Infection Control and Standard Precautions List #2

Medical Terminology

mode of transmission

process that bridges the gap between the portal of exit of an infectious agent from a reservoir or source, and the portal of entry of a susceptible host.

nosocomial infection

an infection that is acquired in the hospital or other health care facility and was not present or incubating at the time of the patient's admission.

pathogenicity

ability of a microorganism to produce a disease.

physical agents

factors in the environment capable of causing disease in a host.

portal of entry

route by which an infectious agent enters a host.

portal of exit

route by which an infectious agent leaves the reservoir.

prodromal stage

time interval from the onset of nonspecific symptoms of a disease until specific symptoms of the infections process begin to manifest.

protozoa

single-celled parasitic organisms with the ability to move.

reservoir

place where the agent can survive.

resident flora

microorganisms that are always present, usually without altering the client's health.

reverse isolation

barrier protection designed to prevent infection in clients who are severely compromised and highly susceptible to infection.

rickettsia

intercellular parasites that need to be in living cells to reproduce.

spores

bacteria in a resistant stage that can withstand unfavorable environments.

sterilization

total elimination of all microorganisms including spores.

susceptible host

person who lacks resistance to an agent and is thus vulnerable to disease.

transient flora

microorganisms that attach to the skin for a brief time but do not continuously live on the skin.

vectorborne transmission

transfer of an agent to a susceptible host by contaminated inanimate objects such as mosquitoes, fleas, or ticks.

vehicle transmission

transfer of an agent to a susceptible host by contaminated inanimate objects such as food, milk, and drugs.

virulence

frequency with which a pathogen causes disease.

viruses

a disease causing agent.