Module 6 Terminology

Question 1

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Answer 1

a deficiency of cellular immunity induced by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)

Question 2

Airborne precautions

Answer 2

measures used for diseases that remain infectious over long distances when suspended in the air; require single-patient room that is equipped with special air handling and ventilation capacity

Question 3

asepsis

Answer 3

the absence of disease-causing organisms

Question 4

athlete’s foot

Answer 4

fungal infection of the foot, especially between the toes, causing redness, peeling, and cracking

Question 5

bacteria

Answer 5

most common microorganism causing disease; not all bacteria produce diseases

Question 6

barriers

Answer 6

items which prevent transmission of microorganisms from the worker to the resident or from the resident to the worker; actions to prevent the transmission of information; blocking access

Question 7

biohazard symbol

Answer 7

identification for contaminated item containers; the background is red or orange and the symbol is black

Question 8

blood-borne (pathogens)

Answer 8

pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hep B virus (HBV), and HIV

Question 9

carrier (spore)

Answer 9

a person who has an infectious agent in their body but does not exhibit symptoms

Question 10

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Answer 10

an agency of the federal government that researches and makes recommendations to prevent disease and control the spread of infection

Question 11

chain of infection

Answer 11

a series of related events required for the transmission and development of an infectious disease

Question 12

communicable

Answer 12

capable of being transferred from one person to another by direct or indirect contact

Question 13

contact precautions

Answer 13

measure used to prevent transmission of infectious agents which are spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or the patient’s environment

Question 14

contagious microbes (contagious disease?)

Answer 14

also known as communicable disease; an infectious disease resulting from the presence of pathogenic microbial agents; can be spread from person to person or one species to another

Question 15

contamination

Answer 15

a condition of being unclean or soiled with pathogens making an object unsafe for use

Question 16

disinfection

Answer 16

a process using chemicals to kill or slow growth of pathogenic organisms

Question 17

disorientation

Answer 17

loss of the ability to recognize time, place and/or people

Question 18

disposable

Answer 18

made to be used once and then thrown away

Question 19

droplet precautions

Answer 19

measures used to prevent transmission of pathogens spread through close respiratory or mucous membrane contact with respiratory secretions; mask is required

Question 20

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Answer 20

an agency of the federal government of the USA charged to regulate chemicals and protect human health by safeguarding the natural environment

Question 21

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Question 22

excretions

Answer 22

process of eliminating substances through skin, kidneys, or intestines

Question 23

exposure incident

Answer 23

direct contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials including body fluids

Question 24

flora

Answer 24

the normal, usually non-harmful microorganisms found in a particular area of the body such as E. coli in the large intestine

Question 25

fungus

Answer 25

a class of microorganisms to which mold and yeast belong

Question 26

Health Care-Associated Infection (HAI)

Question 27

Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E

Answer 27

viruses that causes different forms of infectious liver disease

Question 28

Herpes zoster

Answer 28

contagious viral infection that appears along nerve tracts; caused by reactivation of the virus causing chicken pox; also called shingles

Question 29

host

Answer 29

animal or plant that harbors and nourishes another organism

Question 30

immunity

Answer 30

resistance of an organism to infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion

Question 31

infection

Answer 31

multiplication of invasive pathogenic microorganism in the body causing disease

Question 32

infectious agent

Answer 32

microorganism capable of causing disease

Question 33

influenza

Answer 33

highly contagious acute infection of the respiratory tract spread by airborne droplets

Question 34

isolation

Answer 34

separation of a resident from other residents; may be required when infection is present

Question 35

lice

Answer 35

a common parasite of the skin and hair

Question 36

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Answer 36

a pathogenic organism highly resistant to most antibiotics, particularly methicillin

Question 37

microorganisms

Answer 37

organism that can only be seen with a microscope

Question 38

nausea

Answer 38

a sensation often leading to the urge to vomit

Question 39

non-intact

Answer 39

broken, cut, cracked, or chapped

Question 40

noscomial

Answer 40

infections that occur at least 72 hours after admission to a care facility; also called hospital-acquired infection

Question 41

pathogens

Answer 41

disease producing microorganisms

Question 42

personal protective equipment (PPE)

Answer 42

equipment such as waterproof gowns, masks, gloves and goggles needed to protect an employee from infectious materials

Question 43

pneumonia

Answer 43

inflammation of the lungs usually caused by infection

Question 44

precautions

Answer 44

measures taken to prevent spread of disease or protect from injury

Question 45

protozoa

Question 46

reservoir

Answer 46

the place where infectious organisms live and reproduce

Question 47

reverse isolation

Answer 47

a method to prevent a resident in a compromised health situation from being contaminated by other people or objects

Question 48

rickettsia

Question 49

scabies

Answer 49

communicable skin condition caused by a mite and transmitted by close contact with an infected source

Question 50

sepsis

Answer 50

a serious medical condition characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state usually caused by infection

Question 51

standard precautions

Answer 51

practices developed by the CDC used will all residents to prevent or reduce the spread of microorganisms

Question 52

sterilization

Answer 52

a process that destroys all microorganisms

Question 53

streptococcus

Answer 53

a bacteria capable of causing infection in body tissues

Question 54

transmission-based (precautions)

Answer 54

isolation procedures used in addition to standard precautions that prevent the spread of infection by interrupting the way in which microorganisms are spread

Question 55

tuberculosis

Answer 55

a communicable lung infection easily spread by sneezing and coughing

Question 56

Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)

Answer 56

intestinal microorganism resistant to most antibiotics, in particular Vancomycin

Question 57

virus

Answer 57

the smallest disease causing microbe; it depends on the invaded host for reproduction