-
Antiseptics
Chemicals used to reduce transmission that are applied to the skin that do not usually cause tissue damage.
-
Autoclaving
Technique to reduce transmission by exposure to heat.
-
Culture
Growth of microorganisms on a specific nutritious medium in a laboratory.
-
Disinfectants
Chemical solutions that are known to destroy microorganisms or their toxins on inanimate objects.
-
Endemic
Infections that consistently occur in a certain area of population.
-
Epidemics
Infection that occurs outside their normal geographic range or in higher than expected numbers.
-
Fimbriae
Tiny, hairlike structures found on some bacteria, usually in the gram-negative class.
-
Infection
When a microbe or parasite is able to reproduce in or on the body's tissues.
-
Leukocytosis
Increase in WBCs.
-
Leukopenia
Reduction in the number of leukocytes in the blood.
-
Lymphadenopathy
Disease affecting the lymph nodes.
-
Monocytosis
Monocytosis is an increase in the number of monocytes circulating in the blood. Monocytes are white blood cells that give rise to macrophages and dendritic cells in the immune system.
-
Mutation
Change in the genetic makeup of a cell, which will be inherited.
-
Neutropenia
A granulocyte disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils.
-
Nosocomial
An infection acquired while hospitalized.
-
Obligate
Obligate parasite is a parasite that cannot reproduce without exploiting a suitable host.
-
Parasite
Virus that requires a living host for cell replication.
-
Pathogens
Disease causing microbes, often referred to as germs.
-
Pili
Tiny, hairlike structures found on some bacteria, usually in the gram-negative class.
-
Prions
Protein-like agents that are transmitted by consumption of contaminated tissues such as muscle or use of donor tissues contaminated with the protein.
-
Prosthetic
A foreign material that can be used by organisms to lodge and initiate infection.
-
Seizures
A sever infection of the nervous system resulting in confusion or disorientation, or convulsions and loss of consciousness.
-
Septicemia
Overwhelming systemic infection
-
Sterilization
Technique to reduce transmission by exposure to heat.
-
Toxins
Bacteria that secrete toxic substances. Two types are exotoxins and endotoxins.
-
Unicellular
Single cellular organisms
|
|
