Unit 1 Infection Prevention and control

aerobic

bacteria require oxygen for survival and for multiplication sufficient to cause disease

anaerobic

bacteria thrive where little or no oxygen is available

asepsis

is the absence of pathogenic microorganism

bactericidal

a temperature or chemical that destroys bacteria

bacteriostasis

cold temperature tend to prevent growth and reproduction of bacteria

broad-spectrum antibiotics

for treatment of infection

colonization

is the presence and growth of microorganisms within a host but without tissue invasion or damage

communicable disease

an infectious disease can be transmitted directly from one person to another, it is termed a

disinfection

describes a process that eliminates many or all microorganisms, with the exception of bacterial spores, from inanimate objects

sterilization

eliminates or destroys all forms of microbial life, including spores

endogenous infection

occurs when part of the patient’s flora becomes altered and an overgrowth occurs (e.g., staphylococci, enterococci, yeasts, and streptococci).

exogenous infection

comes from microorganism found outside the individual, such as salmonella, clostridium tetani, and aspergillus

health care associated infection

results from delivery of health services in a health care agency.

Iatrogenic infection

are type of HAI caused by an invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure

immunocompromised

has an impaired immune system

infection

results when a pathogen invades tissues and begins growing within a host

infectious

disease such as a viral meningitis and pneumonia have a low risk or no risk for transmission

localized

wound infection), a patient usually experiences localized symptoms such as pain, tenderness, warmth, and redness at the wound site

systemic

An infection that affects the entire body instead of just a single organ or part is

medical asepsis

Aggressive preventive measures are highly effective in reducing HAIs. Hand hygiene, use of PPE, and routine environmental cleaning are examples of

multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs)

They occur as the result of invasive procedures, antibiotic administration, the presence of

reservoir

is a place where microorganisms survive, multiply, and await transfer to a susceptible host.

superinfection

Suprainfection develops when broad-spectrum antibiotics eliminate a wide range of normal flora organisms, not just those causing infection.

Surgical asepsis

or sterile technique prevents contamination of an open wound, serves to isolate an operative or procedural area from an unsterile environment, and maintains a sterile field for surgery or procedural intervention

Susceptibility

to an infectious agent depends on an individual’s degree of resistance to pathogens.

systemic

An infection that affects the entire body instead of just a single organ or part is

vector

External mechanical transfer (flies)

virulence

ability to produce disease