Refuse: the unwanted or discarded waste material from houses, street sweepings, commercial, industrial and agricultural operations arising from man’s activities. Quarantine: it is the detention or isolation of well persons who have come in contact with infectious diseases for a period of time equal to the longest incubation period of that disease. Prophylactic: measures taken to prevent a disease. the respiratory tract, the digestive tract, genitourinary tract, the skin. The pathways by which the microorganism enters the body are called the portals of entry, E.g. Portals of entry: portal = a door or entrance. Pathogenic: micro-organism that are capable of producing disease. A client develops an infection that are not present or was incubating at the time of admission to the health care setting. Nosocomial Infection: it refers to hospital acquired infection. Isolation: it is the separation of infected persons from the non-infected persons for the period of communicability under conditions which will prevent the transmission of infection to others.

Immunization: it is the act of creating immunity artificially against a particular disease. It is the invasion of a susceptible host by pathogens or micro-organisms resulting in disease. Infection: the entry and development (multiplication) of a disease producing agent in the body. E.g., cups, spoons, linen toys, bedpans etc.įumigation: it is the process of disinfection by exposure to the fumes of a vaporized germicide. It is applied particularly to agents used on inanimate objects.ĭroplet infection: it is the infection of the individual by means of fine particles of saliva and mucus that are expelled from the mouth and nose of another person during coughing, sneezing or speaking.įomites: objects which have been in contact with a contagious disease and are capable of transmitting that disease are called fomites. Terminal disinfection: it means the disinfection of the client’s unit with all the articles (furniture, linen, mattress, pillows, utensils etc) used by the client on his discharge, death or release from isolation.ĭisinfectant: an agent which kills pathogenic organisms. In other words, a client gets the infection from someone else during his stay in the hospital.Ĭarrier: a person who harbors pathogenic organisms of a disease in his body without showing the signs and symptoms of that disease, and thus acts as a carrier or distributor of that disease.Ĭolonization: it occurs when a micro-organism is present or invades a host, grows and multiplies there but does not cause disease or infection.Ĭomplication: a new illness or condition that arises during the course of another illness or condition.ĭisinfection: it means destroying of all the pathogenic organisms.Ĭoncurrent disinfection: it is the immediate disinfection of all contaminated articles and bodily discharges during the course of the disease. It is the infection of a client with a disease other than that, for which he had been admitted. Cross infection occurs usually in the hospitals.

Contamination means the act of soiling or making dirty or impure by contact.Ĭulture: growth of micro-organisms or other living cells, usually used for the growth of micro-organisms.Ĭross infection: infection transmitted between individuals infected with different pathogenic organisms. As primary caregivers, nurses are involved in identifying, preventing, controlling and teaching the client about infection.Īsepsis: freedom from infection or prevention of contact with micro-organisms.Īntiseptic: an agent that will inhibit the growth and development of micro-organisms without necessarily killing them.Īutoclaving: It is the process of sterilization of articles by steam under pressure using an apparatus called autoclave.īacteriostasis: it is a condition in which bacterial growth is checked without necessarily killing them.īacteriostat: an agent that inhibits the growth of bacteria.īacteriocide: an agent that has the power to kill microorganisms.Ĭontamination: the word contamination come from the latin word con = together, tangere = to touch. Prevention of infection is a major focus for nurses. Healthcare care providers are focusing on providing a safe and therapeutic environment to protect clients and their family.

Asepsis means killing of all