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Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
American Association for Respiratory Care
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
"Movement of a body part away from the central plane of the body, as opposed to adduction which is to pull the body part inwards, towards the body."
"Surgical excision or amputation of a body part or tissue, or destruction of its function."
A cavity filled with pus and surrounded by inflamed tissue. Sterile abscesses are caused by a non-bacterial inflammatory response.
Absorbable Dusting Powder (ADP)
"A glove donning powder consisting of cornstarch cross-linked with epichlorohydrin or phosphorus oxychloride with less than 2% magnesium oxide as defined in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP). Must be capable of being boiled in saline for 20 minutes and stand for 24 hours without dissolving. More absorbable by the body's immune system than talcum powder, but still the cause of several wound and inhalation complications including delayed healing, granulomas, adhesions, increased risk of infection, powder emboli, etc."
Assist Control Ventilation
"A chemical used as a catalyst to accelerate the molecular crosslinking (curing) of product during production. In some cases, individuals may develop a dermatitis to some of the chemicals used as accelerators. "
Acceptable quality level (AQL)
The acceptable quality set for the average results of several production lots of product.
Access ports to IV infusion line
"Means of infusing drugs, blood, nutrition, fluids. May be slit hub needless ports, puncture hubs (using needles) or leur connectors. "
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
American College of Chest Physicians
"Bacteria, such as Mycobacteria (e.g. tuberculosis, leprosy), that are part of the 1% of bacteria which are neither Gram (+) nor (-). They do not decolorized when rinsed with acid after being stained with specific microbiological stains. "
A decreased pH of the blood below normal range (normal range is 7.35-7.45).
"An abnormal increase in the acidity of the body's fluids, caused either by accumulation of acids or by depletion of bicarbonates; often used to describe the acid-base status of the blood. The opposite of alkalosis."
"A gram negative pathogenic small rod shaped bacterium. It is mainly found in water, but can remain viable and infectious for days to weeks on dry, inanimate surfaces. The bacterium can cause many infections including pneumonia, wound infections, bacteremia, and meningitis. Acinetobacter is often resistant to those antibiotics normally used to treat it."
Abbreviation for Activated Clotting Time
Activated white blood cells
"Transformed immune cells that have achieved their full capacity to track down, acquire, and attack foreign threats. (e.g. activated macrophages, neutrophils, T-cells)"
Immunity obtained during a person's life that provides the ability to produce white cells or antibodies to a specific disease causing agent and build immune-memory for rapid defense against future challenges by the same organism.
An individual who harbors an infectious organism and can spread it to others. The carrier does not become ill.
Acute alveolar hyperventilation
"A condition characterized by an abrupt increase in the volume of air inhaled in one minute (inhaled minute volume), and a decrease in carbon dioxide concentration. "
Having sudden or slow onset of any intensity of pain from mild to severe with an anticipated or predictable end and a duration of less than 6 months.
Acute ventilatory failure
An abrupt decrease in the respiratory minute ventilation caused by conditions such as acute hypoventilation.
"Movement of a body part towards the central plane of the body as opposed to abduction, which is to push the body part away from the body."
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
"A compound in all living things which stores energy. The energy in ATP is released when ATP breaks down into adenosine diphosphate (ADP) providing energy to conduct, needed for organism to function. One method used to monitor the effectiveness of disinfection agents and procedures is to measure the level of ATP before and after disinfection. If ATP it is undetectable after the task is completed, the disinfection process was performed successfully as lack of ADP only occurs if the bacteria or fungus is no longer viable."
"An enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus that is spherical in shape and causes pharyngitis, acute respiratory disease, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, genitourinary infections, and gastroenteritis. Transmission is through the fecal-oral route, direct contact hand-to-eye, or respiratory aerosol."
"Attachment of a pathogen to the tissue of a host; a necessary step in the, process of pathogenicity."
