Chapter 15 Terms

Question 1

Microorganism

Answer 1

Small living organism not visible to the naked eye.

Question 2

Nonpathogens

Answer 2

part of the normal flora of the body and are beneficial in maintaining certain body processes.

Question 3

Pathogens

Answer 3

microorganism that causes infection and disease.

Question 4

Aerobic organism

Answer 4

requires oxygen to live.

Question 5

Anaerobic organism

Answer 5

live and produce without oxygen.

Question 6

bacteria

Answer 6

one cell organisms that multiplies rapidly.

Question 7

Protozoa

Answer 7

one-celled animal-like organisms often found in decayed materials, etc.

Question 8

Fungi

Answer 8

simple plant-like organisms that live on dead organic matter.

Question 9

Rickettsiae

Answer 9

Parasitic organisms; can’t live outside the cell of another living organism.

Question 10

Viruses

Answer 10

smallest microorganisms; visible only using an electron microscope.

Question 11

Ebola

Answer 11

a virus that causes hemorrhagic fever disease.

Question 12

Hepatitis B

Answer 12

caused by the HBV virus and is transmitted by blood, serum, and other body secretions.

Question 13

Hepatitis C

Answer 13

caused by HCV and is transmitted by blood & blood containing body fluids.

Question 14

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Answer 14

caused by the human immunodeficiency virus; suppresses the immune system.

Question 15

Helminths

Answer 15

multicellular parasitic organisms commonly called worms or flukes.

Question 16

Endogenous

Answer 16

infection or disease originates within the body.

Question 17

Exogenous

Answer 17

infection or disease originates outside the body.

Question 18

Opportunistic infections

Answer 18

occur when the body defenses are weak.

Question 19

Chain of infection

Answer 19

certain conditions must be met for disease to occur and spread from one individual to another.

Question 20

Infectious agent

Answer 20

pathogen that can cause disease.

Question 21

Reservoir

Answer 21

area where infectious agent can live.

Question 22

Fomite

Answer 22

any substance or object that adheres to and transmits infectious material.

Question 23

Portal of exit

Answer 23

a way for the infectious agent to escape from reservoir in which it has been growing.

Question 24

Mode of transmission

Answer 24

a way that the infectious agent can be transmitted to another reservoir where it can live.

Question 25

Portal of entry

Answer 25

way for infectious agent to enter a new reservoir or host.

Question 26

Susceptible host

Answer 26

person likely to get an infection or disease; weak body defense.

Question 27

Antisepsis

Answer 27

prevents the growth of pathogenic organisms but aren't effective against spores and viruses.

Question 28

Disinfection

Answer 28

uses chemical disinfectants to destroy pathogenic organisms.

Question 29

Sterilization

Answer 29

destroys all microorganisms including spores and viruses.

Question 30

Asepsis

Answer 30

the absence of disease producing microorganisms/pathogens.

Question 31

Sterile

Answer 31

free from all organisms including spores & viruses

Question 32

Contaminated

Answer 32

organisms & pathogens are present.

Question 33

Bioterrorism

Answer 33

use of microorganisms as a weapon to affect humans, animals, or plants.

Question 34

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Answer 34

gloves, gowns, lab coats, masks, and face shields.

Question 35

Standard Precautions

Answer 35

rules developed by the CDC to prevent the spread of infection.

Question 36

Autoclave

Answer 36

equipment that uses steam under gas to sterilize supplies.

Question 37

Ultrasonic units

Answer 37

used to remove dirt, debris, blood, saliva, and tissue from a large variety of instruments before sterilizing them.

Question 38

Cavitation

Answer 38

the cleaning process employed by an ultrasonic unit; bubbles explode to drive cleaning solution onto article being cleaned.

Question 39

Sterile field

Answer 39

area set up for certain procedures and is free from all organisms.

Question 40

Communicable disease

Answer 40

caused by pathogenic organism that can be easily transmitted to others.

Question 41

Epidemic

Answer 41

occurs when the communicable disease spreads rapidly from person to person & affects a large number of people at once.

Question 42

Pandemic

Answer 42

exists when the outbreak of disease happens over a wide geographic area & affects a high proportion of the population.

Question 43

Transmission-based precautions

Answer 43

a method of caring for patients who have communicable diseases.

Question 44

Contaminated (2x?)

Answer 44

Objects contain disease-producing organisms.

Question 45

Clean

Answer 45

objects or parts of objects do not contain disease-producing organisms, so there's minimal chance of spreading disease.

Question 46

Airborne precautions

Answer 46

used for patients suspected to be infected w/ pathogens transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei.

Question 47

Droplet precautions

Answer 47

used for patients known to be infected w/ pathogens transmitted by large particle droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing.

Question 48

Contact precautions

Answer 48

must be followed by patients known to be infected with epidemiological microorganisms that can be transmitted by direct/indirect contact

Question 49

Protective/Reverse Isolation

Answer 49

methods used to protect certain patients from organisms present in the environment.