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Antimicrobial
an agent that destroys, resists, or prevents the development of pathogens
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Autoclave
an appliance used to sterilize medical instruments or other objects by using steam under pressure
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Bloodborne Pathogens
microorgannisms found in the human blood that can cause infection and disease
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Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
federal law requiring that healthcare facilities protect employees from bloodborne health hazards
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Body Fluids
tears, saliva, spuctum, urine, feces, vaginal secretions, pus or wound drainage, and vomit
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Carrier
person who carries a pathogen usually without signs or symptoms of disease, but who can still spread the disease
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Catheter
tube inserted through the skin or into a body opening that is used to add or drain fluid
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C. difficile
(C. diff, clostridium difficile)
a bacterial illness that can cause diarrhea and colitis; spread by spores in feces that are difficult to kill
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Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
federal government agency responsible for improving the overall health and safety of the people of the U.S.
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Clean
a condition in which an object has not been contaminated with pathogens
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Communicable Disease
an infectious disease transmissible by direct contact or by indirect contact
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Contagious Disease
a type of communicable disease that spreads quickly from person to person
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Contaminated
soiled, unclean; having disease-causing organisms or infectious material on it
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Cross-Infection
the physical movement or transfer of harmful bacteria from one person, object, or place to another, or from one part of the baody to another
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Dehydration
an excessive loss of water from the body; a condition the occurs when fluid loss is greater than fluid intake
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Direct Contact
way to transmit pathogens through touching the infected person or his/her secretions
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Direct Spread
method of transmission of disease from one person to another
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Dirty
a conndition in which an object has been contaminated with pathogens
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Disinfection
a measure used to decrease the spread of pathogens and disease by destroying pathogens
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Drainage
flow of fluids from a wound or cavity
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Exposure Control Plan
plan that outlines specific work practices to prevent exposure to infectious material and identifies step-by-step procedure to follow when exposures do occur
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Exposure Incident
specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that result from the performance of an employee's duties
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Fomite
an object that is contaminated with a pathogen and can spread the pathogen to another person
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Hand Hygiene
washing hands with either plain or antiseptic soap and water or using alcohol based hand rubs
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Hand Rubs
an alcohol-containing preparation designed for application to the hands for reducing the number of microorganisms on the hands
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Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI)
an infection associated with healthcare delivery in any setting (e.g. hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory settings, or home care)
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Hepatitis
inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such a alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma
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Immunity
resistance to infection spread by a specific pathogen
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Incubation Period
the period of time between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time it causes visible signs and symptoms of disease
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Indirect Contact
a way to transmit pathogens by touching something contaminated by the infected person
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Indirect Spread
method of transmission of disease from an object, insect, or animal to a person
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Infection
the state resulting from pathogens invading and growing within the human body
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Infection Prevention
set of methods used to control and prevent to spread of disease; formerly known as "infection control"
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Infectious Disease
any disease caused by growth of a pathogen
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Isolate
to keep something separate, or by itself
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Localized Infection
infect limited to a specific part of the body; has local symptoms
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Malnutrition
a serious condition in which a person is not getting proper nutrition
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Medical Asepsis
refers to practices used to reduce and control the spread of microorganisms, such as handwashing
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Microbe
a tiny living thing visible only by microscope; also called microorganism
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Microorganism (MO)
a tiny living thing not visible to the eye without a microscope; also called a microbe
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MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccus Aureus)
an infection caused by specific bacteria that has become resistant to many antibiotics
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Mucous Membranes
the membranes that line the body cavities that open to the outside of the body, such as the lining of the mouth, nose, eyes, rectum & genitals
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Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs)
microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that are reisistant to one or more antimicrobial agents
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Non-Communicable Disease
a disease not capable of being spreadfrom one person to another
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Non-Intake Skin
skin that is broken by abrasions, cuts, rashes, acne, pimples, lesions, surgical incisions, or boils
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Normal Flora
the mocroorganisms the mormally live in and on the body and do not cause harm in a healthy person, as long as the flors remain in or at that particular area
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
a federal government agency that makes and enforce rules to protect workers from hazards on the job
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Pathogen
microorganisms that are apable of causing infection and disease
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Perineal Care
care of the genitals and anal area by cleaning
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PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
a barrier between a person and pathogens; includes gloves, gowns, masks, goggles, and face shields
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Reinfection
being infected again with the same pathogen
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Resistance
the body's ability to prevent infection and disease
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Sanitation
ways individuals and communities maintain clean, hygienic conditions that help prevent disease, such as the disposal of sewage and solid waste
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Standard Precautions
a method of infection prevention in which all blood, body fluid, non-intake skin, and mucous membranes are treated as if they were infected with a disease
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Sterilization
a measure used to decrease the spread of pathogens and disease by destroying all microorganisms, including those that form spores
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Surgical Asepsis
method that makes an area or object completely free of microorganisms; also called sterile technique
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Systemic Infection
an infection that occurs when pathogens enter the bloodstream and move throughout the body; causes general symptoms, such as chills and fever
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Transmission
the way and means by which a disease is spread
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Vaccine
a substance prepared from weakened or killed microorganisms that is used to give immunity to disease
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VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus)
a strain of the bacterium enterococcus that is resistant to the powerful antibiotic vancomycin; infections occur when the bacteria enter the bloodstream, urinary tract, or surgical wounds
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