"The formation of new fibrous tissue as a result of inflammation or injury, creating an abnormal union of surfaces or organs which are normally separate. Adhesions may contract, constricting organs, blocking normal function (ex: intestinal blockage) or strangling blood supplies. (ex: cutting of blood supply to kidneys). Adhesions are initiated by trauma, infections and foreign debris such as glove powder and lint. "
Molecules located on the surface of a pathogen that bind to specific surface receptors on the cells of the host tissues and to surfaces to initiate biofilm formation.
"An amplifier or augmenter. Added to a vaccine, it improves the protective response of the recipient. Added to a wound (e.g., lint, powder, hair), it amplifies the immune response to the particles and distracts the immune response away from the smaller, contaminating bacteria which are perceived as less of a threat. These neglected bacteria are then then free to multiply and become an infection."
Tubing sets that connect the feeding bag or container to the feeding tube; or IV lines to vascular catheters.
"These controls include the development of policies, standards, procedures, and decision guidelines to address specific situations ranging from routine daily operations to disease outbreaks or disaster scenarios."
Absorbable Dusting Powder
Adhere to the surface of a material (e.g. salt adsorbs to the surface of popcorn).
Adventitious breath sounds
Abnormal breath sounds.
Organism that requires oxygen for survival.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
"AHRQ is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare"
American Hospital Association
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
"Designed to reduce the risk of airborne infectious agents. Airborne droplets (nuclei) are less than 5 microns in size and contain microorganisms that are infectious through the respiratory route. These tiny droplets are small enough to easily float in air currents allowing the organisms to spread easily and travel significant distances. An N95, P2, or higher level respirator should be worn when entering the patient's room and not removed until after leaving. Special air handling, negative pressure conditions with external exhaust are required. Infections requiring airborne precautions include measles, legionella, disseminated herpes, or Varicella zoster, avian flu, SARS, smallpox, and chicken pox (if caregiver is not immune)."
A general term which means to keep the airway clear; includes tracheal suction that may or may not require disconnection from the ventilator to allow suction of collecting mucus distal to ET or T tube. Many other procedures fall under the Airway Management name.
"Is a concept used in respiratory physiology to describe mechanical factors which limit the access of inspired air to the pulmonary alveoli, and thus determine airflow."
"Plasma proteins synthesized in the liver, responsible for colloidal osmotic pressure; also a transport protein for fatty acids, bilirubin, many drugs, and hormones. A decrease in serum albumin may occur with metabolic stresses such a liver disease, malnutrition, severe burns, and kidney failure. Analysis of level and types of albumin in blood, urine and other fluids is the basis of many diagnostic tests."
"In appropriate concentrations, alcohol rubs provide the most rapid and greatest reduction in microbial counts on skin, but have no persistent activity unless provided by additives. They are NOT effective against spores (ex: Clostridium difficile (diarrhea), Clostridium perfringens (gas gangrene), Clostridium tetani (tetanus, lockjaw), anthrax spores (anthrax). "
A blood condition in which the pH is greater than 7.4.
A condition in which the body fluids have excess base (alkali). This is the opposite of excess acid (acidosis).
"An exogenous (foreign) antigen, usually a protein, that is able to elicit an IgE antibody response and thus activate mast cells. Every allergen is a type of antigen, but not every antigen is an allergen."
Allergic contact dermatitis
An allergic rash (Type IV) with physiological memory to the chemical sensitizer which caused it (meaning it will cause symptoms again with subsequent exposure).
"The immunologic state induced in a susceptible individual by an allergen; characterized by a marked change in the subject's reactivity (e.g., hay fever - Type I hypersensitivity; reaction to the metal nickel - Type IV hypersensitivity)."
Pain due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain and can be either thermal or mechanical.
"Includes the herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, and varicella zoster virus (shingles), which establish themselves within the sensory ganglia after initial infection and remain dormant until reactivated by a trigger such as stress."
"Alveolar dead space is caused by air contacting alveoli without blood flow in their adjacent pulmonary capillaries, i.e. ventilation without perfusion. As a result, no gas exchange can occur. Alveolar dead space is negligible in healthy individuals, but can increase dramatically in some lung diseases."
