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CNA
chapter 5 vocabulary
Term | Definition |
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infection prevention | the set of methods practiced in healthcare facilities to prevent and control the spread of disease |
microorganism (MO) | a living thing or organism that is so small that it can only be seen under a microscope, also called microbe |
infection | the state resulting from pathogens invading the body and multiplying |
pathogens | microorganisms that are capable of causing infection and disease |
localized infection | an infection that is limited to a specific location in the body and has local symptoms |
systemic infection | an infection that travels through the bloodstream and is spread throughout the body, causing general symptoms |
healthcare-associated infection (HAI) | an infection acquired in a healthcare setting during the delivery of medical care |
chain of infection | a way of describing how disease is transmitted from one human being to another |
causative agent | a pathogenic microorganism that causes disease |
reservoir | a place where a pathogen lives and multiplies |
portal of exit | any body opening on an infected person that allows pathogens to leave |
Mode of transmission | the method of describing how a pathogen travels |
direct contact | a way of transmitting pathogens through touching the infected person or their secretions |
indirect contact | a way of transmitting pathogens from touching an object contaminated by the infected person |
portal of entry | any body opening on an infected person that allows pathogens to enter |
mucous membranes | membranes that line body cavities that open to the outside of the body, such as the linings of the mouth, nose, eyes, rectum and genitals |
susceptible host | an infected person who could become sick |
transmission | passage or transfer |
infectious | contagious |
medical asepsis | measures used to reduce and prevent the spread of pathogens |
surgical asepsis | the state of being completely free of all microorganisms; also called sterile technique |
malnutrition | poor nutrition due to improper diet |
dehydration | a serious condition resulting from an inadequate amount of fluid in the body |
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | a federal government agency that makes rules to protect workers from hazards on the job |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | a federal government agency that issues guidelines to protect and improve the health of individuals and communities |
Standard Precautions | a method of infection prevention (handwashing, PPE) in which all blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes are treated as if they were infected with an infectious disease |
sharps | needles or other sharp objects |
hand hygiene | washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rubs |
personal protective equipment (PPE) | equipment that helps protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with workplace hazards |
don | to put on |
doff | to remove |
perineal care | care of the genital area and anal area |
nonintact skin | skin that is broken by abrasions, cuts, rashes, acne, pimples, lesions, surgical incisions, or boils |
clean | in health care, a condition in which an object has not been contaminated with pathogens |
diry | in health care, a condition in which an object has been contaminated with pathogens |
disinfection | a process that destroys most, but not all, pathogens; it reduces the pathogen count to a level that is considered not infectious |
sterilization | a cleaning measure used to decrease the spread of pathogens and disease by destroying all microorganisms, including those that form spores |
disposable | to be used only once and then discarded |
Transmission-based Precautions | a method of infection prevention used when caring for persons who are infected or may be infected with certain infectious diseases |
multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO's) | microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that are resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents that are commonly used for treatment of a disease |
antimicrobial | an agent that destroys, resists, or prevents the development of pathogens |
isolate | to keep something separate or by itself |
bloodborne pathogen | microorganisms found in human blood that can cause infection and disease in humans |
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) | the virus that attacks the body's immune system and gradually disables it; eventually can cause AIDS |
hepatitis | inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such as alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma |
jaundice | a condition in which the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes appear yellow |
Bloodborne Pathogen Standard | a federal law that requires that health care facilities protect employees from bloodborne health hazards |
exposure control plan | a plan designed to eliminate or reduce employee exposure to infectious materials |
tuberculosis (TB) | a highly contagious disease caused by a bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that is carried on mucous droplets suspended in the air; causes fatigue, loss of appetite, slight fever, prolonged coughing, and shortness of breath |
latent TB infection | a type of tuberculosis in which the person carries the disease but does not show symptoms and cannot infect others |
TB disease | a type of tuberculosis in which the person shows symptoms of the disease and can spread it to others |
multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) | a type of tuberculosis that is caused by an organism that is resistant to medication that is usually used to treat tuberculosis |
resistant | a state in which drugs no longer work to kill specific bacteria |
phlegm | thick mucus from the respiratory passages |
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) | an antibiotic resistant infection to methicillin |
VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus | bacteria (enterococci) that have developed resistance to the antibiotic |
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff, C. difficile) | a bacterium that is spread by spores in feces that are difficult to kill; it causes symptoms such s diarrhea and nausea and can lead to serious inflammation of the colon (colitis) |