Lesson 5 Vocab

Question 1

active infection

Answer 1

an infection in which signs and symptoms are present

Question 2

acute infection

Answer 2

an infection that is time limited

Question 3

aerobic bacteria

Answer 3

bacteria that require oxygen to grow

Question 4

anaerobic bacteria

Answer 4

bacteria that do not require oxygen to grow

Question 5

antibody

Answer 5

a protein specific to a certain antigen that weakens or destroys pathogens

Question 6

antigen

Answer 6

a pathogen or any other substance that induces an antibody response

Question 7

antiseptic

Answer 7

a cleaning agent that can be applied to living tissue to destroy pathogens

Question 8

asepsis

Answer 8

a state in which pathogens are absent or reduced. There are two principal types of asepsis: medical and surgical

Question 9

asymptomatic

Answer 9

without clinical signs or symptoms

Question 10

autoclave

Answer 10

a device using steam for sterilization

Question 11

bactericidal

Answer 11

killing microorganisms

Question 12

bacteriostatic

Answer 12

reducing or inhibiting the number of microorganisms

Question 13

chronic infection

Answer 13

an infection that is persistent over a long period, perhaps for life

Question 14

contagious or communicable disease

Answer 14

a disease that is spread from person to person

Question 15

contamination

Answer 15

the presence of pathogens on an object

Question 16

disinfectant

Answer 16

a chemical substance that destroys or eliminates specific species of infectious microorganisms. It is not usually effective against bacterial spores.

Question 17

disinfection

Answer 17

a more thorough removal of contaminants than sanitization but less thorough than sterilization

Question 18

exacerbation

Answer 18

a period in which a chronic infection shows symptoms

Question 19

immunity

Answer 19

an individual’s ability to fight off disease

Question 20

immunoglobin

Answer 20

a serum that contains antibodies that can help protect an exposed person from contracting the disease

Question 21

infection

Answer 21

a disease process that results from the entry and spread of a microorganism

Question 22

latent infection

Answer 22

an infection in which the symptoms disappear and recur, but the disease-causing agent remains in the body

Question 23

local infection

Answer 23

an infection that is confined to a specific region of the body, for example, a finger

Question 24

microorganism

Answer 24

an organism so small that it can only be seen under a microscope

Question 25

nonpathogenic

Answer 25

not causing disease

Question 26

nosocomial infection

Answer 26

a hospital-related infection; one that is not present or incubating when a patient is admitted to a hospital or health care facility

Question 27

opportunistic infection

Answer 27

an infection that does not ordinarily cause disease but does so under certain circumstances, for example, in compromised immune systems; so called because it takes advantage of an “opportunity”

Question 28

otitis media

Answer 28

infection of the middle ear

Question 29

pandemic

Answer 29

a global outbreak of a specific disease that does or has the potential go affect a large population

Question 30

pathogen

Answer 30

a microorganism that causes disease

Question 31

quality assurance

Answer 31

any systematic process that checks if a product or service is meeting specified requirements. In health care, it is a systematic assessment to ensure that services are of the highest possible quality using existing resources

Question 32

quarantine

Answer 32

isolating or separating a patient, patient-care unit, or facility

Question 33

recurrent infection

Answer 33

a distinct episode of an infection after recovery from the initial infection; may involve the same pathogens or different ones

Question 34

relapse

Answer 34

the reemergence of an initial infection after it appears to have subsided but has not been cured

Question 35

remission

Answer 35

periods without symptoms

Question 36

sanitization

Answer 36

removal of gross contaminants and some microorganisms from instruments, skin, and so on; the lowest level of medical hygiene

Question 37

sanitizer

Answer 37

a substance that significantly reduces the bacterial population in an inanimate environment but does not destroy all bacteria or other microorganisms

Question 38

septicemia

Answer 38

an infection in the blood stream that can worsen rapidly and is often life threatening

Question 39

sharp

Answer 39

any instrument with a sharp edge or point, such as a scalpel, scissors, or a needle

Question 40

Standard Precautions

Answer 40

a set of internationally accepted infection control measures, policies, and procedures used in health care facilities to prevent the transmission of diseases that can be acquired by contact with blood, body fluids, nonintact skin (including rashes), and mucous membranes. These measures protect both health professionals and patients.

Question 41

sterile

Answer 41

completely free of pathogens

Question 42

sterile techniques

Answer 42

methods to avoid contamination of sterile materials

Question 43

sterilization

Answer 43

the process of destroying all microorganisms, including bacterial endospores and viruses. This is the highest level of cleanliness

Question 44

systemic infection

Answer 44

an infection that has spread to more than one region of the body

Question 45

teratogenic

Answer 45

causing abnormalities in the fetus

Question 46

topical

Answer 46

applied to the skin or affected area

Question 47

virulence

Answer 47

the power of a microbe to produce disease in a particular host