Infection Prevention and Control Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on Infection Prevention and Control, covering infection definitions, transmission modes, infection stages, asepsis, and anti-infective therapy.

Infection

The invasion of host tissue by a pathogen that multiplies and alters normal tissue function, causing local or systemic symptoms.

Colonization

The presence of microorganisms on or in a host without tissue invasion or clinical disease; the patient displays no signs or symptoms but can still spread disease.

Communicable Disease

An infectious disease that spreads between people either directly or indirectly (e.g., flu, measles, Hepatitis B, COVID-19).

Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI)

An infection related to receiving healthcare or a healthcare intervention, picked up in hospital settings, affecting 1 in 38 patients.

Chain of Infection

A model describing the six linked components required for infection transmission: Infectious Agent, Reservoir, Portal of Exit, Mode of Transmission, Portal of Entry, and Susceptible Host.

Reservoir

The place where an infectious agent lives or multiplies while waiting for a host, such as humans, animals, food, water, or air.

Portal of Exit

The site through which a pathogen leaves the reservoir, including blood, skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, GI tract, and urinary tract.

Mode of Transmission

The route by which an infectious agent travels from the reservoir to a new host (e.g., direct contact, indirect contact, droplet, airborne, vehicles, vectors).

Portal of Entry

The site where an organism enters a susceptible host, including any body opening, tubes, IVs, blood, skin, or mucous membranes.

Susceptible Host

A person who develops illness due to decreased natural defenses or low resistance to invading pathogens.

Direct Contact Transmission

Person-to-person physical transfer of an infectious agent (e.g., a high five).

Indirect Contact Transmission

Transfer of an infectious pathogen from a reservoir to a susceptible host via a contaminated inanimate object or surface (e.g., dirty equipment).

Droplet Transmission

Short-range transmission via larger respiratory particles (e.g., flu, pertussis/whooping cough).

Airborne Transmission

Transmission through small particles that remain suspended in the air and travel over distances (e.g., tuberculosis, measles).

Vehicle Transmission

Transmission of an infectious agent through contaminated media such as food, water, or blood.

Vector Transmission

Transmission of an infectious organism by a living carrier such as mosquitoes or ticks.

Incubation Period

The stage from initial pathogen exposure to the onset of first symptoms, during which the pathogen multiplies without producing symptoms.

Prodromal Stage

The stage of infection where early, non-specific symptoms (e.g., malaise, mild fever) appear as the pathogen grows stronger.

Illness Stage

The phase of infection where disease is clinically apparent with characteristic, specific signs and symptoms, and is easily transmitted.

Convalescence

The recovery stage of infection where acute symptoms decrease and disappear as the patient returns toward baseline health.

Medical Asepsis

Clean technique aimed at reducing the total number of microorganisms and preventing their spread.

Surgical Asepsis

Sterile technique designed to eliminate and maintain an area free of all microorganisms and spores.

Disinfection

A chemical or physical process that destroys most microorganisms on inanimate objects, though routine disinfection does not reliably destroy spores.

Sterilization

The highest level of microbial destruction that completely kills all microorganisms and spores, required for equipment entering tissue or the bloodstream.

Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDRO)

Microorganisms that have developed resistance to one or more antibiotics (e.g., MRSA, VRE, ESBLs).

Superinfection

A new or secondary infection that develops during or after treatment for an initial infection (e.g., C. difficile following overuse of antibiotics).

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics

Antibacterials that treat a wide variety of bacteria; used empirically when the specific organism is unknown and urgent treatment is needed.

Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics

Antibacterials that kill only a limited, specific group of bacteria based on culture and sensitivity findings.

Peak Level

The highest serum concentration of a medication, drawn at a specific time when the drug is expected to reach its maximum effectiveness.

Trough Level

The lowest serum concentration of a medication, drawn immediately prior to administering the next dose to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Negative Pressure Room

An airborne infection isolation room where air pressure is lower than surrounding areas, causing air to flow inward to protect others from the patient's illness.

Protective Environment

An isolation room utilizing positive air pressure and HEPA filtration to protect severely immunocompromised patients from environmental pathogens.