2.02

Airborne Precautions: practices used when infection can be spread over long       distances and through air    

Antisepsis: prevention of infection by inhibiting or stopping the growth of                  microorganisms, used on skin

Asepsis: the absence of infection or infectious materials

Blood-borne pathogen standard: precautions used when potentially contacting     potentially infectious microorganisms in the blood

Contact Precautions: practices used when an infection can be spread by direct or    indirect contact with a patient or one’s environment

Contaminated: the presence of harmful substances or microorganisms

Disinfection: the use of chemicals to kill pathogens that are present on nonliving     objects

Droplet Precautions: practices used when a pathogen can be transmitted through close contact with the respiratory system or mucous membranes

Handwashing: using antibacterial soap and water to cleanse surface of hands

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): equipment such as gloves, masks, gowns, respirators, and eyewear worn to protect skin, clothing, and the respiratory tract from infectious agents

Standard Precautions: steps that a healthcare worker takes with all patients to prevent the spread of infection

Sterile: free of living microorganisms

Sterilization: a method used to decrease the spread of pathogens and disease by   destroying all microorganisms, including those that form spores

Transmission Based Precautions: heightened care techniques that are performed in addition to standard precautions based on how a patient’s infection is spread

Vaccinations: a mixture that is given by infection or taken orally to protect a person against a specific disease; contains a weakened or killed antigen, which prompts the body to develop antibodies specific to that antigen, increasing immunity