Infection Control

Airborne Precautions - measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases transmitted from an

infected person by pathogens propelled through the air on particles smaller than 5 μm in size to a

susceptible person's eyes, nose, or mouth

Antibody - a type of protein the immune system produces to neutralize a threat of some kind,

such as an infecting organism, a chemical, or some other foreign body

Antimicrobial - able to destroy or suppress the growth of pathogens and other micro-organisms

Antiseptic - a substance that reduces the number of pathogens present on a surface

Asepsis - methods used to assure that an environment is as pathogen-free as possible

Aseptic - as pathogen-free as possible

Bacteriostasis - the inhibition of further bacterial growth

Chlorhexidine - an antibacterial compound with substantial residual activity that is used as a

liquid antiseptic and disinfectant

Contact Precautions - measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases transmitted by the

physical transfer of pathogens to a susceptible host's body surface

Contamination - the process of becoming unsterile or unclean

Disinfectant - any chemical agent used to destroy or inhibit the growth of harmful organisms