Unit 2 Work Sheet
Asepsis Definitions
Active immunity – acquired by injecting small amounts of dead or weakened organisms into the body to
train the immune system to recognize it
Acute infection – infections that do not last long but can make the victim feel very uncomfortable
Antibody – immunoglobulin produced by lymphocytes responding to specific to bacteria, viruses or
other antigenic substances (antigens)
Antiseptic – antimicrobial substances to reduce infection applied to skin
Aerobic – organisms that require oxygen to survive
Anaerobic – process of not using oxygen
Airborne transmission – infectious agents spread as an aerosol
Bacteria – single celled prokaryotic micro-organisms that can be pathogenic
Bacteremia – presence of bacteria in blood
Broad spectrum antibiotics – antibiotics used against a wide range of disease causing bacteria
Colonizing – populating an area
Carriers – person or animal who harbors and can potentially spread an organism that causes disease in
others but does not become ill
Communicable – transmissible by direct or indirect means
Contact precautions - apply to specified patients known or suspected to be infected or colonized with
epidemiologically important microorganisms that can be transmitted by directly or indirectly
Edema - the abnormal accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces of tissues, such as in the pericardial sac,
intrapleural space, peritoneal cavity, or joint capsules
Direct contact - mutual touching of two individuals or organisms
Droplet precautions - apply to any patient known or suspected to be infected with epidemiologically
important pathogens that can be transmitted by infectious droplets
Exudates - pus
Exogenous infection – infection that develops from bacteria outside the body and gains access to the
body
Endogenous infection – infections that develop from the reactivation of dormant organisms
Indirect contact - involves contact of a susceptible host with a contaminated intermediate object,
usually inanimate in the patient’s environment
Infection - the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms that reproduce and multiply, causing
disease by local cellular injury, secretion of a toxin, or antigen-antibody reaction in the host
Inflammatory response – a tissue reaction through injury or an antigen that causes pain, swelling, itching,
redness, increase in temperature and loss in function
Normal flora - microorganisms that live on or within a body to compete with disease-producing
microorganisms and provide a natural immunity against certain infection
Nosocomial infection – hospital acquired infection after 72 hours of stay
Iatrogenic infection – infection that develops through exposure to the environment of a health care
system
Immuno-compromised – susceptible or weakened immune system
Pathogenicity – ability of a pathogenic agent to produce a disease
Asepsis Questions
1. How are surgical and medical asepsis different?
a. Clean (medical) vs sterile (surgical)
2. What factors or reservoirs do pathogens require to thrive?
a. Water
b. Food resources
c. Optimal pH
d. Optimal temperature
e. Minimal lighting
f.
Oxygen
3. After receiving the document on Work Safe BC, identify the “super bugs” encountered in the
health care environment. How do you protect your patient and yourself from these pathogens?
a. CDAD (clostridium difficile associated diarrhea)
 Hand washing
b. MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus)
 Hand washing
c. VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococci)
 Hand washing
4. What is “standard precautions”? Once you understand this process, now return to your to your
definition of Contact precautions, airborne and droplet and relate these to the two tiers of the
centers for disease control and prevention isolation guidelines
a. Tier One is standard precautions which involves:
 Wearing gloves, masks, eyewear and any protective clothing
b. Tier two is transmission based precautions where it focuses on containing pathogens in
one area. Isolation precautions categorized in three ways
 Airborne
 Ex: Chicken pox, measles
 Room should be private with doors closed, negative pressure airflow of
at least 6 exchanges per hour.
 Droplet
 Ex: Mumps, influenza, mycplasmal pneumonia
 Private room or cohort clients (room door closed unless bed is more
than 1 m from the door), mask is worn when within 1 m of the client
 Contact precaution
 C. difficile, gastrointestinal, respiratory, or skin infections
 Private room or cohort clients (door can be open); gloves and gown
upon entry into isolation room; limiting patient movement outside of
isolation room to necessary medical treatments or procedures; cleaning
and disinfecting or discarding items before removal from isolation room
5. As a nursing student, you will be placed in the hospital setting for some of your clinical
experiences. Based on your text book, what are some of the infection control practices
performed to reduce reservoir sites? (Approximately 8 interventions)
a. Bathing – use soap and water to remove drainage
b. Dressing changes – change dressings that become cold or wet
c. Contamination articles - place tissues, soiled dressings, and soiled linen in moistureresistant bags for proper disposal
d. Contamination needles - engage the safety features of all sharp devices and dispose of
them in a puncture-proof container
e. Bedside unit – keep them clean
f.
Bottled solutions - do not leave bottled solutions open for prolonged periods. Keep
solutions tightly capped. Date bottles when opened and discard according to your
facility's policy
g. Surgical wounds - keep drainage tubes and collection bags patent to prevent the
accumulation of serous fluid under the skin surface
h. Drainage bottle and bags – empty and dispose of drainage suction bottles according to
your health agency's policy. Empty all drainage systems on each shift unless otherwise
ordered by a physician
i.
Control of transmission - effective control of infection requires you to remain aware of
the modes of transmission and ways to control them. In the hospital, home, or longterm care facility, a client should have a personal set of care items. The sharing of
bedpans, urinals, bath basins, and eating utensils can easily lead to transmission of
infection
6. Review the normal defense mechanisms against infection. When assessing the risk for infection
in older adults. Identify a minimum of one intervention you can implement to prevent infection
in an older adult.
a. Regular bathing removes transient microorganisms from the skin's surface. Lubrication
helps keep the skin hydrated and intact.
b. Regular oral hygiene removes proteins in the saliva that attract microorganisms.
Flossing removes tartar and plaque that can cause infection.
c. Maintenance of adequate fluid intake promotes normal urine formation and a resultant
outflow of urine to flush the bladder and urethral lining of microorganisms.
d. For physically dependent or immobilized clients, you should encourage routine coughing
and deep breathing to keep clients' lower airways clear of mucus.
e. You should encourage proper immunization of children and adult clients

Maintain proper skincare for the older adult to minimize a portal of entry