| A | B |
|---|
| medical asepsis | practices that confine or reduce the numbers of microorganisms |
| microorganisms | living animals or plants visible only with a microscope |
| nonpathogens | harmless or benefical microorganisms |
| normal flora | microorganisms that reside in and on humans |
| nosocomial infections | infections acquired while a person is being cared for in a hospital or other health care agency |
| opportunistic infections | disorders caused by nonpathogens that occur in people with compromised health |
| pathogens | microorganisms that cause illness |
| portal of entry | site where microorganisms find their way onto or into a host |
| reservoir | place where microbes grow and reproduce providing a haven for sustaining microbial survival |
| resident microorganisms | generally nonpathogens that are constantly present of the skin |
| spore | temporarily inactive life form |
| sterile field | work area free of microorganisms |
| sterile technique | practices that avoid contaminating microbe-free items |
| sterilization | physical and chemical techniques that destroy all microorganisms, including spores |
| surgical asepsis | measures that render supplies and equipment totally free of microorganisms |
| surgical hand antisepsis | medically aseptic hand hygiene procedure that is preformed prior to the nurse's donning sterile gloves and garments in an operative or obstetrical procedure |
| susceptible host | one whose biological defense mechanisms are weakened in some way |
| terminal disinfection | measures used to clean the client environment after discharge |
| transient microorganisms | pathogens picked up during brief contact with contaminated reservoirs |
| viral load | number of viral copies |
| virulence | the extent of dangerousness of pathogens |
