Chapter 4 Infection Prevention

Infectious agent

The disease-producing microorganism.

Reservoir

The source of pathogenic microorganisms, which can be human, animal, plant, soil, air, or water.

Mode of escape

How the pathogenic microorganism leaves the reservoir, which could be through coughing, sneezing, and contamination of surfaces.

Mode of transmission

The method by which the infectious agent travels from person to person, typically via hands, contaminated equipment, and environmental factors.

Portal of entry

The points through which pathogenic microorganisms enter a susceptible host, such as mucous membranes, blood, and surgical sites.

Susceptible hosts

Individuals, such as patients and healthcare workers, who can become infected by microorganisms.

Resistance to infection

Factors influencing an individual's ability to resist infection, including the immune system and asymptomatic carriers.

Sanitation

A process that reduces total bacterial contamination to a safe handling level.

Decontamination

The removal of contaminants by chemical or physical means.

Disinfection

The elimination of vegetative pathogenic microorganisms from inanimate objects.

Low-level disinfectants

Disinfectants that can kill some but not all vegetative bacteria and fungi.

Intermediate-level disinfectants

Agents that can kill most gram-negative bacteria and fungi but may have variable success against spores.

High-level disinfectants

Disinfectants capable of killing all microorganisms except spores.

Sterilization

The complete destruction or inactivation of all forms of microorganisms.

Denatured

Structurally altered substances that typically result in death of the organism.