The tiny end ducts of the branching airways that fill the lungs. Each lung holds approximately 1.5 to 2 million of them. The tubules divide into two or three alveolar sacs at the distal end. They are formed from the confluence openings of several alveoli. Distal terminations of alveolar ducts are atria which then end in alveolar sacs.
"Macrophages that reside in the alveoli of the lung, where they ingest foreign material including bacteria that have evaded clearance mechanisms in the proximal portion of the respiratory system. Along with neutrophils, macrophages are the major phagocytic cells of the immune system."
The terminal portion of an air passageway within the lung. Its wall is made of simple squamous epithelium and is surrounded by a netting of pulmonary capillaries. This is the site of gas exchange. Each alveolar sac is connected to a respiratory bronchiole by an alveolar duct.
Alveolar ventilation (Va)
Alveolar ventilation (Va or VA) is the volume of air breathed in per minute that reaches the alveoli and takes part in gas exchange.
Alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradient
The difference between the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli and that in the systemic arterial blood. The difference may indicate ventilation-perfusion mismatching.
Alveolar-capillary membrane
"The structures and substances through which gases must pass as they diffuse from air to blood (oxygen) or blood to air (carbon dioxide). These include the alveolar fluid, surfactant, and cells of the alveolar wall. Interstitial space (tissue fluid), and cells of the capillary wall. SYN: respiratory membrane."
A device used by the clinician to manually ventilate a patient. Also referred to as Bag Valve Mask (BVM)
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)
"A not-for-profit association that provides test method development, quality control materials, and professional networking for textile professionals throughout the world."
"A diarrheal disease characterized by frequent, watery stools that often contain blood and mucus; caused by the protozoan ameba Entamoeba histolytica. Also spelled amebic dysentery."
Enzymes that break down starch into smaller carbohydrate molecules.
Constructive processes by which living cells convert simple substances to more complex compounds; opposite of catabolism.
An organism that multiples and thrives in the absence of oxygen. Clostridium difficile is an anaerobe.
A decreased or absent sensation of pain.
A drug that relieves pain.
Lapses in pain control that result in periods of increased or uncontrolled pain.
"An immediate systemic allergic reaction to a foreign protein or other substance. The reaction results from the release of histamine, serotonin and other vasoactive substances when allergen combines with IgE antibodies on mast cell surfaces. Mast cell mediators affect more than one organ. Subsequent flow of fluid from the circulatory system as a result of mast cell histamine release can have a local manifestation of hives, or local swelling and rednesss or a sudden blood pressure drop and rapid heart rate with possible fatal acute systemic shock. (e.g., peanut, penicillin, egg or Hevea natural rubber latex allergy)"
"A natural communication between blood vessels, either directly or by means of connecting channels. Various anastomoses in coronary circulation provide collateral circulatory routes so that blood can reach a particular part of the heart through alternate pathways."
"Hypoxia caused by a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin available for gas transport, because of reduced production of red blood cells, increased loss of red blood cells, or the presence of defective hemoglobin (e.g., methemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin). "
"Lack of activity; or an immunodeficient or immune depressed condition. For example, trauma patients experience an immunologic anergy for 7-14 days post-traumatic event, increasing their risk for acquiring an infection."
"Partial or complete loss of sensation, with or without loss of consciousness, as a result of disease, injury, or administration of pharmacologic agents. Regional: induced by injection of local anesthetic into a particular area of the body. General: that is complete; affecting the entire body, with loss of consciousness when the anesthetic acts on the brain."
Dilation or ballooning of a portion of the wall of an artery.
"Diffuse swelling. In Type I reactions, angioedema of the lips and eyes often occurs."
Procedure in which cardiac catheterization is performed and an image is taken to identify coronary blockage or narrowing.
"Restoring patency of a blood vessel by balloon dilation, mechanical stripping of blockage, fibrinolytics or stent placement. SYN: interventional angiography."
A severe lack of oxygen; an extreme form of hypoxia.
