Isolation Precautions and PPE

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key infection-control terms from the lecture on isolation precautions and PPE.

Isolation Precautions

Measures used to prevent spread of communicable diseases by containing pathogens in a patient’s environment.

CDC Guideline (2007) for Isolation Precautions

The official CDC document outlining standard and transmission-based precautions for infection prevention in healthcare settings.

Clean (in infection control)

An area or object free of pathogens because it has been disinfected or sterilized.

Dirty (Contaminated)

An area or object that contains pathogens and can transmit infection.

Standard Precautions

Basic infection-control practices applied to all patients at all times, including hand hygiene and needed PPE.

Transmission-Based Precautions

Additional measures (contact, droplet, airborne) for patients with known or suspected contagious diseases.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Clothing or devices (gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, goggles, face shields) worn to prevent exposure to pathogens.

Hand Hygiene

Cleaning hands with soap and water or alcohol rub to remove or kill microorganisms.

Non-Intact Skin

Skin with breaks (wounds, rashes, cuts) that increases risk for pathogen entry.

Mucous Membranes

Moist linings of body cavities (e.g., mouth, nose) that can serve as portals of entry for pathogens.

Gloves

Disposable hand coverings worn when contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or contaminated surfaces is possible.

Gown

Disposable garment worn over clothing to protect skin and apparel from splashes or contact with infectious material.

Mask

Disposable covering for nose and mouth that prevents spread of respiratory secretions and protects the wearer from splashes.

Goggles

Protective eyewear that shields the eyes from infectious droplets and splashes.

Face Shield

PPE that covers the entire face, protecting eyes, nose, and mouth from splashes and sprays.

Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette

Practices encouraging covering the mouth and nose during coughing or sneezing and performing hand hygiene afterward.

Contact Precautions

Measures (gloves and gown) for infections spread by direct or indirect touch.

Droplet Precautions

Measures (surgical mask within 3 ft of patient) for diseases transmitted by large respiratory droplets.

Airborne Precautions

Measures requiring an airborne infection isolation room and an N95 respirator for pathogens that remain infectious in the air.

Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR)

Negative-pressure patient room designed to prevent airborne pathogens from escaping into adjacent areas.

N95 Respirator

Tight-fitting respirator that filters at least 95% of airborne particles; required for airborne precautions.

Donning

The procedure for putting on PPE in the correct order: gown, mask/respirator, eyewear, then gloves.

Doffing

The procedure for safely removing PPE: gloves, eyewear, gown, then mask/respirator.

Biohazard Bag

Leak-proof, labeled container used to collect waste contaminated with blood, body fluids, or other infectious material.

Double-Bagging

Placing a contaminated bag inside a second clean bag to prevent leakage or contamination of outer surfaces.

Specimen Transport Bag

Labeled biohazard bag used to safely move patient specimens to the laboratory.

Three-Foot Rule

Minimum distance maintained between patients when a private room is unavailable, especially under contact or droplet precautions.

Disposable Single-Use Equipment

Medical items intended for one patient only and discarded after use to eliminate cross-contamination.

Dedicated Equipment

Devices kept in a contagious patient’s room to avoid moving contaminated items to other areas.

Portal of Entry

Any site where microorganisms can enter the body, such as broken skin or mucous membranes.

Wet (Moist) Mask

A mask that has become damp, compromising its barrier function and requiring immediate replacement.