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Definitions
Chapter 17 - Microorganisms and Asepsis
Question | Answer |
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antibotic | a substance ingested, injected, or applied to a living being that has the power to inhibit the growth of or to destroy bacteria |
antiseptic | a chemical cleaning agent used on the skin to remove or to inhibit the growth of bacteria |
asepsis | the absence of or the control of microorganisms |
bacteria (singular bacterium) | one-celled microorganisms; may be found singularly or in chains |
bacteriocide | an agent or a process that kills bacteria |
bacteriostatis | the process of inhibiting or controlling bacterial growth |
bloodborne pathogen | any type of disease-causing organism that lives in and is transmitted through blood |
chain of infection | elements necessary for disease to spread; reservoir, host, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host |
disinfectant | a bacteriostatic chemical agent used to clean and decrease the number of pathogens on inanimate objects (such as surgical instruments, countertops); does not sterilize |
fomite | contaminated food or drink and contaminated objects such as soiled hands; provide avenue for individual transmission of microbes |
health care-acquired infection (HAI) | infection a patient acquires when in a health care facility, typically a hospital setting; also known as nosocomial infection |
bacteriology | the study of bacteria |
medical asepsis (clean technique) | techniques and procedures that reduce the number of microorganisms in an environment and decrease opportunities for further spread |
microorganisms | microbes or germs; living organisms that are too small to see with the naked eye |
mycology | the study of fungi |
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) | a federal agency that develops and monitors guidelines and mandates that address health and safety in the workplace |
parasite | an organism that lives at the expense of another organism |
parasitology | study of worms, protozoa, and other parasites |
pathogens | microorganisms that cause disease |
portals of entry | routes in which microorganisms enter the body |
spores | encapsulated bacteria in an inactive or resting state |
sterilization | process of destroying all living organisms |
surgical asepsis (sterile technique) | techniques and procedures intended to eliminate all microorganisms in an environment |
virology | study of virus |
Types of pathogens defined by principal shape | Spherical, Rod, Spiral and Spores |
Spherical | cocci; singular coccus; examples: Streptococci, Staphylococci, Pneumococci |
Rod | bacilli; singular bacillus; examples: Bacillus anthracis (cause of anthrax), Myobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus tetanus |
Spiral | spirilla or spirochete; singular spirillum; corkscrew-shaped, example: Helicobacter pylori |
Spores | encapsulated (shell or capsule) bacteria in inactive or resting state; in the medical office spores are killed only by autoclaving |
Types Defined by air need | Aerobic and Anareobic |
Aerobic | bacteria that require oxygen for survival |
Anaerobic | bacteria that live without oxygen |