Question | Answer |
active infection | an infection in which signs and symptoms are present |
acute infection | an infection that is time limited |
aerobic bacteria | bacteria that requires oxygen to grow |
anaerobic bacteria | bacteria that does not require oxygen to grow |
antibody | a protein specific to a certain antigen that weakens or destroys pathogens |
antigen | a pathogen or any other substance that induces an antibody response |
antiseptic | a cleansing agent that can be applied to living tissue to destroy pathogens |
asepsis | a state in which pathogens are absent or reduced. There are 2 principal types of asepsis; medical and surgical |
asymptomatic | without clinical signs or symptoms |
autoclave | a device using steam for sterilzation |
bactericidal | killing microorganisms |
bacteriostatic | reducing or inhibiting the number of microorganisms |
chronic infection | one that is persistent over a long period, perhaps for life |
contagious disease | a disease that is spread from person to person |
contamination | the presence of pathogens on an object |
disinfectant | a chemical substance that destroys or eliminates specific species of infectious microorganisms. It is not usually effective against bacterial spores. |
disnfection | a more thorough removal of contaminants than sterilization |
immunity | an individual's ability to fight off disease |
immunoglobulin | a serum that contains antibodies that can help protect an exposed person from contracting the disease |
exacerbation | a period in which a chronic infection shows symptoms |
infection | a disease process that results from the entry and spread of a microorganism |
latent infection | one in which the symptoms disappear and recur, while the disease-causing agent remains in the body |
local infection | an infection that is confined to a specific region of the body, ex. your finger |
microorganism | an organism so small that it can only be seen under a microscope |
nonpathogenic | not causing disease |
nosocomial infection | a hospital related infection; one that is not present or incubating when a patient is admitted to a hospital or healthcare facility |
otitis media | infection of the middle ear |
pathogen | a microorganism that causes disease |
quality assurance | any systematic process of checking to see whether a product or service is meeting specified requirements. In healthcare, it is a systematic assessment to assure that services are of the highest possible quality using existing resources. |
quarantine | isolating or separating a client, client care unit, or facility |
recurrent infection | a distinct episode of an infection after recovery from the initial infection; may involve the same pathogens or different ones |
relapse | the re-emergence of an initial infection after it appears to have subsided but has not been cured |
remission | a period in which a chronic infection shows no symptoms |
sanitization | removal o f gross contaminants and some microorganisms from instruments, skin, and so on; the lowest level of medical hypiene |
sanitizer | a substance that significantly reduces the bacterial population in an inanimate environment but does not destroy all bacteria or other microorganisms |
sharp | any instrument with sharp edge or point, such as a scalpel, scissors or a needle |
sterilant | a substance that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life in an inanimate environment |
sterile techniques | methods to avoid contamination of sterile materials |
sterile | completely free of pathogens |
sterilization | the process of destroying all microorganisms including bacterial endospores and viruses. This is the highest level of cleanliness |
systemic infection | an infection that has spread to more than one region of the body |
teratogenic | causing abnormalities in the fetus |
topical | applied to the skin or affected area |
virulence | the power of a microbe to produce disease in a particular host |
opportunistic infection | an infection that does not ordinarily cause disease but does so under certain circumstances, for example, in compromised immune systems; so called because it takes advantage of an "opportunity" |