Antibiotics
Powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. used properly it can save lives. They either kill bacteria or keep them from reproducing.
Antimicrobial
An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth,
Antiseptic
Antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction
Asepsis
the state of being free from disease-causing contaminants(such as pathogenic bacteria, viruses, pathogenic fungi, and parasites)
Autoclave
Uses pressure, heat, and steam to clean equipment properly, a strong, heated container used for chemical reactions and other processes, such as sterilization, using high pressures and temperatures
Autoclave tape
Looks like masking tape, has ink that turns black when in high temperature. Indicates if proper temperature was reached, and adhesive tape used in autoclaving to indicate whether a specific temperature has been reached.
Bacteria
Microscopic single-celled organisms that thrive in diverse environments. In humans, can be good-like the kind that lives in our guts and helps digestion or can be bad that makes us sick-like MRSA or pnemonia
Barrier
An object worn to prevent transmission of disease. Gloves, gowns, masks, etc.
Biohazard Containers
Hard, leak proof container for sharp objects and/or infectious meterials
Body Fluids
Tears, saliva, sputum, urine, feces, semen, vaginal secretions, pus
Carrier
Person who carries a pathogen without signs or symptoms
Catheter
Tube inserted through skin or opening, used to add or remove fluid
CDC
Centers for Disease Control.
Federal agency for health, safety, and prevention of disease
Chain of Infection
Made up of six different links: pathogen (infectious agent), reservoir, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, and the new host.
Cilia
The fine hair-like projections from certain cells such as those in the respiratory tract that sweep in unison and help to sweep away fluids and particles
Communicable Disease
Disease transmitted when a pathogen is spread from person to person
Contagious Disease
Communicable disease that is spread from person to person
Contaminated
Soiled, unclean, infected
Cross-infected
Acquiring an infection from somebody else
Dehydrated
Person does not have enough fluid in the body
Direct Contact
Get pathogens by touching an infected person
Disinfection
Measures used to stop spread of disease
Drainage
Flow of fluids from a wound or cavity
Fungi
Fungal diseases are often caused by fungi that are common in the environment. Most fungi are not dangerous, but some types can be harmful to health
Immunity
Resistance to infection by a pathogen
Incubation Period
From time pathogen enters the body to time it causes infection symptoms
Indirect Period
Touching something that is from a contaminated person
Indirect Spread
Transmission of disease form an object, insect, animal
Infection
The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and pathogens that are not normally present within the body
Infectious Disease
Disease caused by growth of a pathogen
Isolate
Keep someone seperate
Malnutrition
Person not getting proper nutrition
Microorganism
Tiny living thing that is not visible to the human eye
MRSA
Staph infection that is resistant to antibiotics
OSHA
Federal agency that makes rules to protect workers from hazards at work
Parasites
An organism that lives in or on another organism(its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense
Re-infection
Infected for the second time
Reservoir(related to infection control)
Any person, animal, arthropod, plant, soil, or substance (or combination of these) in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies, on which it depends primarily for survival, and where it reproduces itself in such manner that it can be transmi
Resistance
Body's ability to prevent infection
Vaccine
Substance made from killed microbes used to give immunity to a disease
Viruses
A virus is a small infectious agent that replicated only inside the living cells of other organisms. It can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants
Transmission
Transfer of a disease to someone else
Infection Control
Methods used to control and prevent the spread of disease
Pathogens
Harmful microorganisms
Localized
At a specific place, not the whole body
Systemic
In bloodstream, move throughout the body
White Blood Cells
Also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders
Signs of a localized Infection
Redness, swelling, pain, heat, drainage, fever
Signs and Symptoms of a Systemic Infection
Fever, chills, headache, change in vital signs(blood pressure, respiratory rate, etc), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, Mental confusion
Chain of Infection
1. Have to have a causative agent
2. Reservoir where it is located(a host)?
3. Portal of exit - how does it get out of host?
4. Mode of transmission - how does it get to host?
5. Portal of entry - how does it get into host?
6. The host must be susceptible
Causative Agents
Pathogens can cause disease, Pathogens are found everywhere - on the skin, in the food, air, water. They include: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites