Infection control

microorganism

Any living thing too small to see without a microscope. The starting category — everything else in this chapter is a subset of it.

All pathogens branch off from here—bacteria, viruses, and fungi alike.

nonpathogenic

The harmless majority of microorganisms. Many are useful — they help digest food and support the immune system.

pathogenic

The harmful minority. Causes disease or infection once it invades the body.

infection

What happens when disease-causing pathogens invade body tissue.

infectious

Caused by infection, or able to be passed on through infection.

infectious disease

Illness caused by harmful microorganisms entering the body. It may or may not pass from one person to another.

contagious disease

A disease that can be spread from one person to another. Same meaning as communicable disease.

communicable

Able to be passed on by contact from one person to another.

disease

An abnormal condition of the body, its systems or organs, that stops it carrying on normal function.

inflammation

The body's reaction to injury, irritation or infection. Four signs: redness, heat, pain, swelling.

pus

Fluid created by infection. No service

pus が見えたら施術中止。local infection の目印。

local infection

An infection confined to one part of the body, appearing as a lesion containing pus — a pimple or abscess.

systemic infection

An infection where the pathogen has spread throughout the body instead of staying in one area or organ.

local → systemic が悪化の方向。MRSA が怖いのはこの段階に進むから。

asymptomatic

Showing no symptoms or signs of infection.

occupational disease

Illness that comes from conditions at work — for example prolonged, repeated overexposure to certain products or ingredients.

pathogenic disease

Disease produced by organisms — bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

parasitic disease

Disease caused by parasites, such as lice and mites.

bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms with both plant and animal characteristics. Some are harmful, some are harmless.

bacterial spores

Bacteria that can produce a protective coating to survive very harsh conditions, then shed it when conditions improve.

staphylococci

Pus-forming bacteria that grow in clusters like a bunch of grapes. They cause abscesses, pustules and boils.

methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

Abbreviated MRSA. A type of infectious bacteria highly resistant to conventional treatment such as antibiotics.

mycobacterium

A large family of bacteria often found in soil and water.

tuberculosis

A disease caused by bacteria transmitted through coughing or sneezing.

virus

A parasitic submicroscopic particle that infects and lives inside the cells of living organisms. It can only replicate by taking over the host cell's reproductive function.

bloodborne pathogens

Disease-causing microorganisms carried in the body by blood or body fluids, such as hepatitis and HIV.

hepatitis

A bloodborne virus that causes disease and can damage the liver.

human immunodeficiency virus

Abbreviated HIV. The virus that causes HIV disease and acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Abbreviated AIDS. A disease that breaks down the body's immune system, caused by HIV.

human papilloma virus

Abbreviated HPV. A virus that can infect the sole of the foot, looking like small black dots in clustered groups. Also a skin virus commonly passed on sexually and seen as genital warts.

herpes simplex virus

An inflammatory skin disease caused by a viral infection, marked by small blisters in clusters.

fungi

Single-celled organisms that grow in irregular masses. They include molds, mildews and yeasts, and can produce contagious diseases such as ringworm.

mildew

A type of fungus that affects plants or grows on inanimate objects, but does not cause human infections in the barbershop.

ringworm

A fungal infection of the skin that appears in circular lesions.

tinea capitis

A fungal infection of the scalp, marked by red papules or spots at the openings of the hair follicles.

tinea barbae

Also known as barber's itch. A surface fungal infection limited mainly to the bearded areas of the face and neck, or around the scalp.

parasites

Organisms that grow, feed and shelter on or inside another organism — the host — while giving nothing back. They cannot survive without a host.

pediculosis capitis

Infestation of the hair and scalp with head lice.

scabies

A contagious skin disease caused by the itch mite, which burrows under the skin.

biofilms

Colonies of microorganisms that stick to environmental surfaces as well as to the human body.

direct transmission

Pathogens passing by touching — including shaking hands — kissing, coughing, sneezing and talking.

indirect transmission

Blood or body fluids passing through contact with a contaminated object in between — a razor, extractor, nipper, or an environmental surface.

contamination

The presence — or reasonably anticipated presence — of blood or other potentially infectious material on an item's surface, or of visible debris such as dust, hair and skin.

exposure incident

Contact with broken skin, blood, body fluid or other potentially infectious material, occurring while an employee is doing their job.

Standard Precautions

CDC guidelines requiring both employer and employee to treat all human blood and body fluids as potentially infectious.

infection control

The methods used to remove or reduce the passing of infectious organisms from one person to another.

cleaning

A mechanical process using soap or detergent and water to remove all visible dirt, debris and many germs. It also removes the invisible debris that would block disinfection. Beauty professionals must do this before disinfecting.

sanitation

Also known as sanitizing. A chemical process that lowers the number of disease-causing germs on already-cleaned surfaces to a safe level.

disinfection

A chemical process using specific products to destroy harmful organisms — except bacterial spores — on environmental surfaces.

disinfectants

Chemical products approved by the EPA, designed to destroy most bacteria — not spores — plus fungi and viruses on surfaces.

sterilization

The process that completely destroys all microbial life, including spores.

efficacy

A product's ability to produce the intended effect. On a disinfectant label it states exactly which pathogens are destroyed or disabled when the product is used properly.

bactericidal

Capable of destroying bacteria.

virucidal

Capable of destroying viruses.

fungicidal

Capable of destroying molds and fungi.

tuberculocidal disinfectants

Often called phenolics. Proven to kill the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, on top of the other pathogens that hospital disinfectants destroy.

phenolic disinfectants

Tuberculocidal disinfectants that are a form of formaldehyde. They have a very high pH and can damage skin and eyes. Must wear gloves

quaternary ammonium compounds

Commonly called quats. Made from quaternary ammonium cations and designed to disinfect nonporous surfaces. Suitable for noncritical, noninvasive settings and effective against most pathogens of concern in a salon, spa or barbershop.

sodium hypochlorite

Common household bleach. An effective disinfectant for the salon, spa and barbershop.

antiseptics

Chemical germicides made for use on skin. Registered and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

chelating soaps

Also called chelating detergents. They break down stubborn films and remove the residue left by products such as scrubs, salts and masks.

nonporous

An item made of material with no pores or openings, which cannot absorb liquid.

porous

Made of material that has pores or openings. Porous items absorb liquid.

multiuse

Also called reusable. Items that can be cleaned, disinfected and used on more than one person, even if the item is accidentally exposed to blood or body fluid.