Question | Answer |
Antiseptic- | A substance that kills disease-producing microorganisms but not their spores. An antiseptic is usually applied to living tissue. |
Autoclave- | An apparatus for the sterilization of materials using steam under pressure. |
Contaminate- | To soil, or pollute; to make impure. |
Critical Item- | An item that comes in contact with sterile tissue or the vascular system. |
Decontamination- | The use of physical or chemical means to remove or destroy pathogens on an item so that it is no longer capable of transmitting disease; this makes the item safe to handle. |
Detergent- | An agent that cleanses by emulsifying dirt and oil. |
Disinfectant- | an agent used to destroy pathogenic microorganisms but not their spores. Disinfectants are usually applied to inanimate objects. |
Hazardous Chemical- | Any chemical that presents a threat to the health and safety of an individual coming into contact with it. |
Incubate- | To provide proper conditions for growth and development. |
Load- | The articles that are being sterilized. |
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)- | A sheet that provides information regarding a chemical, its hazards, and measures to take to prevent injury and illness when handling the chemical. |
Noncritical Item- | An item that comes into contact with intact skin, but not mucous membranes. |
Sanitization- | A process to remove organic matter from an article and to reduce the number of microorganisms to a safe level as determined by public health requirements. |
Semicritical Item- | An item that comes into contact with nonintact skin or intact mucous membranes. |
Spore- | A hard, thick-walled capsule formed by some bacteria that contains only the essential parts of the protoplasm of the bacterial cell. |
Sterilization- | The process of destroying all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores. |
Thermolabile- | Easily affected or changed by heat. |