Medical Terminology Flashcards
(173 cards)
1
Q
Leak testing
A
method of verifying the integrity of the outer sheath of a flexible endoscope
2
Q
IUSS
A
immediate-use steam sterilization
3
Q
Relative humidity
A
amount of water vapor in the atmosphere
4
Q
Hazardous waste
A
waste that if not treated is harmful to human health or the environment
5
Q
Bloodborne pathogens
A
transmissible microorganisms present in blood and blood products
6
Q
Solution
A
mixture in which the components are evenly distributed
7
Q
HIV
A
human immunodeficiency virus, a virus that is found in contaminated blood and body fluids and that destroys the immune system
8
Q
Sterilization
A
process by which all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores, are destroyed
9
Q
Exposure time
A
phase of the sterilization process during which the prescribed temperature is maintained for the prescribed amount of time
10
Q
Intermediate-level disinfection
A
process that kills viruses, mycobacteria, fungi, and vegetative bacteria, but not spores
11
Q
Compressed air
A
air under greater than atmospheric pressure
12
Q
Sterilizer printout
A
documented record of the mechanical operation of a sterilizer that verifies that time, temperature, and/or other cycle parameters were adequate for sterilization and that must be read and signed by a competent sterile processor
13
Q
Loaner instruments
A
instruments owned by a manufacturer or another facility and brought into a facility for temporary use
14
Q
Solvent
A
liquid capable of dissolving another substance
15
Q
pH
A
measure of alkalinity or acidity using a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral
16
Q
Inactivate
A
to stop or destroy activity Inanimate
17
Q
Glutaraldehyde
A
chemical agent used in solution to disinfect and sterilize
18
Q
Enzyme detergent
A
organic substance that assists with the breakdown of blood and protein soils EPA
19
Q
Ergonomics
A
physical capabilities in relation to various types of work
20
Q
Sterilant
A
sterilizing agent
21
Q
Cavitation
A
process employed by ultrasonic cleaners that causes bubbles to implode and dislodge soil from instruments
22
Q
Decontamination
A
use of physical or chemical means to reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms from objects to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles; an area in SPD
23
Q
Chemical integrators
A
See Integrating indicators
24
Q
Exchange cart system
A
centralized distribution system in which two identical carts are periodically restocked and exchanged, usually every 24 hours
25
Immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS)
sterilization of patient care items for immediate use
26
Oxidation
process in which oxygen combines with another substance
27
Combustible
substance that reacts with oxygen and, if ignited, will burn
28
Distilled water
water that has been heated to boiling, vaporized, cooled, and condensed into a liquid
29
Ophthalmic instruments
instruments used for surgery of the eye
30
Traffic control
controlling movement of people and supplies in an area to minimize the potential for contamination
31
Caustic
corrosive alkali that destroys living tissue
32
Sterile
absence of all living organisms
33
Wet pack
package that has visible moisture on the outside, such as droplets, or inside, such as a wet towel or tray liner, moisture on the instruments, or visible water inside the set
34
Fiberoptics
transparent fibers used in an instrument to transmit light
35
Transfer tray
tray used to reduce the incidence of damage to wrapped instrument trays
36
Dust cover
protective plastic cover used to maintain the sterility of an item by protecting it from environmental contamination
37
Concentration
amount of one specific substance in a specific amount of another substance
38
AORN
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
39
Detergent-disinfectant
combined cleaning agent and disinfectant
40
Stat
immediately or at once
41
Hepatitis
inflammation of the liver that is usually caused by a virus
42
Single-use device
item intended to be used only once
43
Pasteurization
process of heating fluid to a moderate temperature for a specific period of time to destroy bacteria without changing the chemical composition of the fluid
44
Superheated steam
water vapor in a state of equilibrium between condensation and evaporation; steam that is dried out
45
Laparoscopic instruments
instruments used in the examination of internal organs and cavities
46
High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter
filter that traps very small particles
47
Cross-contamination
movement of contaminants from one person, object, or work location to another
48
JC
Joint Commission
49
Neutralizer
substance added to a solution that stops the action of antimicrobial agents
50
Paper-plastic pouches/rolls
See Packaging
51
Lumen
space within a tube, catheter or instrument
52
Antimicrobial
chemical or material capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms
53
CJD
Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by spontaneous transformation of normal prion proteins into abnormal prions
54
Compromise
exposure to damage
55
Virus
microscopic cellular organism that requires a host to multiply and that is capable of causing disease
56
Prions
abnormal virus-like proteins that do not contain DNA or RNA
57
Woven textiles
reusable wrappers or drapes made of cotton or a cotton blend. Woven textiles have poor barrier qualities and must be laundered, delinted, and inspected between uses
58
Deionized water
water that has been treated to remove the ions, making it free of minerals
59
Just-in-time
method of distribution in which the materials arrive as they are needed
60
Supersaturated steam
steam containing more that 3% entrained water; steam that is too wet
61
Passivation
final stage in the manufacturing of instruments; process in which a chemical dip removes all debris and creates a layer of chromium oxide
