| A | B |
|---|
| Microorganism | also known as microbe, small living organism that must be seen with a microscope and are found everywhere in the environment |
| Nonpathogen | microorganism that are part of normal flora and are beneficial to the human body in maintaining certain body processes |
| Pathogen | a type of microorganism that can cause infection or disease |
| Bacteria | simple one-celled organisms that can multiply rapidly and are classified by shape and arrangement |
| Cocci | bacteria that are round or spherical in shape |
| Diplococci | cocci bacteria that occur in pairs and cause diseases such as gonorrhea, meningitis, and pneumonia |
| Streptococci | cocci bacteria that occur in chains and can cause strep throat and rheumatic fever |
| Staphylococci | cocci bacteria that occur in clusters or groups and the most pyogenic microorganisms and cause infections that create boils and toxic shock |
| Pyogenic Microorganisms | pus-producing |
| Bacilli | rod shaped bacteria and may have flagella, threadlike projections that allow them to to move and can develop spores with thick walled capsules that are extremely hard to kill and can cause TB, tetanus, pertussis(whooping cough), botulism, diphtheria, and typhoid |
| Spirilla | bacteria that are spiral or corkscrew shaped and can cause syphilis, and cholera |
| Vibrio Spirilla | common shaped spirilla |
| Spirochete | corkscrew shaped spirilla |
| Protozoa | one-celled animal like organisms that are found in decaying matter and contaminated water and can cause diseases such as malaria, amebic dysentery, trichomonas, and African sleeping skickness |
| Fungi | simple plant like organisms that live on dead organic matter of which yeast and molds are two common forms of and can cause ringworm, athlete's foot fungus, histoplasmosis, yeast vaginitis, and thrush. Only can be treated with anti-fungals |
| Rickettsiae | are parasitic microorganisms which means they can live outside the cells of another organism. Commonly found in lice, fleas, ticks, and mites and can cause typhus and lymes disease |
| Viruses | these are the smallest microorganisms and cannot reproduce unless they are in another living cell. Transmitted by blood and body fluids and very hard to kill. ANTIBIOTICS don't work on a Virus |
| Hepatitis B | a blood borne infection of the liver caused by the HBV virus that can lead to the destruction or scarring of the liver. ALL healthcare employees must vaccinated against Hep B |
| Hepatitis C | a blood borne infection of the liver caused by the HCV virus and has NO vaccine. May cause severe liver damage or failure and treatment is normally a liver transplant or VERY expensive medications |
| AIDS | Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is caused by HIV which suppresses the immune system and prevents the infected host from producing an immune response |
| Aerobic | organism that must have oxygen to live |
| Anaerobic | organisms that live and reproduce in the absence of oxygen |
| Endogenous | infection or disease that originates inside the body |
| Exogenous | infection or disease that originates outside the body |
| Nosocomial | infection that is acquired inside a healthcare facility |
| Opportunistic | infections that occur in patients with a weak immune system |
| Causative Agent | a pathogen such as bacteria or a virus that causes an infection |
| Resrvoir | where the bacteria or virus can live such as a human body |
| Fomite | an object that is contaminated with a pathogen such as a doorknob, instruments, or other surfaces that are contaminated |
| Portal of Exit | the way a pathogen escapes from the reservoir from which it has been growing |
| Mode of Transmission | a way in which an organism is transmitted from one reservoir or host to another where it can live. |
| Portal of Entry | a way for an organism to enter the host or reservoir |
| Mucus Membrane | lines the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive tracts and traps pathogens |
| Cilia | hairlike structures that line the respiratory tract and propel pathogens out of the body by coughing or sneezing |
| Hydrochloric Acid | destroys most pathogens in the stomach |
| Tears | contain bacteriocidal (bacteria killing) chemicals and flushes the eyes |
| Fever | makes the body inhospitable to most organisms once a core body temperature of 101 is reached |
| Inflammation | leukocytes or white blood cells destroy pathogens at the site of infection |
| Immune Response | body produces antibodies, protective proteins that combat pathogens, and protective chemicals secreted by cells such as interferon and complement |
| Susceptible Host | a person likely to become infected by a pathogen due to the amount of pathogen exposure or a weakened immune system |
| Chain of Infection | factors that cause infection; causative agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and a susceptible host |
| Asepsis | a major way to break the chain of infection and is defined as the absence of disease-producing microorganisms, or pathogens |
| Antisepsis | prevents or inhibits growth of pathogenic organisms but are not effective against spores and viruses. can be used on the skin examples: alcohol and betadine |
| Disinfection | a process that destroys or kills pathogens but not always effective against spores and viruses. chemical disinfection is used on surfaces; example: bleach and zephirin |
| Sterilization | a process that destroys pathogenic and non pathogenic including spores and viruses. examples: steam under pressure, gas, radiation, and chemicals used in sterilization. autoclave is the most common piece of equipment used. |
| Handwashing | the most important method used to practice aseptic technique and prevent the spread of infection |
| PPE Personal Protective Equipment | gloves, gowns, lab coats, masks, and face shields in appropriate sizes |
| OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration | established Bloodborne Pathogen Standards in 1991 to aid in the reduction of the spread of pathogens among and between patients and healthcare workers |
| CDC Centers for Disease Control | established Standard Precautions which are rules that state every body fluid must be considered a potentially infectious material and all patients are a source of potential infection |
| Autoclave | a piece of equipment that uses steam under pressure or gas to sterilize equipment and supplies and is the most effective way to destroy all microorganisms including spores and viruses |
| Ultrasonic | cleaning used on a large variety of medical instruments and items in healthcare agencies and uses sound waves to clean |
| Cavitation | when bubbles strike an item being cleaned, they explode, and drive the cleaning solution onto the article gently removing dirt and residue from the article |
| Sterile | free from all organisms |
| Contaminated | means that organisms and pathogens are present |
| Sterile Field | a field established during a procedure that must not be reached across, nothing within a 2 inch border can touch it, and you can never turn your back on it |
| Communicable Disease | caused by a pathogenic organism that can be transmitted easily to others |
| Transmission Based Isolation Precautions | are a method or technique of caring for patients who have communicable diseases |
| Airborne Precautions | is used when a patient is suspected to be infected with by an airborne microorganism which can remain suspended in the air. examples: measles(rubella), chicken pox(varicella), TB, shingles or herpes zoster (varicella-zoster) |
| Droplet Precautions | is used when a patient is suspected of having a large-droplet pathogen that can be expelled through coughing, laughing, or sneezing. examples: haemophilus influenzae, meningitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, strep, pertussis, mumps |
| Contact Precautions | must be followed for any patient known or suspected of being infected with epidemiologically important microorganisms that can be transmitted by either direct contact or indirect contact. examples: E.Coli, shigella, hepatitis A, rotavirus, diphtheria, herpes, impetigo, lice, scabies, or staph |
| Epidemiologically | capable of spreading rapidly from person to person, an epidemic |
| Protective or Reverse Isolation | methods used to protect immunocompromised patients from pathogens present in the environment. examples: patient going through chemo and radiation for cancer, AIDS patients, transplant recipients, severely burned patients, or any patient whose immune system is compromised due to illness |
