Tags & Description
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
late stages of HIV infection; characterized by secondary infections
Bacteria
single-celled, microscopic pathogens that can cause infection
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that focuses on disease outbreaks and prevention in the United States of America
Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI)
inflammation of colon caused by bacteria Clostridium difficile which causes disruption of normal healthy bacteria in colon; can also be transmitted by spores; can cause severe damage to colon and be fatal
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
a government agency with 11 divisions that oversee many programs focused on improving the health of Americans
Endogenous
originating from within the body
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
a government agency that recommends practices for maintaining the environment and determines appropriate chemicals for reducing the spread of infection in healthcare facilities while minimizing environmental risks
Exogenous
originating from outside the body
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
a government agency that regulates products in the food and drug industries and develops nutrition facts labels to help consumers make informed food choices
Fungi
any of a group of spore-producing parasitic organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, and mushrooms
Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI)
an infection that is not present when a patient is admitted to a hospital or healthcare facility but develops 48 hours or more after admission
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
a federal law that protects the personal health information of patient from being shared without their knowledge or consent
Hepatitis B
chronic, potentially life-threatening form of hepatitis that is transmitted by blood or other bodily fluids, usually during sexual contact or during childbirth
Hepatitis C
chronic hepatitis transmitted by blood or other bodily fluids, usually through blood transfusion or through the use of illegal drug needles; potentially life-threatening
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
virus that infects the cells of the immune system, reducing the body's ability to fight disease; transmitted by blood exposure, sexual contact, sharing needles, or from an infected mother to infant
Infectious agent
a pathogen that can cause infection
Mode of Transmission
the way in which a pathogen moves from its reservoir to a new host
MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)
a type of multi-drug resistant organism which is unaffected by most infection-battling drugs, particularly resistant to penicillin-related drugs
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
a division of the HHS that conducts research and provides information toward improving public health through 27 different agencies
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
state agency that oversees the health and well-being of the residents of North Carolina
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
a government agency that creates regulations to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths
Opportunistic
diseases that take advantage of already weakened immune systems
Pathogen
a disease-causing microorganism
Portal of Entry
a natural body opening or break in the skin that provides a way for pathogens to enter the body
Portal of Exit
the path by which a pathogen leaves its host
Protozoa
the single-celled microscopic animals, larger than viruses
Reservoir
a place where the pathogen can live, such as the human body, animals, food, or fomites
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
document that lists information relating to occupational safety and health for the use of various substances and products
Susceptible host
anyone who can contract a disease
Tuberculosis
very serious bacterial infection that most commonly affects the lungs and, before the development of antibiotics, was generally fatal
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
a type of multi-drug resistant organism which is unaffected by most infection-battling drugs, particularly resistant to erythromycin-related drugs
Virus
an infectious agent of small size and simple composition that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria
World Health Organization (WHO)
an agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health