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infection control vocabulary

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Term
Definition
airborne transmission   transmission of microorganisms by evaporated droplets or dust particles moving through the air  
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bacteria(sing. bacterium)   single-celled, microscopic organisms. some are beneficial to humans, while others cause disease.  
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barriers   personal protective equipment, such as gloves, gowns, masks, and goggles, designed to prevent contact with the blood or body fluids of patients  
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carrier   a person who has a disease that can be passed on to others but who does not display signs or symptoms of the disease  
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causative agent   in the chain of infection, the pathogen that causes the infection or disease  
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chain of infection   the process by which an infectious disease is transmitted to and develops in a persons body.  
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clean   referring to an object or area not contaminated by pathogens, though not necessarily sterile.  
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communicable   refers to a disease that can be spread from one person to another, either directly or through an animal or object; infectious  
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contact transmission   transfer of microorganisms by contact with body surfaces or contaminated objects.  
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contaminated   not clean; dirtied by contact with living microorganisms.  
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cultural awareness   the ability to identify and include the patients cultural needs in the plan of care.  
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dirty   referring to an object or area that has been contaminated by pathogens.  
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disinfection   a cleaning process that destroys most microorganisms through the use of certain chemicals or boiling water.  
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droplet transmission   transmission of microorganisms through the air by sneezing, talking, or coughing.  
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exposure   unprotected contact with pathogens or material that may be contaminated, such as medical instruments or body fluids.  
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flora   microorganisms normally present in or on the human body.  
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fomite   any object that is contaminated with pathogens and can transmit disease.  
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fungi(sing. fungus)   microscopic, single- celled or multicelled plants that can cause disease.  
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infection   the invasion and growth of disease-causing microorganisms in the body  
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infectious   referring to a disease that can spread; communicable  
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isolation   specific procedures and precautions designed to prevent a patient from infecting others or being infected by others; may involve housing the patient in a separate room.  
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medical asepsis   practices and procedures to maintain a clean environment by removing or destroying disease-causing organisms; also called clean technique.  
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microorganisms   living things so small that they can only be seen with a microscope; also called microbes or, more commonly, germs.  
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mucus   sticky substance secreted by mucous membranes in the lunges, nose, and other parts of the body, which provides lubrication and helps to trap and kill microorganisms.  
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nosocomial infection   an infection acquired while in a health care facility.  
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pathogens   microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, that can cause disease.  
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portal of entry   in the chain of infection, the means by which the pathogen enters the host body.  
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portal of exit   in the chain of infection, the means by which the pathogen leaves the reservoir.  
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protozoa(sing. protozoan)   single-celled, microscopic animals, usually living in water, that can cause disease.  
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reservoir of the agent   in the chain of infection, the place where a pathogen (agent) can live and reproduce, such as in a person who has the disease, an animal or a formite.  
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route of transmission   in the chain of infection, the way a pathogen is transmitted from the reservoir to the new hosts body.  
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sharps   needles, scalpels, razor blades and any other sharp, potentially dangerous object used in a health care facility.  
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standard precautions   guidelines applying to the care of all patients, no matter what their known infection status is; every patient is treated as if he or she were potentially infectious.  
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staph(staphylococcus)   a type of bacteria that is a common cause of infection.  
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sterile   free from all microorganisms, both pathogenic and nonpathogenic.  
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sterilization   a cleaning process that kills all microorganisms, including spores.  
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strep(streptococcus)   a type of bacteria that is a common cause of chest and throat infections.  
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susceptible host   in the chain of infection, the host is the individual who acquires the pathogen; if the host is susceptible, or unable to resist the pathogen, the pathogen begins to reproduce and causes infection.  
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terminal cleaning   thorough cleaning of the patient unit after the patient is discharged.  
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transmission-based precautions   isolation precautions used when caring for patients having a known contagious disease cause by an identified pathogen.  
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virus   the smallest known living infectious agent.  
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