4 - Aseptic Technique

• What are microorganisms?

  Tiny living organisms that can cause disease
• What is a pathogen?

  A microorganism that produces disease
• What does infection refer to?

  Production of disease by disease-producing germs
• What is sepsis?

  Pathogenic microorganisms in blood or tissues
• What is a nosocomial infection?

  A hospital-acquired disease
• What does contamination mean?

  Something rendered unclean or unsterile
• What is asepsis?

  Absence of disease-producing microorganisms
• What is medical asepsis?

  Practices to reduce microorganisms' spread
• What is surgical asepsis?

  Practices to keep areas free of microorganisms
• What is antisepsis?

  Removal of transient microorganisms from skin
• What is disinfection?

  Destruction of pathogenic organisms, not spores
• What is sterilization?

  Process that destroys all microorganisms
• What is isolation?

  Separation from others to prevent infection
• What is decontamination?

  Removing or destroying blood-borne pathogens
• What does sterile mean?

  Containing no microorganisms; free from germs
• What is a disinfectant?

  A chemical agent for inanimate objects
• What is an antiseptic?

  A chemical agent for living things
• What is autolysis?

  Disintegration of cells by body enzymes
• What is debridement?

  Removal of devitalized tissues from lesions
• What is a reservoir for organisms?

  Person or animal with an infection
• What is the method of exit for organisms?

  Through bodily fluids and openings
• What is the method of transmission for organisms?

  Through contaminated items and surfaces
• What is the method of entry for organisms?

  Through breaks in the skin barrier
• Who is a susceptible host?

  Person with low systemic resistance
• How does infection develop in a new host?

  Through barriers like proper disposal and precautions
• What is the purpose of isolation precautions?

  To protect from contamination by pathogens
• What are important considerations in treatment areas?

  Cleanliness of equipment and control of environment
• What are proper hand-washing activities?

  Removal of jewelry and scrubbing for 15-30 seconds
• What is the goal of infection control procedures?

  To reduce the spread of microorganisms
• What are the three factors involved in infection?

  Source, susceptible host, means of transmission
• What are the five primary transmission routes?

  Contact, droplet, airborne, common vehicle, vector borne
• What is the minimum time for proper hand-washing?

  15-30 seconds of scrubbing
• What is the first step in putting on sterile gloves?

  Open the sterile pack and drop gloves
• What is the correct way to remove gloves?

  Pull off gloves touching only inside surface
• What is the purpose of proper disposal of hazardous waste?

  To prevent contamination and infection spread
• What is sterilization?

  Process that kills all microorganisms
• What are the two principal sterilization methods?

  Physical and chemical methods
• What is steam sterilization?

  Uses steam above 100°C for sterilization
• What is pasteurization?

  Kills non-spore-forming microorganisms with heat
• What is the minimum holding time for sterilization at 121°C?

  15 minutes