Chapter 21

Front 1

Acquired Immunity

Back 1

Protects the individual against future invasions of already experienced antigens such as lethal bacteria, viruses, toxins, and even foreign tissues.

Front 2

Agent

Back 2

An entity that is capable of causing disease.

Front 3

Airborne Transmission

Back 3

Occurs when a susceptible host contacts droplet nuclei or dust particles that are suspended in the air.

Front 4

Antibodies

Back 4

Protein substances that destroy the antigen,

Front 5

Asepsis

Back 5

Asepsis refers to the absence of microorganisms.

Front 6

Aseptic Technique

Back 6

The infection-control practice used to prevent the transmission of pathogens

Front 7

Bactericides

Back 7

Bacteria-killing chemicals

Front 8

Biological Agents

Back 8

Living organisms that invade the host, causing disease, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and rickettsia.

Front 9

Carriers

Back 9

have the infectious agent but are symptom free.

Front 10

Chain of Infection

Back 10

describes the development of an infectious process.

Front 11

Chemical Agents

Back 11

Substances that can interact with the body, causing disease, such as food additives, medications, pesticides, and industrial chemicals

Front 12

Clean Objects

Back 12

are considered to have the presence of some microorganisms that are usually not pathogenic.

Front 13

Cleansing

Back 13

the removal of soil or organic material from instruments and equipment used in providing client care.

Front 14

Colonization

Back 14

The multiplication of microorganisms on or within a host that does not result in cellular injury; an example of colonization is the normal flora (microorganisms) in the intestines.

Front 15

Communicable Agents

Back 15

Infectious agents capable of being transmitted to a client by direct or indirect contact, through a vehicle (or vector) or airborne route.

Front 16

Communicable Disease

Back 16

Diseases produced by communicable agents.

Front 17

Compromised Host

Back 17

A person whose normal body defenses are impaired and is therefore susceptible to infection

Front 18

Contact Transmission

Back 18

The most important and frequent mode of transmission

Front 19

Dirty Objects

Back 19

are considered to have a high number of microorganisms, some being potentially pathogenic.

Front 20

Disinfectants

Back 20

Chemical solutions used to clean inanimate objects.

Front 21

Disinfection

Back 21

The elimination of pathogens, except spores, from inanimate objects.

Front 22

Edma

Back 22

Swelling (edema, a detectable accumulation of increased interstitial fluid) results from fluid and leukocytes entering the tissues from the circulatory system.

Front 23

Erythema

Back 23

Redness results from increased blood flow to the area

Front 24

Flora

Back 24

Microorganisms that occur or have adapted to live in a specific environment, such as intestinal, skin, vaginal, or oral flora.

Front 25

Fomites

Back 25

Objects contaminated with an infectious agent, such as bedpans, urinals, bed linens, instruments, dressings, specimen containers, and other equipment.

Front 26

Germicide

Back 26

a chemical that can be applied to both animate (living) and inanimate objects to eliminate pathogens.

Front 27

Hand Hygiene

Back 27

a general term that includes hand washing (using plain soap and water), antiseptic hand wash (using antimicrobial substances and water), antiseptic hand rub (using alcohol-based hand rub)

Front 28

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Back 28

an infection acquired in a hospital or other health care facility that was not present or incubating at the time of the client;s admission.

Front 29

Host

Back 29

An organism that can be affected by an agent.

Front 30

HumoralImmunity

Back 30

The stimulation of B cells and the production of antibodies are collectively known as humoral immunity.

Front 31

Immunization

Back 31

The process of creating immunity, or resistance to infection, in an individual.

Front 32

Infection

Back 32

The invasion of multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in body tissue that results in cellular injury; an example is strep throat.

Front 33

Infectious Agents

Back 33

Microorganisms are called infectious agents

Front 34

Inflammation

Back 34

is a nonspecific cellular response to tissue injury.

Front 35

Localized Infections

Back 35

Limited to a defined area or single organ with symptoms that resemble inflammation (redness, tenderness, and swelling), such as a cold sore.

Front 36

Medical Asepsis

Back 36

Medical asepsis refers to those practices used to reduce the number, growth, and spread of microorganisms.

Front 37

Mode of Transmission

Back 37

The process of the infectious agent moving from the reservoir or source through the portal of exit to the portal of entry of the susceptible "new" host.

Front 38

Pathogens

Back 38

Disease-producing microorganisms

Front 39

Pathogenicity

Back 39

refers to the ability of microorganisms to produce disease.

Front 40

Physical Agents

Back 40

Factors in the environment that are capable of causing disease, such as heat, light, noise, and radiation

Front 41

Portal of Entry

Back 41

The route by which an infectious agent enters the host.

Front 42

Portal of Exit

Back 42

The route by which an infectious agent leaves the reservoir to be transferred to a susceptible host.

Front 43

Purulent Exudate

Back 43

Pus, resulting from infection, is a secretion made up of white blood cells, dead cells, bacteria, and other debris.

Front 44

Reservoir

Back 44

a place where the agent can survive.

Front 45

Resident Flora

Back 45

Microorganisms that are always present, usually without altering the client's health; an example would be propionibacterium on the skin.

Front 46

Sterilization

Back 46

Destroying all microorganisms including spores.

Front 47

Surgical Asepsis

Back 47

sterile technique, consists of those practices that eliminate all microorganisms and spores from an object or area.

Front 48

Susceptible Host

Back 48

A person who has no resistance to an agent and thus is vulnerable to disease.

Front 49

Systemic Infection

Back 49

affect the entire body and involve multiple organs, such as AIDS.

Front 50

Transient Flora

Back 50

Microorganisms that are episodic (of limited duration); an example would be staphylococcus aureus.

Front 51

Vaccination

Back 51

Inoculation with a vaccine to produce immunity against specific diseases.

Front 52

Vector-Borne Transmission

Back 52

occurs when an agent is transferred to a susceptible host by animate means such as mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, lice, and other animals

Front 53

Vehicle Transmission

Back 53

occurs when an agent is transferred to a susceptible host by contaminated inanimate objects such as water, food, milk, drugs, and blood.

Front 54

Virulence

Back 54

refers to the frequency with which a pathogen causes disease.