Term | Definition |
Microorganism | An organism visible only with the assistance of a microscope. |
Bacteria | A class of single-celled prokaryotic organisms that lack nuclei and organelles, typically protected by a rigid cell wall. |
Protozoa | A class of unicellular eukaryotic animal-like organisms that consume other microorganisms for energy. |
Fungi | A class of unicellular eukaryotic organisms that obtain nutrition from other living or dead organisms and are protected by a cell wall of chitin. |
Rickettsiae | A class of inherently parasitic bacteria that have the ability to change shape, and are often transmitted by arthropods, animals, and fecal matter. |
Viruses | A class of non-living, prokaryotic microorganisms that contain a core of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protective “capsid” protein sheath, and can only reproduce within a host cell. |
Aerobic | Growing, living, or occurring in the presence of air |
Airborne Precautions | CDC guidelines for reducing the risk of airborne transmission of pathogens |
Anaerobic | Growing, living, or occurring in the absence of air |
Asepsis | The removal of all pathogens from a surface |
Autoclave | A machine that sterilizes objects with steam under pressure |
Chain of Infection | Chain describing how pathogens are transmitted |
Chemical Disinfection | Using chemicals to disinfect items |
Clean | Free of visible dirt or grime |
Communicable Disease | A disease that can infect another person |
Contact Precautions | Standard precautions for preventing the transmission of pathogens through direct/indirect contact |
Contaminated | Surface with pathogens |
Disinfection | Destroying or preventing the development of potentially harmful microorganisms |
Droplet Precautions | CDC Guidelines to prevent transmission of pathogens via droplets produced by talking, coughing, sneezing, etc. through exposure |
Endogenous | Disease originating inside body (e.g. cancer). |
Exogenous | Disease originating outside body (e.g. pathogen). |
Fomites | Items that have been in contact with a host of an infectious disease, that could possibly carry the pathogen, e.g. clothes, sheets |
Hepatitis B | Hepatitis transmitted by exposure to blood or bodily fluids. |
Hepatitis C | Hepatitis transmitted by blood. |
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) | Disease caused by HIV, that suppresses immune system significantly |
Mode of Transmission | How a pathogen is transmitted (inhalation, ingestion, etc.) |
Nonpathogens | Microorganisms that aren’t disease-producing. |
Nosocomial | Hospital-acquired. |
Opportunistic | A microorganism that normally isn’t harmful, but harms susceptible hosts. |
Pathogens | Disease-producing microorganism |
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) | Attire that’s part of standard precautions, designed and worn to prevent exposure to pathogens when in contact with patient or their fluids |
Portal of Entry | Where a pathogen enters a new host |
Portal of Exit | Where a pathogen leaves its reservoir |
Protective (Reverse) Isolation | Protecting a susceptible host from pathogens carried by the environment and staff |
Reservoir | The organism in which a pathogen resides |
Standard Precautions | CDC-recommended guidelines for reducing the risk of pathogen transmission in healthcare facilities |
Sterile | Describing a surface that all microorganisms have been removed from |
Sterile Field | An area that is totally sterilized, with all healthcare workers in sterile garments |
Sterilization | The process of destroying all microorganisms on a surface or device |
Susceptible Host | A host who, for various reasons, is more susceptible to contract a disease |
Transmission-based Isolation | Isolating patients who are suspected of being hosts of a communicable disease |
Bio-Hazard | Biological organisms that threaten the health of humans |