Lesson 1 - Definition of Terms

Antisepsis

prevention of sepsis by exclusion, destruction or inhibition of growth or multiplication of microorganisms from body tissues & fluids

Antiseptics

inorganic chemical compounds that combat sepsis by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms w/o necessarily killing them

Asepsis

• absence of microorganisms that cause disease

Aseptic techniques

• method to prevent contamination by microorganisms

Barrier

• a material used to reduce/inhibit the migration/transmission of microorganisms in the environment

Contaminated

•  carrying/infected by microorganisms

Cross-contamination

• transmission of microorganisms from px to px or from inanimate object to px

Decontamination

• cleaning & disinfecting or sterilizing processes carried out to make contaminated items safe to handle

Disinfection

• chemical/mechanical destructions of microorganisms

Irreducible minimum

microbial burden cannot get any lower; item is sterile to its highest degree

Spatial relationship

• awareness of sterile, unsterile, clean & contaminated areas, objects and individuals and their proximity to each other

Standard precautions

•  procedures followed to protect personnel from contact w/blood & body fluids of patients

Sterile

• Being free of all living microorganisms.

Sterile Field

• area around the site of incision into tissue or the site of the introduction of an instrument into a body orifice that has been prepared using sterile supplies & equipment

Sterile Technique

• method by which contamination with microorganisms is prevented to maintain sterility throughout the surgical procedures

Terminal sterilization & disinfection

• procedures carried out for the destruction of pathogens at the end of surgical procedures in the OR after the patient has been removed