62
Incubate
to create and maintain environmental conditions that support microbial growth Incubator
63
Saturated steam
steam that contains 3% entrained water
64
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency of the US Public Health Service that conducts research on diseases and develops methods for control and prevention
65
EPA
US Environmental Protection Agency, the federal agency responsible for registering and regulating environmental disinfectants and emissions into the air and water
66
Incubator
apparatus for maintaining a constant temperature that supports the growth of microorganisms
67
MSDS
material safety data sheet; now called an SDS, safety data sheet
68
Flammable
quick to ignite; burns easily
69
Degassing
process by which air is removed from water in an ultrasonic cleaner
70
Load control
numbers placed on sterilized items to facilitate recalls and traceability; date, sterilizer number, and load number
71
Shelf life
time during which an item is assumed to be sterile
72
Serrations
groves, teeth, or notches in the jaws of some surgical instruments
73
Fahrenheit
temperature scale in which the freezing point of water is 32 degrees and the boiling point is 212 degrees
74
Lot Control
numbering and documentation method for tracking sterilized devices
75
Packaging
wrappers, paper-plastic pouches, and rigid sterilization containers that maintain the sterility of an item until the time it is used
76
Peracetic acid
liquid chemical sterilant for immersible items
77
Sharps
medical items that can cause punctures or cut. Examples are broken glassware, syringes, needles, and scalpel blades
78
Bioburden
number of microorganisms on a contaminated object
79
Sequential wrapping
use of two separate layers of wrapping material to create a package within a package
80
Inventory control
organized process for maintaining optimal levels of supplies in the storeroom and user areas
81
Disease
pathological condition of the body that presents a group of clinical signs and symptoms
82
Detergent
water-soluble cleaning agent that decreases surface tension while increasing the wetness of the object being cleaned
83
Recall
to order something back
84
Work flow
movement of items from clean areas to dirty areas to prevent contamination of the environment
85
Aseptic
free from pathogenic organisms Autoclave
86
Disposable
item manufactured to be used only once and then discarded
87
Positive air pressure
flow of air out of an area
88
Dry time
time required to dry steam sterilized items before they are handled
89
Integrating indicators
Class 5 chemical indicators; chemical indicators whose response depends on the achievement of all of the critical parameters of the specific sterilization process they were designed to monitor
90
Corrosion
process by which a substance produces a chemical reaction that causes a physical change in material; wearing away
91
Host
animal, plant, or human that supports the growth of microorganisms Immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS)
92
Chemical indicator
device used to monitor one or more of the sterilization parameters required for the sterilization process
93
Reusable device
device that is intended for use on more than one patient and that must be cleaned, decontaminated, and/or sterilized between uses
94
SDS
safety data sheet
95
Contaminate
to render unsterile or unclean
96
Disinfection
destruction of most microorganisms, excluding spores, on inanimate objects
97
Rigid sterilization container
sterilization packaging method utilizing a pan or container, inner basket, and lid made of plastic, anodized aluminum or metal
98
Spore
dehydrated gram-positive rod cell with a thick, hard, shell-like covering capable of surviving extreme heat, lack of water, and exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation
99
Sporicide
substance that kills spores
100
Insulation tester
instrument used to check for cracks, tears, or shrinkage of the protective sheaths of laparoscopic instruments
101
STEL
short-term exposure limit
102
Critical device
device entering sterile tissue
103
Pathogen
disease-producing microorganism
104
Organizing tray
tray used to protect and keep instruments organized and in place during processing, sterilization, and transportation
105
Dehydration
removal of fluid; to dry
106
Autoclave
vessel used for sterilization by saturated steam under pressure
107
Instrument milk
water-soluble lubricant used on surgical instruments
108
Sanitary
clean; free of dirt; promoting good health
109
Noncritical device
medical device that comes in contact with intact skin only
110
Simultaneous wrapping
use of two thicknesses of a wrapping material at the same time
111
Microorganism
form of life that cannot be seen with the naked eye; also called a germ or microbe
112
Washer-sterilizer
cleaning unit similar to the washer-decontaminator except that the final cycle exposes the devices to live steam for one minute at 290°F
113
Soap
cleaning chemical compound formed by an alkali acting on a fatty acid
114
PEL
See Permissible exposure limit (PEL)
115
Prevacuum sterilizer
steam sterilizer in which the air is removed by means of a series of vacuums
116
Bactericide
chemical agent that kills bacteria
117
Low-temperature gas plasma sterilization
quick low-temperature sterilization process that uses gas plasma for the sterilization of packaged devices. The parameters for LTGP sterilization are time, temperature, and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
118
Biodegradable
capable of being decomposed by bacteria or enzymatic solutions
119
Extended cycle
sterilization cycle having a longer exposure time than a routine cycle
120
Washer- inator/washer-disinfector
automated cleaning unit with cycles that preclean, clean, rinse, sanitize or disinfect, and dry
