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10.6: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    109395
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    active immunity
    immunity that results from the production of antibodies to help protect the body from a pathogen that has entered the body
    airborne precaution
    a practice indicated for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens that are transmitted through droplet nuclei
    airborne transmission
    the spread of pathogens that are carried by dust or the nuclei of an evaporated droplet and remain suspended in the air
    antibody (also, immunoglobulin)
    a protective protein produced by the immune system to help the body fight invaders
    antigen
    a toxin or foreign substance introduced to the body that elicits an immune response
    asepsis
    the state of being free from disease-causing contaminants
    chain of infection
    the six stages of infection that must be present for the transmission of a pathogen from one place or person to another
    contact precaution
    a practice implemented for patients who have known or suspected infections that can be transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirect contact with environmental surfaces or equipment
    convalescent period
    the time when recovery and healing begin
    direct transmission
    the spread of a pathogen that is transmitted directly from an infected person
    disinfection
    the process of removing microorganisms and disease-causing pathogens from inanimate objects
    droplet precaution
    a practice implemented when patients are known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, and talking
    droplet transmission
    the spread of a pathogen that travels through a spray of water droplets that are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks
    fever
    a rise in core body temperature
    illness period
    the third stage of infection, which starts when a person experiences the specific signs and symptoms of a disease
    incubation period
    the initial stage of infection when a pathogen successfully enters into a new host
    indirect transmission
    the spread of a pathogen to a new host through an intermediary, such as the air, food, water, animals, or objects
    infection control
    the discipline of stopping or preventing the spread of infectious agents
    inflammatory response
    one of the first responses when a pathogen breaches the nonspecific innate immune system; it aids in the recruitment of cellular defenses to remove pathogens
    medical asepsis
    techniques and procedures used to decrease the potential for the spread of microorganisms and infection
    medical isolation gown
    a garment worn in the healthcare setting as a broad barrier against blood or bodily fluids
    microorganism
    a single-celled organism that is microscopic in size and too small to be seen by the naked eye
    multidrug-resistant organisms
    a bacterium that has become resistant to certain antibiotics
    N95 respirator mask
    a tight-fitting mask that protects the wearer from very small particles that float in the air
    normal flora
    microorganisms that can live on another living organism or inanimate object without causing diseases or complications
    passive immunity
    the result of antibodies being passed from one person to another
    pathogen
    any type of microorganism that causes disease to its host
    personal protective equipment (PPE)
    a means of barrier protection for eyes, nose, mouth, and skin from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious bodily fluids and materials
    portal of entry
    the site at which a pathogen enters the susceptible host
    portal of exit
    the path by which the pathogen leaves the reservoir
    prodromal period
    the second stage of infection, which begins at the initial appearance of mild or vague symptoms
    reservoir
    the habitat or source of the pathogen that provides a place for survival and growth
    sanitization
    the removal of visible soil from objects and materials
    sepsis
    the body’s extreme response to a widespread infection
    sharps
    needles and other objects, such as lancets, razor blades, scissors, clamps, pins, staples, and glass items
    standard precaution
    the first tier of precautions to protect healthcare staff and patients
    sterile gloves
    a glove that is free from microorganisms and individually packaged as a pair to remain free of pathogens
    sterile technique
    a set of specific practices and procedures employed to maintain sterility of the sterile field (e.g., equipment, instruments, drapes)
    sterilization
    a procedure that eliminates all microorganisms in or on an object
    surgical asepsis
    the absence of all microorganisms in any type of invasive procedure, achieved through rigorous sterilization processes and meticulously maintained through sterile technique
    surgical gown
    a garment worn by healthcare personnel during a surgical procedure to protect both the patient and the personnel from transmission of pathogens
    surgical mask
    a mask that prevents transmission of large particle droplet matter generated through coughing or splash-generating procedures
    susceptible host
    the organism that is susceptible to or at risk for infection
    transmission
    the method that a pathogen uses to spread from one host to another
    transmission-based precaution
    a practice implemented in situations where standard precautions are not adequate to prevent infection transmission
    vector transmission
    the spread of a pathogen that occurs when blood-feeding arthropods infect animals or humans
    zoonosis
    an infectious disease that can naturally transmit from animal to human

    This page titled 10.6: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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