Ch 15 Vocab

Question 1

Acquired immune deficiency disorder (AIDS)

Answer 1

A disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which attacks the immune system destroying the body’s ability to fight infections.

Question 2

Aerobic

Answer 2

Requiring oxygen to live and grow.

Question 3

Anaerobic

Answer 3

Not requiring oxygen to live and grow; able to thrive in the absence of oxygen.

Question 4

Airborne Precautions

Answer 4

Methods of infection control that must be used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei.

Question 5

Antisepsis

Answer 5

Aseptic control that inhibits, retards growth of, or kills pathogenic organisms; not effective against spores and viruses.

Question 6

Asepsis

Answer 6

Being free from infection.

Question 7

Autoclave

Answer 7

Piece of equipment used to sterilize articles by way of steam under pressure and/or dry heat.

Question 8

Bacteria

Answer 8

One-celled microorganisms, some of which are beneficial and some of which cause disease.

Question 9

Bioterrorism

Answer 9

The use of biological agents, such as pathogens, for terrorist purposes.

Question 10

Cavitation

Answer 10

The cleaning process employed in an ultrasonic unit; bubbles explode to drive cleaning solution onto article being cleaned.

Question 11

Chain of infection

Answer 11

Factors that lead to the transmission or spread of disease.

Question 12

Chemical disinfection

Answer 12

Chemicals used for aseptic control.

Question 13

Clean

Answer 13

Free from organisms causing disease.

Question 14

Communicable disease

Answer 14

Disease that is transmitted from one individual to another.

Question 15

Contact precautions

Answer 15

Methods of infection control that must be used for patients known or suspected to be infected with epidemiological microorganisms that can be transmitted by either direct or indirect contact.

Question 16

Contaminated

Answer 16

Containing infection or infectious organisms or germs.

Question 17

Disinfection

Answer 17

Aseptic-control method that destroys pathogens but does not usually kill spores and viruses.

Question 18

Droplet precautions

Answer 18

Methods of infection control that must be used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by large particle droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing.

Question 19

Ebola

Answer 19

A filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fever disease.

Question 20

Endogenous

Answer 20

Infection or disease originating within the body.

Question 21

Epidemic

Answer 21

An infectious disease that affects a large number of people within a population, community, or region at the same time.

Question 22

Exogenous

Answer 22

Infection or disease originating outside of or external to the body.

Question 23

Fomites

Answer 23

Substances or objects that adheres to and transmits infectious material.

Question 24

Fungi

Answer 24

Group of simple, plantlike animals that live on dead organic matter (for example, yeast and molds).

Question 25

Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)

Answer 25

An infection acquired by an individual in a health care facility such as a hospital or long-term care facility.

Question 26

Helminths

Answer 26

A parasitic worm (for example, a tapeworm or leech).

Question 27

Hepatitis B

Answer 27

A virus caused by the HBV virus and is transmitted by blood, serum, and other body secretions; affects the liver and can lead to the destruction and scarring of liver cells; also called serum hepatitis.

Question 28

Hepatitis C

Answer 28

A virus caused by the hepatitis C virus, or HCV; transmitted by blood and blood-containing body fluids; any individuals who contract the disease are asymptomatic; others have mild symptoms that are often diagnosed as influenza or flu; can cause serious liver damage that may result in death.

Question 29

Infectious agent

Answer 29

A pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus that can cause a disease.

Question 30

Microorganism

Answer 30

Small, living plant or animal not visible to the naked eye; a microbe.

Question 31

Mode of transmission

Answer 31

A way that the infectious agent can be transmitted to another reservoir or host where it can live.

Question 32

Nonpathogens

Answer 32

Microorganisms that are not capable of causing disease.

Question 33

Pandemic

Answer 33

A pandemic is when a new disease or new strain of an existing disease spreads worldwide.

Question 34

Parasite

Answer 34

Organism that lives on or within another living organism.

Question 35

Pathogens

Answer 35

Disease-producing organisms.

Question 36

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Answer 36

Protective barriers such as a mask, gown, gloves, and protective eyewear that help protect a person from contact with infectious material.

Question 37

Portal of entry

Answer 37

A way for the infectious agent to enter a new reservoir or host.

Question 38

Portal of exit

Answer 38

A way for the infectious agent to escape from the reservoir in which it has been growing.

Question 39

Protozoa

Answer 39

Microscopic, one-celled animals often found in decayed materials and contaminated water.

Question 40

Reservoir

Answer 40

An area where the infectious agent can live.

Question 41

Rickettsiae

Answer 41

Parasitic microorganisms that live on other living organisms.

Question 42

Standard precautions

Answer 42

Recommendations that must be followed to prevent transmission of pathogenic organisms by way of blood and body fluids.

Question 43

Sterile

Answer 43

Free of all organisms, including spores and viruses.

Question 44

Sterile field

Answer 44

An area that is set up for certain procedures and is free from all organisms.

Question 45

Sterilization

Answer 45

Process that results in total destruction of all microorganisms; also, surgical procedure that prevents conception of a child.

Question 46

Susceptible host

Answer 46

A person likely to get an infection or disease, usually because body defenses are weak.

Question 47

Transmission-based precautions

Answer 47

Methods or techniques of caring for patients who have communicable diseases.

Question 48

Ultrasonic units

Answer 48

Pieces of equipment that clean using sound waves.

Question 49

Viruses

Answer 49

A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.