Term | Definition |
BUN | blood, urea, nitrogen |
CDC | Centers for Disease Control |
OSHA | Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
epidemology | study of infectious disease |
normal flora | helpful and necessary for life processes |
pathogens or infectious agents | microorganisms that cause disease |
stages of infection cycle | infectious agent, reservoir/source, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host |
infectious agents | bacteria, viruses, parasites (Rickettsia), protozoa, fungus (mold & yeast) |
examples of reservoir | almost anything - vectors, water, food, fomites, humans |
means of transmission | direct & indirect contact, vertical transmission, airborne, droplet, iatrogenic, inhalation |
iatrogenic transmission | due to medical treatments, procedures, surgeries, injections |
portal of entry/portal of exit | inhaled, ingested, absorbed - respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, reproductive tracts |
anaerobes | microorganisms that grow without O2 |
environmental requirements for microorganisms | nutrients, O2 or no O2, temperature, PH, darkness, moisture, |
stages of infection | invasion/multiplication, incubation, prodromal, acute, declining, convalescent |
invasion stage | pathogenic microorganism enters body and begins to multiply, no signs or symptoms |
incubation | first sign or symptoms |
prodromal | definitive signs or symptoms i.e. fever, rash |
acute | infection at its peak |
declining | symptoms subside |
convalescent | return to original state of health |
inflammatory response | body's natural reaction to infection - to heal and replace injured tissue |
cell-mediated immunity | T-cells activated - directly attack cancer cells, viruses, etc. (phagocytes) (thymus) |
humoral immunity | B-cell lymphocytes produce antibodies that lock into antigen and neutralize (bone marrow) |
immunity | body's ability to defend itself against pathogens and toxins |
natural immunity | occurs as a result of being exposed to a pathogen |
natural active immunity | direct exposure to antigen - body builds it's own protection |
natural passive immunity | antibodies passed from mother to fetus |
artificial immunity | occurs as a result of being given either antigen or antibodies |
artificial passive immunity | pt is injected with antibodies (immunoglobulins) |
artificial active immunity | pt given small amounts of antigen (immunization) to stimulate antibody reaction |
live attenuated vaccine | weakened form of pathogen - produce antibodies against pathogen (MMR) |
asepsis | free of germs |
medical asepsis | destruction of microorganisms after leaving the body |
surgical asepsis | destruction of microorganisms before they enter the body (sterilization for surgery) |
hypochlorite solution | bleach (10%) |
hepatitis | inflammation of the liver |
Exposure Control Plan | developed by employer to protect employees that are at risk for exposure for BBP or OPIM |
OPIM | other potentially infected materials |
BBP | blood borne pathogens |
regulated waste | infectious waste - medical waste contaminated with blood, body fluids, OPIM |
work practice controls | methods used in workplace to protect employees from exposure |
resident flora | normal flora present on skin |
transient flora | bacteria on hands picked up via contaminated objects |
nosocomial | disease originating in hospital - flora not found on hands |
sanitization | cleaning process to remove tissue, blood or body fluids |
disinfection | destroying microorganisms on fomites using chemicals (except for spores) |
sterilization | complete destruction of all microorganisms - usually by autoclave |
antigen | invading organism (bacteria or virus) that stimulates antibody production |
antibodies | produced by B-cells (B-lymphocytes) attach to specific antigen to neutralize it |
seroconversion | point at which antibodies are detectable in serum |
SDS (MSDS) | safety data sheet (material SDS) |
systemic signs of inflammation | fever, leukocytes, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, increased pulse |
local signs of inflammation | redness, heat, pain, swelling |