Safety and the Envirornment Vocab MA unit 2

Asepsis

The condition in which pathogens are absent or controlled

Carrier

A reservoir host who is unaware of the presence of a pathogen and so spreads the disease while exhibiting no symptoms of infection

Fomite

An inanimate object such as clothing, body fluids, water or food that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and thus transmit disease

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI)

Infections aquired by a patient in a healthcare facility

Pathogen

A microorganism capable of causing disease

Reservoir host

An animal, insect, or human whose body is susceptible to growth of a pathogen

Standard Precautions

A combination of universal precautions and Body Substance Isolation guidelines; used in hospital for the care of all patients

Susceptible host

An individual who has little or no immunity to infection by a particular organism

Transmission-based precautions

CDC guidelines that supplement standard precautions when caring for patients with suspected or confirms infection.

3 types: Contact, Droplet, and Airborne

Vector

A living organism, insect, that carriers microorganisms from an infected person to another

Contagious

Having a disease that can be easily transmitted to others

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Form required for all hazardous chemicals or other substances used in lab and contains information about the products name, ingredients, chemical traits, physical and health hazards, guidelines for safe handling, and procedures to be followed in case of exposure

Ergonomics

The science of workplace, tools, and equipment designed to reduce worker discomfort, strains, and fatigue to prevent work-related injuries

Disinfection

Destruction of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins or vectors by direct exposure to chemical agents

Sanitization

A reduction of the number of microorganisms on an object or a surface to a fairly safe level

Spores

A resistant form of certain species of bacteria

Sterilization

The destruction of all microorganisms including bacterial spores

Aerobe

Bacteria that grows best in the presence of oxygen

Anaerobe

Bacteria that grows best in the absence of oxygen

Bacillus

Rod-shaped bacterium

Coccus

A spherical, round, or ovoid bacterium

Culture and Sensitivity

Procedure that involves culturing a specimen and then testing the isolated bacteria’s sensitivity to certain antibiotics would be most effective in treating an infection

Spirillum

Spiral-Shaped bacterium

Vibrio

Comma-shaped bacterium

Facultative

Able to adopt to different conditions: In microbiology, able to grow in environments either with or without oxygen

Autoclave

Device that uses pressurized steam to sterilize instruments and equipment

Alcohol-based hand disinfectants (AHD)

Gel, foam, or liquids with an alcohol content of 60-95% that are used for hand disinfection

Medical asepsis

Measures taken to reduce the number of microorganisms, such as hand washing and wearing exam gloves, does not necessarily eliminate microorganisms clean technique

Surgical asepsis

The elimination of all microorganisms from objects or working areas: sterile technique

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Any type of Protective gear worn to guard against physical hazards