Module B – Infection Prevention Definition List

Aerobic

requires oxygen to survive

Airborne Precautions

a transmission-based precaution that prevents spread of harmful germs that travel in the air at a distance, using Standard Precautions, plus a respirator, depending on specific disease

Anaerobic

does not need oxygen to survive

Aseptic

clean

Bloodborne Pathogens

Harmful germs found in human blood and can cause

infection and disease

Body Fluids

blood, pus, liquid from sores, urine, stool, tears, spit, droplets from sneezes and coughs, and sputum

Carriers

people who have harmful germs living on or in their body, but are not visibly sick

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

An agency of the federal government that oversees the control and prevention of disease in our country

Chain of Infection

Way to explain how infection is passed around from one host to another host by using a picture of a chain

Contact Precautions

a transmission-based precaution that prevents spread of harmful germs by direct contact, using Standard Precautions, plus gown and gloves

Direct Contact

Mutual touching of two things, people, or organisms which may cause the spread of harmful germs

Droplet Precautions

a transmission-based precaution that prevents spread of harmful germs that travel by droplets in the air, using Standard Precautions, plus mask and gloves

Droplets

particles of liquids that are sprayed from the nose or mouth when a person sneezes, coughs, sings, talks, or laughs

Goggles

personal protective equipment used to protect eyes from harmful germs

Gloves

personal protective equipment used to protect skin on hands from harmful germs

Gowns

personal protective equipment used to protect skin and clothes from harmful germs

Hand Hygiene

washing hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs

Health care-associated infection (HAI)

an infection that a resident gets while staying or living in a health care setting

Hepatitis B

a disease of the liver caused by a virus

Hepatitis C

a disease of the liver caused by a virus

Host

an animal or a person

Indirect Contact

harmful germs spread by an object that has touched body fluids from an infected person

Infection

a disease or condition of the body that occurs when harmful germs get into the body and grow in number

Infection Prevention

all the things that people do to control and prevent the

spread of infection

Infectious Agent

a harmful germ that causes an infection

Influenza (flu)

a contagious respiratory illness

Localized Infection

an infection found in one part of the body with symptoms noted at that one part of the body

Masks

personal protective equipment used to protect mouth and nose from harmful germs

Medical Asepsis (clean technique)

practice used to remove or destroy germs and to prevent their spread from one person or place to another person or place

Microorganisms

also called germs that live almost everywhere and may cause problems or diseases

Mode of Transmission

how harmful germs travel or get around from place to

place

Mucus Membranes

linings of natural body openings, such as mouth, nose,

rectum, genitals and eyes

Non-intact Skin

cuts, scratches, and sores of the skin

Norovirus

a contagious gastrointestinal illness

Outbreak

An outbreak is defined as an increase of a disease/illness

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

a group of items used to block harmful germs from getting on skin and clothes

Point of Care

refers to the place where three (3) elements occur together: the resident, the nurse aide, and the care or treatment involving resident contact; most point of care occurs in resident’s room

Portal of Entry

a body opening of a person that allows harmful germs to enter the body

Portal of Exit

any way that harmful germs escape from reservoir

Reservoir

place where harmful germs live, grow, and increase in numbers

Sharps

items that have corners, edges, or projections that can cut or pierce the skin, such as needles and razor blades

Sharps Container (needle disposal container or sharps box)

hard and leak-proof biohazard container used only for sharps

Shields

personal protective equipment used to protect the whole face from harmful germs

Sputum

mucous coughed up from lungs

Standard Precautions

the first of two levels to prevent/control infections; the

basic tasks that health care workers must do to prevent and control spread of infection, whereby all body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucus membranes are treated as if they were infected

Susceptible Host

person who does not have an infection now, but is at risk for becoming infected from harmful germs

Systemic Infection

an infection that affects an entire body part, or entire body system

Transmission Based Precautions

the second of two levels to prevent/control infections; specific tasks and measures that health care workers must do when caring for residents who are infected or may be infected with specific types of infections