing or slowing the growth of microbes causing infection, usually are antifungals and treat parasites and viruses

Asepsis

activities to prevent infection or break the chain of infection

Bacteria

most significant and most commonly observed infection-causing agent

Bundles

evidence-based best practices that have proven positive outcomes when implemented together to prevent infection

Colonization

organism resides in a person’s body, but there are no clinical signs of infection

Direct contact

requires close proximity between the susceptible host and an infected person or carrier 

Disinfection

destroys all pathogenic organisms except spores

Droplet transmission

particles are bigger than 5 micrometers and are spread when the infected host coughs, sneezes, talks, or an organism becomes attached to dust particles

Endemic

occurs with predictability in one specific region or population, and can appear in different geographic locations

Endogenous

infection occurs when the causative organism comes from microbial life harbored in the person

Exogenous

causative organism is acquired from other people

Fomite

an inanimate object, such as equipment or countertops

Fungi

plantlike organisms (mold and yeasts) that can cause infection, present in air, soil, and water

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)

result of medical care and occurs in healthcare settings

Host

a living being where an infectious, parasitic, or pathogenic agent resides and receives sustenance

Iatrogenic

results from a treatment or diagnostic procedure

Indirect contact

involves a person's contact with either a vector or an inanimate object

Infection

disease state that results from the presence of pathogens- disease-producing microorganisms in or on the body

Isolation

protective procedure that limits the spread of infectious diseases among hospitalized patients, hospital personnel, and visitors

Medical asepsis

clean technique, involves procedures and practices that reduce the number and transfer of pathogens

Nosocomial

hospital-acquired infection

Parasites

organisms that live on or in a host and rely on it for nourishment

Pathogens

disease-producing microorganisms

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

gloves, gowns, masks, and protective eye gear

Reservoir

precautions used in the care of all hospitalized patients regardless of their diagnosis or possible infection status, apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), nonintact skin, and mucous membrane

Sterilization

destroys all microorganisms, including spores/endospores

Surgical asepsis

sterile technique, practices used to render and keep objects and areas free from microorganisms

Transmission-based precautions

precautions used in addition to standard precautions for patients in hospitals with suspected infection with pathogens that can be airborne, droplet, or contact

Vector

a living creature that transmits an infectious agent to a human, usually an insect

Virulence

ability to cause disease

Virus

smallest of all microorganisms, visible only with an electron microscope, causes many infections

Abscess

collection of infected fluid that has not drained

Bandage

strips of cloth, gauze, or elasticized material used to wrap a body part

Biofilm

thick grouping of microorganisms

Debridement

removal of devitalized tissue and foreign material

Dehiscence

partial or total separation of wound layers as a result of excessive stress on a wound that is not healed

Dermis

the second layer of skin that consists of a framework of elastic connective tissue comprised primarily of collagen

Desiccation

process of drying up

Dressing

protective covering placed over a wound

Epidermis

top layer composed of layers of stratified epithelial cells

Epithelialization

epithelial cells form a new surface layer 

Erythema

redness in lightly pigmented skin

Eschar

dry, black, leathery tissue

Evisceration

the most serious complication of dehiscence; the abdominal wound completely separates, with prorusion of internal organs through the incisional area

Exudate

plasma and blood components that leak out into the area that is injured

Fistula

abnormal passage from an internal organ or vessel to the outside of the body, or from one internal organ or vessel to another

Friction

occurs when two surfaces rub against each other

Granulation Tissue

forms the foundation for scar tissue development, highly vascular, red, and bleeds easily

Hematoma

localized mass of usually clotted blood, a bruise

Iatrogenic Injury

adverse medical condition, illness, or physical harm that happens to a patient as a result of diagnostic procedures, treatments, or physician interventions

Ischemia

deficiency of blood in a particular area

Maceration

tissue erosion due to prolonged exposure to moisture

Necrosis

death of tissue