121
Standard precautions
use of barriers to prevent transmission of infectious organisms through blood and body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes
122
People flow
how people move through the department
123
Flash sterilization
see “Intermediate-use steam sterilization”
124
Tunnel washer
multichamber unit composed of three to five interconnected chambers, each with a specific task
125
OSHA
US Occupational Health and Health Administration, the federal agency whose main responsibility is to provide for occupational safety by reducing hazards in the workplace and enforcing safety standards
126
Cleaning
removal of all visible dirt, soil, and foreign matter to the extent necessary for further processing or intended use
127
Nonwoven materials
man-made products that do not contain textiles; materials made by bonding fibers together
128
Reprocessing
cleaning, packaging, labeling, and sterilization of an item or set that has been opened and used. Some devices might require reprocessing if opened and not used, depending on the environment in which the item was opened
129
Process challenge device (PCD)
device that presents a challenge to the sterilizer to ensure that sterilization parameters were met; formerly known as a biologicalindicator test pack
130
Contagious
highly communicable and easily transmitted
131
Case cart
distribution and inventory handling system that provides supplies for specialty areas (eg; OR, labor and delivery, cardiac laboratory)
132
Mil
unit of length or thickness equal to 001 inch
133
Copious
large amounts (eg; water for rinsing), overflowing
134
Qualification testing of sterilizers
testing performed after installation, relocation, and major repairs to assess the sterilizer’s performance
135
Implant
device placed into a body cavity and intended to remain there for 30 days or more
136
Square fold
method of enclosing an item within a wrapper for sterilization
137
Ortho-phthaldehyde
high-level disinfectant that can achieve high-level disinfection in a 12- minute exposure time when used for manual immersion at room temperature or in a 5- minute exposure time when used in an automated endoscope reprocessor
138
Contamination
presence of soil, pollution, or undesirable microorganisms
139
Density
thickness or bulkiness of an item
140
Infection
invasion of the body by microorganisms that multiply
141
Robotic instruments
laparoscopic instruments used in conjunction with robotic equipment
142
Validation
documented procedure for obtaining, recording, and interpreting results required to establish that a process will consistently yield product complying with predetermined specifications (ANSI/AAMI ST79)
143
Non-toxic
not poisonous; does not cause injury or disease
144
Kilogram (kg)
unit of mass equaling 1,000 grams
145
PCD
See Process challenge device (PCD)
146
Biological indicator
sterilization process monitoring device consisting of a standardized, viable population of microorganisms (usually bacterial spores) known to be resistant to the mode of sterilization being monitored
147
Standardize
to make the same, uniform
148
Oxygen
colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that exists in air and that combines with hydrogen to form water
149
Steam
water vapor
150
Inaminate
not alive
151
AAMI
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
152
High-level disinfection
destruction of all microorganisms except large numbers of bacterial spores; processing method used for patient care devices (eg, flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes)
153
Gas plasma
product of the ionization of hydrogen peroxide by radiofrequency energy, which leads to the generation of free radicals and other chemicals capable of destroying organisms
154
Bacteria
single-cell, plant-like microbe
155
Bowie-Dick test
test used daily to evaluate the ability of a prevacuum sterilizer to remove air from the chamber under specific conditions
156
Washing
step in the cleaning process
157
Ultrasonic cleaner
automated cleaning equipment that uses sound waves to create bubbles that implode upon contact with instruments to draw soil away from instrument surfaces
158
Healthcare-associated infection (HAI)
infection caused by microorganisms in the healthcare environment
159
Par level
amount of inventory to keep on hand
160
Semicritical device
device that comes in contact with intact mucous membranes
161
Rigid scope
non-flexible instrument used to examine internal parts of hollow structures
162
Environmental disinfection
destruction of most microorganisms, excluding spores, on inanimate objects
163
Endoscope
instrument used to visually examine internal parts of hollow structures of the body
164
FDA
US Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency that oversees the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices
165
Negative air pressure
air exhausted directly to the outside and not allowed to recirculate
166
Forceps
instruments used for grasping
167
Disinfectant
chemical that destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms
168
MRSA
methachillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a microorganism that is resistant to all antibiotics except vancomycin
169
Gravity-displacement sterilizer
sterilizer in which air is removed from the chamber by incoming steam
170
Nosocomial
pertaining to a disease caused by hospital life
171
TASS
Toxic anterior segment syndrome, an acute inflammation of the anterior segment of the eye after cataract surgery. TASS is caused by inadequate removal of detergent or disinfectant residues after cleaning of ocular instruments
172
PPE
personal protective equipment, specialized clothing or equipment worn to protect against a hazard
173
Geobacillus stearothermophilus
microorganism used to biologically monitor steam, low temperature gas plasma, and peracetic acid sterilizers