Autonomic Nervous System = sympathetic + parasympathetic
American National Standards Institute
"Moving forward, or proceeding towards the front."
Located on or near the front of an organ or on the ventral surface of the body in humans; pertaining to a surface or part situated before or toward the front; situated near or toward the head or part most nearly corresponding to a head.
Anterior longitudinal ligament
"The broad, strong ligament attached to the ventral surfaces of the vertebral bodies. It extends from the occipital bone and the anterior tubercle of the atlas vertebra to the sacrum."
Anterior posterior view (AP)
The view in which the anterior and posterior view can be seen.
Anterior-to-posterior (AP) view
"Anterior-to-posterior image taken by x-ray, fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance, or other "through the body" imaging."
The result of laboratory testing for the sensitivity of an isolated bacterial strain to different antibiotics.
"An antimicrobial agent, derived from cultures of microorganisms or produced semisynthetically , used to treat infections (almost entirely bacterial infections)."
The development of resistance to the action of an antibiotic to which the bacterial strain was formerly sensitive. Resistance can be inherited or acquired from another bacterium (ex. plasmid transfer)
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD)
"Refers to diarrhea that develops in a person who is taking, or has recently taken antibiotics. The most common cause of severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is Clostridium difficile (C. difficile; a.k.a.: C. diff). "
"A substance formed in the body by B cells. They reacted very specifically with bacteria, viruses, allergens or other substances that initiated their production. Depending on their subtype, they can cause hypersensitivity (IgE) or resistance to infection (IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM). The Ig stands for immunoglobulin and the A, D, E, G, and M are the categories of antibodies. Antibodies have several functions. An antibody is specific to an antigen."
Any substance that is capable of eliciting an immune response; a molecule that causes the creation of and subsequently combines with the antibody or antigen-specific receptor on a T-cell.
"Chemical contact sensitizers that can elevate the level of sensitization to that specific chemical if the individual has the genetic capability to react. When their reaction threshold is reached, the sensitized individual, will present symptoms on subsequent exposures usually as allergic contact dermatitis (Type IV, delayed type hypersensitivity)."
"Refers to small, gradual, random point mutations in the genetic material responsible for the main viral surface proteins, hemagglutinin, and neuraminidase. Vaccines against initial virus may no longer be effective."
Antigenic shift (reassortment)
"Antigenic shift refers to an abrupt, major change to produce a novel influenza A virus subtype in humans that was not currently circulating among people (see more information below under Influenza Type A and its subtypes). This can occur when viruses from two different host species (man and bird) infect the same cell and swap genetic information. Vaccines against either of the two original viruses will no longer be effective."
"Any agent that kills or suppresses the growth of microorganisms. The term antimicrobial is an umbrella term of which antibiotics, antiseptics and disinfectants are subsets, etc."
Antimicrobial prophylaxis
"Use of antimicrobial agents before an infection has occurred, to prevent a subsequent infection. "
"Loss of activity against that microorganism. The mechanism of resistance may be associated with enzymatic inactivation of the drug or antibiotic, altered permeability barriers, an altered target protein in the microorganisms cell wall, or altered cytoplasm targets. "
"In materials, antioxidants prevent deterioration when the product is exposed to air, extending the shelf life of the product (ex.: gloves, tires). A substance added to latex and synthetic substances (e.g., gloves) to prevent or delay deterioration of the glove by oxygen in air. Some can be contact sensitizers for dermatitis."
Antiperistaltic (anti-diarrheal) drugs
"Depress enteral motor activity, reducing movement of feces through the intestines. Antiperistaltic drugs must not be given to patients with a C. difficile infection as the reduced flow keeps the toxin in contact with the areas of the intestinal wall for extended periods of time, amplifying the cellular destruction in that area, increasing the risk of toxic megacolon and intestinal perforation."
Substance that arrest the growth or action of microorganisms by inhibiting their activity or by destroying them. The term is used especially for preparations applied topically to living tissue.
Solutions of suspended antibodies that are commercially produced and used in the laboratory to identify particular microorganisms.
