Infection prevention
The set of methods practiced in healthcare facilities to prevent and control the spread of disease
Infection
The state resulting from pathogens invading the body and multiplying
Pathogen
Microorganism that’s capable of causing infection and disease
Localized infection
An infection that’s limited to a specific location in the body and has local symptoms
Systematic infection
An infection that travels through the bloodstream and is spread throughout the body, causing general symptoms
HAI
An infection acquired in a healthcare setting during the delivery of medical care
Chain of infection
A way of describing how disease is transmitted from 1 human to another
Causative agent
A pathogenic microorganism that causes disease
Reservoir
A place where a pathogen lives and multiplies
Portal of exit
An body opening on an infected person that allows pathogens to leave
Mode of transmission
The way a pathogen travels
Direct contact
A way of transmitting pathogens through touching the infected person or his secretions
Indirect contact
A way of transmitting pathogens from touching an object contaminated by the infected person
Portal of entry
Any body opening on an uninfected person that allows pathogens to enter
Mucous membranes
The membranes that line body cavities that open to the outside of the body, such as the linings of the mouth, eyes, nose, rectum, and genitals
Susceptible host
An uninfected person who could become sick
Transmission
Passage or transfer
Infectious
Contagious
Medical asepsis
Measures used to reduce and prevent the spread of pathogens
Surgical asepsis
The state of being completely free of all microorganisms; also called sterile technique
OSHA
A federal government agency that makes rules to protect workers from hazards on the job
CDC
A federal government agency that issues guidelines to protect and improve the health of individuals and communities
Standard precautions
A method of infection prevention in which all blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes are treated as if they were infected with an infectious disease
Lancet
A sharp instrument used to make small incisions, as in capillary puncture procedures
Sharps
Needles, lancets, or other sharp objects
Hand hygiene
Washing hands with either plain or antiseptic soap and water and using alcohol based hand rubs
PPE
Equipment that helps protect employees from serious workplace injuries resulting from contact with workplace hazards
Invasive procedure
A procedure that involves inserting a foreign object into a patient’s body
Don
Put on
Doff
Take off
Transmission-based precautions
A method of infection prevention used when caring for persons who are infected or may be infected with certain infectious diseases
MDROs
Microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that are resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents that are commonly used for treatment
Isolate
To keep something separate or by itself
Bloodborne pathogen
Microorganism found in human blood, body fluid, draining wounds, and mucous membranes that can cause infection and disease in humans
AIDS
The final stage of HIV infection, in which infections, tumors, and central nervous symptoms appear due to a weakened immune system that’s unable to fight infection
HIV
The virus that attacks the body’s immune system and gradually disabled it; eventually can cause AIDS
Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such as alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma
Bloodborne pathogens standard
Federal law that requires that healthcare facilities protect employees from bloodborne health hazards
Engineering controls
Features incorporated in medical devices to make their use less hazardous
Exposure control plan
A plan designed to eliminate or reduce employee exposure to infectious material
Clean
In health care, a condition in which objects aren’t contaminated with pathogens
Dirty
In health care, a condition in which objects have been contaminated with pathogens
Disinfection
A process that destroys most, but not all, pathogens; it reduces the pathogen count to a level that is considered not infectious
Sterilization
Cleaning measure that destroys all microorganisms, including pathogens