Chapter 4 Infection Control Principles and Practices

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, microorganisms, and sterilization processes described in the lecture notes on infection control.

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Abbreviated AIDS; a disease that breaks down the body's immune system; AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

acquired immunity

Immunity that the body develops after overcoming a disease, through inoculation (such as flu vaccinations), or through exposure to natural allergens (such as pollen, cat dander, and ragweed).

allergy

Reaction due to extreme sensitivity to certain foods, chemicals, or other normally harmless substances.

antiseptics

Chemical germicide formulated for use on skin; registered and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

asymptomatic

Showing no symptoms or signs of infection.

bacilli

Short rod-shaped bacteria; they are the most common bacteria and produce diseases such as tetanus (lockjaw), typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and diphtheria.

bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms that have both plant and animal characteristics; some bacteria are harmful; some are harmless.

bacterial spores

Bacteria capable of producing a protective coating that allows them to withstand very harsh environments and to shed the coating when conditions become more favorable to them.

bactericidal

Capable of destroying bacteria.

binary fission

The division of bacterial cells into two new cells called daughter cells.

biofilms

Colonies of microorganisms that adhere to environmental surfaces, as well as the human body.

bloodborne pathogens

Disease-causing microorganisms carried in the body by blood or body fluids, such as hepatitis and HIV.

cilia

Hairlike extensions that protrude from cells and help sweep away fluids and particles.

cleaning

A mechanical process (scrubbing) using soap and water or detergent and water to remove all visible dirt, debris, and many disease-causing germs; cleaning also removes invisible debris that interferes with disinfection.

cocci

Round-shaped bacteria that appear singly (alone) or in groups; the three types of cocci are staphylococci, streptococci, and diplococci.

communicable

Able to be communicated; transferable by contact from one person to another as in a communicable disease.

contagious disease

Also known as communicable disease; disease that is spread from one person to another person; examples include common cold, ringworm, and conjunctivitis.

contamination

The presence, or the reasonably anticipated presence, of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item's surface or visible debris or residues such as dust, hair, and skin.

diagnosis

Determination of the nature of a disease from its symptoms and/or diagnostic tests; federal regulations prohibit salon professionals from performing a diagnosis.

diplococci

Spherical bacteria that grow in pairs and cause diseases such as pneumonia.

direct transmission

Transmission of blood or body fluids through touching (including shaking hands), kissing, coughing, sneezing, and talking.

disease

An abnormal condition of all or part of the body, or its systems or organs, that makes the body incapable of carrying on normal function.

disinfectants

Chemical products approved by the EPA designed to destroy most bacteria (excluding spores), fungi, and viruses on surfaces.

disinfection (disinfecting)

A chemical process that uses specific products to destroy harmful organisms (except bacterial spores) on environmental surfaces.

efficacy

The ability of a product to produce the intended effect; on a disinfectant label, it indicates specific pathogens destroyed or disabled when used properly.

exposure incident

Contact with non intact (broken) skin, blood, body fluid, or other potentially infectious materials, which is the result of the performance of an employee's duties.

flagella

Slender, hairlike extensions used by bacilli and spirilla for locomotion (moving about); may also be referred to as cilia.

fungi

Single-celled organisms that grow in irregular masses and include molds, mildews, and yeasts; they can produce contagious diseases such as ringworm.

fungicidal

Capable of destroying molds and fungi.

hepatitis

A bloodborne virus that causes disease and can damage the liver.

hospital disinfectants

Disinfectants that are effective for cleaning blood and body fluids on nonporous surfaces.

human immunodeficiency virus

Abbreviated HIV; virus that causes HIV disease and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

immunity

The ability of the body to destroy and resist infection; immunity against disease can be either natural or acquired.

inactive stage

Also known as spore-forming stage; the ability of some bacteria to form a protective coating around themselves to protect them from harsh environments.

indirect transmission

Transmission of blood or body fluids through contact with an intermediate contaminated object such as a razor, extractor, nipper, or an environmental surface.

