Med Occs VS, Measurements, and Health Safety

mensuration

body measurements

body mass index (BMI)

numerical correlation between height and weight

TPR

temperature, pulse, respirations

B/P

blood pressure

febrile

temperature above normal

afebrile

temperature below normal

hypothalamus

temperature-regulating center in the brain

perspiration

sweating

How does the body lose heat?

perspiration, breathing, and elimination of body wastes

average oral temperature

98.6°F

average rectal temperature

one degree above average oral temperature (99.6°F)

average axillary temperature

one degree below average oral temperature (97.6°F)

What are the modes of taking temperature?

oral, rectal, axillary, tympanic (ear), and temporal

What is the least accurate mode of taking temperature?

axillary

What is the most accurate mode of taking temperature?

rectal

What is the most common mode of taking temperature?

oral

What are all the pulse sites?

radial, apical, brachial, carotid, femoral, dorsalis pedalis, and popliteal

What is the most frequent pulse site used?

radial

How is pulse measured at the Apical pulse site?

using a stethescope

How is the brachial artery used as a pulse site?

For taking blood pressure

How is the carotid artery used as a pulse site?

during CPR

What is pulse influenced by?

exercise/activity, age, gender, size, and physical condition of the body

arrhythmia

pulse lacks specific rhythm (irregular heartbeat)

bradycardia

pulse rate is under 60 BPM

tachycardia

pulse rate is over 100 BPM

pulse oximetry (pulse ox)

small device used to obtain patients’ pulse and arterial oxygen saturation in the blood

average respiration for adults

12-20 respirations per minute

hyperventilation

rapid, abnormal breathing

dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing

rales

bubbling or noisy breathing

apnea

absence of respirations, usually temporary

chyne-stokes

episode of apnea and difficult breathing; often associated with heart failure and strokes and noted in dying patients

tachypnea

respiratory rate is above 25 respirations per minute

bradypnea

respiratory rates is below 10 respirations per minute

orthopnea

severe dyspnea where breathing is very difficult in any position other than sitting straight up or standing

wheezing

difficult breathing with a high pitched whistling sound during expiration (seen in asthma)

Cyanosis

bluish discoloration of the skin, lips, and/or nail beds because of decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide in the blood stream

systolic

contraction phase (normal range is between 100-140)

diastolic

relaxation phase (normal range is between 60-90)

pathogenic

of a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism causing disease

aerobic

relating to, involving, or requiring free oxygen to survive

asepsis

a condition in which no living disease-causing microorganisms are present

communicable

something, particulary a disease, than can be transmitted from one living host to another

endogenous

anything that originates from within an organism, cell, or system

exogenous

anything that originates from outside an organism or cell

microorganism

a living organism too small to be seen with the naked eye and must be viewed with a microscope

nosocomial

a hospital-acquired condition, disease, or infection

sterilization

the complete elimination of all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and their resistant spores, from a surface or object

ultrasonic

sound waves with frequencies too high for humans to hear; used to removed small debris from dirty instruments

hepatitis

inflammation of the liver

antisepsis

the application of antiseptic agents to living tissues to prevent infection by destroying or inhibiting the growth of disease-causing microorganisms

disinfection

the process of using chemical or physical agents to destroy, inactivate, or significantly reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi on inanimate objects and surfaces

airborne

bacteria or viruses that are most commonly transmitted through small respiratory droplets

streptococci

gram-positive spherical bacteria

staphylococci

gram-positive spherical bacteria that grow in clusters

diplococci

gram-positive spherical bacteria arranged in pairs

micrococci

non-spore forming, gram-positive spherical bacteria that grow in irregular clusters

bacilli

gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-producing bacteria

vibrios

bacteria that are typically curved-rod and gram-negative

spirilum

a bacteria with rigid spiral structure, thick and long

spirochetes

any of a group of spiral-shaped bacteria

bacteria

simple, one-celled organisms that multiply rapidly

MRSA

methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

VRE

vancomycin-resistant enterococci

MRAB

multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

CRE

carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

protozoa

one-celled, animal-like organism; found in decayed materials and contaminated water

fungi

simple, plant-like organisms; live on dead organic matter

rickettsiae

parasitic microorganisms that cannot live outside the cells of another living organism; transmitted to humans by bites from fleas, lice, ticks, and mites

viruses

smallest microorganisms; must be inside another living cell to reproduce

Hepatitis B

caused by HBV and transmitted by blood serum and body secretions; affects the liver

Hepatitis C

caused by HVC; transmitted by blood/blood-containing body fluids; many infected individuals are asymptomatic; can cause liver damage

acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); suppresses the immune system; no cure/vaccine

opportunistic

occurs when body defenses are weak

Chain of Infection

1. Infectious agent (pathogen)

2. Reservoir (where it lives/multiplies)

3. Portal of exit (leaves the reservoir)

4. Mode of transmission (travels to a new host)

5. Portal of entry (enters the new host)

6. Susceptible host (the host is vulnerable)

What are all of the body defenses?

mucous membranes, cilia, coughing and sneezing, HCL in the stomach, tears, fever, inflammation response, and antibodies

asepsis

absence of diseae-producing microorganisms

sterile

free of all organisms, including spores

contaminated

any object or area that may contain pathogens

antisepsis

prevents or inhibits growth of pathogens; can usually be used on skin

disinfection

destroys or kills pathogens; used mainly on objects

sterilization

destroys all microorganisms, including spores and viruses; use of steam under pressure, gas, radiation, and chemicals on objects

What are some examples of PPE?

hand washing, gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection

What is used to sterilize instruments?

an autoclave

What is used to clean instruments (to make them aseptic)?

an ultrasonic unit

epidemic

spreads rapidly from person to person, affecting large numbers

pandemic

wide geographic area, high proportion of populace