Infection Control and Standard Precautions List #1

Medical Terminology

agent

entity capable of causing disease

airborne transmission

transfer of an agent or susceptible host through droplet nuclei or dust particles suspended in the air.

asepsis

being free of living pathogenic microorganisms.

bacteria

agents capable of causing disease or infection.

biological agents

living organisms that invade a host.

carriers

a person who may have an infectious agent present in their body but is symptom free.

chemical agents

substances that interact with a host, causing diseases.

cleansing

removal of soil or organic material from instruments and equipment sued in providing patient care.

compromised host

person whose normal defense mechanisms are impaired and who is therefore susceptible to infection.

contact transmission

physical transfer of an agent from an infected person to a host through direct contact with that person.

convalescent stage

time period in which acute symptoms of an infection begin to disappear until the client returns to the previous state of health.

disinfection

elimination of pathogens, with the exception of spores, from inanimate objects.

droplet transmission

the spread of disease that occurs when bacteria or viruses travel on respiratory droplets.

flora

microorganisms that occur or have adapted to live in a specific environment.

fomites

objects contaminated with an infectious agent.

fungi

microscopic organisms that grow in single cells or in colonies.

helminths

parasitic worms.

host

simple or complex organisms that can be affected by an agent

hospital acquired infection (HAI)

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.

illness stage

time period when the client is manifesting specific signs and symptoms of an infectious agent.

incubation stage

time interval between the entry of an infectious agent in the host and the onset of symptoms.