infection

The invasion of body tissues by disease-causing pathogens.

infection control

The methods used to eliminate or reduce the transmission of infectious organisms.

infectious

Caused by or capable of being transmitted by infection.

infectious disease

Disease caused by pathogenic (harmful) microorganisms that enter the body; it may or may not be spread from one person to another person.

inflammation

A condition in which the body reacts to injury, irritation, or infection, characterized by redness, heat, pain, and swelling.

local infection

An infection, such as a pimple or abscess, that is confined to a particular part of the body and appears as a lesion containing pus.

methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

Abbreviated MRSA; a type of infectious bacteria that is highly resistant to conventional treatments such as antibiotics.

microorganism

Any organism of microscopic or submicroscopic size.

mildew

A type of fungus that affects plants or grows on inanimate objects but does not cause human infections in the barbershop.

motility

Self-movement.

multiuse

Also known as reusable; items that can be cleaned, disinfected, and used on more than one person, even if the item is accidentally exposed to blood or body fluid.

natural immunity

Immunity that is partly inherited and partly developed through healthy living.

nonpathogenic

Harmless microorganisms that may perform useful functions and are safe to come in contact with since they do not cause disease or harm.

nonporous

An item that is made or constructed of a material that has no pores or openings and cannot absorb liquids.

occupational disease

Illness resulting from conditions associated with employment, such as prolonged and repeated overexposure to certain products or ingredients.

parasites

Organisms that grow, feed, and shelter on or inside another organism (referred to as the host), while contributing nothing to the survival of that organism; they must have a host to survive.

parasitic disease

Disease caused by parasites, such as lice and mites.

pathogenic

Harmful microorganisms that can cause disease or infection in humans when they invade the body.

pathogenic disease

Disease produced by organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

pediculosis capitis

Infestation of the hair and scalp with head lice.

phenolic disinfectants

Tuberculocidal disinfectants that are a form of formaldehyde, have a very high $pH$, and can damage the skin and eyes.

porous

Made or constructed of a material that has pores or openings; porous items are absorbent.

pus

A fluid created by infection.

quaternary ammonium compounds

Commonly known as quats; products made of quaternary ammonium cations designed for disinfection of nonporous surfaces; effective against most pathogens of concern in the barbershop.

Safety Data Sheet

Abbreviated SDS; required by law for all products sold; includes safety information about hazardous ingredients, safe use, handling procedures, disposal guidelines, and risk reduction precautions.

sanitation

Also known as sanitizing; a chemical process for reducing the number of disease-causing germs on cleaned surfaces to a safe level.

scabies

A contagious skin disease that is caused by the itch mite, which burrows under the skin.

sodium hypochlorite

Common household bleach; an effective disinfectant for the barbershop.

spirilla

Spiral or corkscrew-shaped bacteria that cause diseases such as syphilis and Lyme.

Standard Precautions

Guidelines published by the CDC that require the employer and employee to assume that any human blood and body fluids are potentially infectious.

staphylococci

Pus-forming bacteria that grow in clusters like a bunch of grapes; they cause abscesses, pustules, and boils.

sterilization

The process that completely destroys all microbial life, including spores.

streptococci

Pus-forming bacteria arranged in curved lines resembling a string of beads; they cause infections such as strep throat and blood poisoning.

tinea barbae

Also known as barber's itch; a superficial fungal infection primarily limited to the bearded areas of the face and neck or around the scalp.

tinea capitis

A fungal infection of the scalp characterized by red papules, or spots, at the opening of the hair follicles.

toxins

Various poisonous substances produced by some microorganisms (bacteria and viruses).

tuberculocidal disinfectants

Often referred to as phenolics; proven to kill the bacterium that cause tuberculosis, in addition to other pathogens destroyed through hospital disinfectants.

tuberculosis

A disease caused by bacteria that are transmitted through coughing or sneezing.

virucidal

Capable of destroying viruses.

virus

A parasitic submicroscopic particle that infects and resides in cells of biological organisms; capable of replication only through taking over the host cell's reproductive function.