Infection Control and Asepsis Flashcards

These flashcards cover the primary, secondary, and tertiary defenses against infection, factors that decrease immune defense, transmission precautions, and the principles of medical and surgical asepsis based on the lecture notes.

Skin (Primary Defense)

Intact skin that protects the body from microbes.

Mucous Membranes

Membranes that produce sticky mucous that traps invading pathogens.

Gastrointestinal System (Defense)

A system providing entry that contains bacteria; hydroclonic acid is the stomach's best defense system.

Inflammatory Process

A secondary defense where white blood cells release histamine to allow pathogens through and then kill them, resulting in redness, warmth, and increased permeability.

Complement Cascade

A process triggered when invading pathogens are detected in the body, resulting in the release of complement.

Complement

A group of specialized proteins that attack the pathogen.

Lymphocytes (T & B cells)

Specialized white blood cells that signal phagocytes to destroy pathogens and hold a major role in the antigen-antibody response by detecting surface proteins.

Chronic Illness (Defense Factor)

A factor where the body's defenses respond frequently and have no reserves to react effectively to a new infection.

Standard Precautions

A group of safety measures performed to prevent the transmission of pathogens found in the blood and body fluids.

Transmission-based Precautions

Measures used when a patient has a communicable illness spread through contact, respiratory droplets, or air; involves gowns, masks, gloves, and shields.

Medical Asepsis

Practices performed to prevent the spread of infection, also known as clean technique.

Airborne Transmission

Occurs when infectious particles are so small and lightweight that they float and spread through the air from the respiratory system of a reservoir.

Droplet Transmission

Transmission through small droplets from the respiratory system that contaminate an object or person.

Direct Contact Transmission

The spread of microorganisms directly from one person to another.

Indirect Contact Transmission

Occurs when microorganisms leave a person (resevoir) and contaminate an object.

Disinfection

The process used to kill bloodborne pathogens and the growth of organisms that cause infection.

Sterilization

The use of steam under pressure, gas, or radiation to kill all pathogens and their spores.

Autoclaving

The delivery of steam under pressure with heat ranging from $250\,^{\circ}\text{F}$ to $270\,^{\circ}\text{F}$ ($121.2\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ to $132.2\,^{\circ}\text{C}$).

Boiling (Sterilization)

Boiling instruments or supplies in water for $10\,\text{minutes}$ to kill non-spore-forming organisms, though it does not kill spores.

Ionizing Radiation

A method that kills pathogens on sutures, some plastics, and biological materials that cannot be boiled or autoclaved.

Chemical Disinfection

Used to kill pathogens on equipment and supplies that are heat sensitive or must remain dry.

Gaseous Disinfection

A method used to kill pathogens on equipment and supplies that cannot be heated.

Indicator Tape

Tape applied to the outer wrapper of sterilized packs that shows black marks every half-inch to $1\,\text{inch}$ after autoclaving.

Contamination

The potential presence of pathogens on a sterile field or sterile object because of contact with an unsterile surface.

Sterile Field

An area free from all microorganisms where additional sterile items can be placed until they are ready for use.

Surgical Conscience

The practice of being always aware of potential or certain contamination of a sterile field and taking steps to correct it, such as replacing contaminated objects.