Asepsis and Infection Control

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to asepsis and infection control from the lecture notes.

Asepsis

The absence of pathogenic microorganisms.

Medical Asepsis

Techniques that inhibit the growth and transmission of pathogenic microorganisms, such as hand hygiene and changing of bed linens.

Surgical Asepsis

Techniques designed to destroy all microorganisms and their spores, typically used in operating rooms and during certain medical procedures.

Chain of Infection

The sequence of events that must occur for an infection to develop, including infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Pathogen

Microorganisms that can cause disease; classified into major groups such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and yeast.

Normal Defenses Against Infection

The body’s mechanisms for preventing infections, including skin, mucous membranes, and immune responses from white blood cells.

Inflammatory Response

The body’s protective reaction to injury or infection, involving fluid and nutrient delivery to the affected area.

Standard Precautions

A set of infection control practices used to prevent transmission of diseases that can be acquired by contact with blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials.

Nosocomial Infection

Infections acquired while in the hospital or healthcare setting.

Hand Hygiene

The most important preventive measure to interrupt the infectious process, including washing hands before and after patient care.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Specialized clothing or equipment worn by healthcare workers to protect against infectious materials.

Disinfection

A process used to destroy microorganisms, usually too strong for human skin, suitable for inanimate objects.

Sterilization

A method of killing all microorganisms, including spores, using physical (heat or radiation) or chemical means.