Week Three Glossary Terms

Question 1

Antiseptic

Answer 1

A chemical agent (dilute solution of chemical disinfectant) that inhibits microbial growth. Used on the living tissue prior to invasive procedures (non-toxic)

Question 2

Asepsis

Answer 2

Free of microorganisms; Medical (clean) or Surgical (sterile)

Question 3

Aseptic / Sterile

Answer 3

Free of any living microorganisms

Question 4

Bacterial Agent

Answer 4

One which kills bacteria

Question 5

Bacteriostatic Agent

Answer 5

One which inhibits the growth of bacteria

Question 6

Biocidal

Answer 6

Kills all forms of life

Question 7

Bacillus

Answer 7

Rod-shaped bacterium

Question 8

Coccus

Answer 8

Spherical shaped bacterium

Question 9

Clean

Answer 9

equipment - referring to that which has been sterilized, but is not packaged to preserve sterility

technique - referring to a procedure or method that prevents the spread of microorganisms from one place to another

Question 10

Contaminated

Answer 10

That which has been rendered unsterile or unclean; opposite of sterile; one or more micro-organisms are present

Question 11

Disinfectant

Answer 11

A toxic chemical agent used to kill microorganisms on inanimate surfaces (i.e. countertops, floors)

Question 12

Disinfection

Answer 12

A process whereby the vegetative cells of infectious microorganisms may be destroyed or rendered non-functional.

Since a disinfectant may or may not be capable of killing any or all of the following: bacterial spores, fungi and their spores, viruses or Mycobacterium tuberculosis, sterilization cannot be considered to have occurred

Question 13

Drape

Answer 13

A sterile cloth or paper (usually green) of varying sizes and shapes, used to create and demarcate the sterile field

Question 14

Envelope Wrap

Answer 14

A standard type of packaging of some sterile items. IT involves four flaps, with the flap corners folded back to provide handles for aseptic opening

Question 15

Fungicidal

Answer 15

Kills fungi

Question 16

Fungistatic

Answer 16

Inhibits the growth of fungi

Question 17

Germicidal

Answer 17

Kills germs (microorganisms)

Question 18

Gram Positive

Answer 18

Bacteria that Stan a deep purple using the Gram’s stain

Question 19

Gram Negative

Answer 19

Bacteria that stains pink or red using the Gram’s stain

Question 20

Infection

Answer 20

Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissue

Question 21

Infectious Disease

Answer 21

A pathology caused by infection

Question 22

Medical Asepsis

Answer 22

The state of being clean

Question 23

Normal Flora

Answer 23

The microbiological life usually present in or characteristic of an area of the body

Question 24

Nosocomial Infection

Answer 24

An infection acquired in the hospital

Question 25

Sanitation

Answer 25

A decrease in the level of microorganisms to an acceptable low level set by public health authorities

Question 26

Spore

Answer 26

A structure produced by bacteria as protection against unfavourable environmental conditions. Spores are able to withstand much better than the ordinary vegetative bacterial cells, the effects of sterilants and disinfectants. Only a few types of bacteria produce spores

Question 27

Sporicidal

Answer 27

Kills spores

Question 28

Sterilization

Answer 28

The act or process, physical or chemical, which destroys or eliminates all forms of life such as microorganism spores and viruses. An object or substance is sterile or not sterile; it can never be partially sterile

Question 29

Sterile Field

Answer 29

Area within which and above which all linens, equipment, solutions and personnel are sterile and remain sterile (anything below/behind not sterile)

Question 30

Surgical Asepsis

Answer 30

The state of being sterile

Question 31

Vegetative Bacterial Cell

Answer 31

The normal state of the bacterial cell which functions metabolically and multiplies. Cells that are vegetative are more vulnerable to killing by sterilants and disinfectants than cells which have formed spores

Question 32

Virucidal

Answer 32

Kills viruses

Question 33

Virus

Answer 33

A submicroscopic particle which is infectious

Question 34

Tuberculocidal

Answer 34

Able to kill the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis