chapter 8

Aerobes

organisms that favor an environment with oxygen

Aerosol droplets

droplets of moisture small enough to remain suspended in the air. can carry microorganisms

Anaerobes

organisms that prefer an oxygen poor environment

Bioburden 

a measure of the number of bacterial colonies on a surface

Contaminated

a surface, substance or tissue that is not completely free of microorganisms 

culture

the process of growing a microbe in a laboratory setting so that it can be studied or tested 

Diffusion

uniform dispersal of particles in a solution across a membrane

Direct Transmission

the transfer of microbes to an item or tissue by direct physical contact with microbes

Droplet nuclei 

dried remnants of previously moist secretions containing microorganisms. source of disease transmission

Endospore

Dormant stage of some bacteria that allows them to survive in extreme environmental conditions. Such as extreme heat or cold

Entry site 

In microbial transmission, the sites where microorganisms enter the body 

Fomite 

inanimate source of infection that can cause disease

Infection

The invasion and proliferation or pathogenic microorganisms in the body

Inflammation

the body’s nonspecific reaction to injury or infection that results in redness or swelling.

Necrosis

tissue death

Nosocomial infection

another term for hospital-acquired infection

opportunistic infection

infection in a weakened individual

pathogen

a disease causing microorganism

Prion

infectious protein substance that is resistant to common sterilization methods 

Resident microorganisms 

the microorganisms that normally colonize certain tissues of the body, without harm to host

Sterile

completely free of all microorganisms

Suppurative

having developed pus and fluid

Vector

a living intermediate carrier of microorganisms from one host to another

Virion 

a complete virus particle 

Virulence 

the degree to which a microorganism is capable of causing disease