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Chapter 6 BNA
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| cross-infection | the physical movement or transfer of harmful bacteria from one person, object, or place to another, or from one part of the body to another. |
| dehydration | an excessive loss of water from the body; a condition that occurs when fluid loss is greater than fluid intake. |
| direct contact | way to transmit pathogens through touching the infected person or his secretions. |
| dirty | in health care, a condition in which an object has been contaminated with pathogens. |
| disinfection | process that destroys most, but not all, pathogens and other types of microorganisms. |
| doff | to remove. |
| don | to put on. |
| drainage | flow of fluids from a wound or cavity. |
| exposure control plan | plan that outlines specific work practices to prevent exposure to infectious material and identifies step-by-step procedures to follow when exposures do occur. |
| exposure incident | specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, nonintact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee's duties. |
| fomite | an object that is contaminated with a pathogen and can spread the pathogen to another person. |
| hand hygiene | washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. |
| hand sanitizer | a preparation containing at least 60% alcohol that is designed for application to the hands for reducing the number of microorganisms on the hands. |
| healthcare-associated infection (HAI) | an infection acquired within a healthcare setting during the delivery of medical care for another condition. |
| hepatitis | inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such as alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma. |
| immunity | resistance to infection by a specific pathogen. |
| incubation period | the period of time between exposure to a pathogen and the time it causes visible signs and symptoms of disease or illness. |
| indirect contact | way to transmit pathogens by touching something contaminated by the infected person. |
| infection | the state resulting from pathogens invading the body and multiplying. |
| infection prevention | set of methods used to prevent and control the spread of disease. |
| infectious disease | any disease caused by growth of a pathogen. |
| isolate | to keep something separate, or by itself. |
| jaundice | a condition in which the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes appear yellow. |
| localized infection | an infection that is limited to a specific location in the body and has local symptoms. |
| malnutrition | a serious condition in which a person is not getting proper nutrition. |
| medical asepsis | measures used to reduce, remove, and control the spread of pathogens. |
| microorganism (MO) | a living thing or organism that is so small that it is only visible under a microscope; also called microbe. |
| MRSA | an abbreviation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; bacteria that have developed resistance to the antibiotic methicillin or other antibiotics. |
| antimicrobial | an agent that destroys, resists, or prevents the development of pathogens. |
| autoclave | an appliance used to sterilize medical instruments or other objects by using steam under pressure. |
| bloodborne pathogens | infectious microorganisms found in human blood and other body fluids that can cause disease. |
| Bloodborne Pathogen Standard | federal law requiring that healthcare facilities protect employees from bloodborne health hazards. |
| body fluids | tears, saliva, sputum (mucus coughed up), urine, feces, semen, vaginal secretions, pus or other wound drainage, and vomit. |
| carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) | bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae) that have developed resistance to carbapenems, which is a category of antibiotics. |
| carrier | person who carries a pathogen, usually without signs or symptoms of disease, but who can still spread the disease. |
| catheter | tube inserted through the skin or into a body opening that is used to administer or drain fluid. |
| C. difficile or C. diff | an abbreviation for Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile); a bacterium that is spread by spores in feces that are difficult to kill; it causes symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea and can lead to serious inflammation of the colon |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | federal government agency responsible for improving the overall health and safety of the people in the United States. |
| clean | in health care, a condition in which an object is not contaminated with pathogens. |
| communicable disease | an infectious disease transmissible by direct contact or by indirect contact. |
| mucous membranes | the membranes that line body cavities that open to the outside of the body, such as the linings of the mouth, nose, eyes, rectum, or genitals. |
| multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) | microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that are resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents that are commonly used for treatment. |
| noncommunicable disease | a disease not capable of being spread from one person to another. |
| nonintact skin | skin that is broken by abrasions, cuts, rashes, acne, pimples, lesions, surgical incisions, or boils. |
| normal flora | microorganisms that normally live in and on the body and do not cause harm in a healthy person, as long as the flora remain in that particular location. |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | a federal government agency that makes and enforces rules to protect workers from hazards on the job. |
| pathogens | microorganisms that are capable of causing infection and disease. |
| perineal care | care of the genitals and anal area. |
| personal protective equipment (PPE) | equipment that helps protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with workplace hazards. |
| reinfection | being infected again with the same pathogen. |
| resistance | the body's ability to prevent infection and disease. |
| sanitation | ways individuals and communities maintain clean, hygienic conditions that help prevent disease, such as the disposal of sewage and solid waste. |
| Standard Precautions | a method of infection prevention in which all blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes are treated as if they were infected with an infectious disease. |
| sterilization | cleaning measure that destroys all microorganisms, including those that form spores. |
| surgical asepsis | the state of being completely free of microorganisms; also called sterile technique. |
| systemic infection | an infection that is in the bloodstream and is spread throughout the body, causing general symptoms. |
| transmission | the way and means by which disease is spread. |
| vaccine | a product that is administered to produce immunity to a specific disease. |
| VRE | an abbreviation for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus; bacteria (enterococci) that have developed resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin. |
| contagious disease | a type of communicable disease that spreads quickly from person to person |
| contaminated | soiled, unclean; having disease-causing organisms or infectious material on it. |