A serum that contains specific antibodies.
Antiserum that contains antibodies against specific toxins.
"An agent that inactivates a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate, thus inhibiting its capability to multiply and reproduce."
Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
"No breathing, no matter what the cause."
"Membranes. Specifically, the three membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (from outside inward, dura mater: arachnoid mater, and pia mater). SEE meninges."
"A virus transmitted by an arthropod; for example, viral meningitis transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. "
Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)
Measures the pressure of oxygen dissolved in the blood and how well the oxygen is able to move from the airspace in the lungs and into the blood.
Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart; structural characteristics are designed to withstand relative high blood pressure and include thick muscular layers and elastic connective tissue.
"Thin-walled, small-diameter resistance vessels that are branches of small-diameter arteries; a high proportion of their walls are composed of smooth muscle and are capable of rapidly changing their diameters to affect vascular resistance. "
"Condition in which arteries lose elasticity, becoming hard and narrow; occlusion or blockage can occur leading to infarction of surrounding area (e.g. myocardial infarction)."
A surface where two anatomical structures (usually bones) meet.
"The articular processes (zygapophyses) of a vertebra, two superior and two inferior, spring from the junctions of the pedicles and lamin?.
- The superior processes project upward from a lower vertebra, and their articular surfaces (coated with hyaline cartilage) are directed more or less backward.
- The inferior processes project downward from a higher vertebra, and their articular surfaces are directed more or less forward and outward."
Paired cartilages that articulate with the cricoid cartilage of the larynx. The posterior ends of the vocal cords attach to the arytenoids. Tension on the cords is altered by inward and outward rotation of the arytenoids. SEE larynx.
Prevention of contact with microorganisms.
A term applied to practices followed to prevent contamination by microorganisms.
American Society for Healthcare Central Service Professionals
"Describes a number of infections caused by the fungus Aspergillus. In the lung, a "fungus ball"."
Accidentally inhaling liquid into the windpipe and/or lungs.
Assist Control Ventilation (AC)
" A mode of ventilation in which both spontaneous and mechanically triggered breaths are supported by the ventilator. The mandatory breath rate is the minimum amount of breaths the machine will deliver in a minute. The patient can trigger additional machine breaths above the set rate. AC breaths can be pressure, volume or flow cycled."
A general term. Assisted ventilation includes all forms of artificial ventilation.
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)
"Not-for-profit global organization of multidisciplinary volunteers from industry, government agencies, institutions and clinicians addressing aspects of safety and effectiveness of medical instrumentation and related technologies. AAMI also establishes test methods and standards for healthcare apparel, sterilization wrap, sterilization parameters, biocompatibility determinations, etc."
Association of Surgical Technologists
"A condition of the lungs in which there is widespread narrowing of the airways, caused by the local release of spasmogens and vasoactive substances. Most cases represent a chronic form of allergy due to IgE antibodies. Irritant asthma is activated by an irritant such as a chemical or particle (e.g. powder, smoke)."
American Society of Testing and Materials
"Develops testing methods specifications, and performance standard on many consumer, healthcare, and engineering products. The development of these documents is conducted by volunteers from manufacturers, government agencies and consumer, clinician or other interested parties. "
Loss of muscle coordination.
No or under ventilation of any part of the lung or even a whole lung. Can usually be corrected with mechanical ventilation. Open suctioning is a significant risk factor for atelectasis.
Narrowing and obstruction of circulatory vessels; most common cause of ischemia.
"A hereditary tendency to develop IgE-mediated states of hypersensitivity, such as hay fever."
American Thoracic Society
"The process of causing genetic changes to weaken a pathogen, rendering it nonpathogenic usually for use as a vaccine."
"Process of listening for sounds within the body (e.g., breathing, heart beat, vascular passage, abdominal viscera)."
A machine utilizing pressurized steam that enters a chamber to render items sterile. Most professional steam sterilizers also utilize a vacuum mechanisms to ultimately increase steam penetration early in the cycle and remove it rapidly at cycle completion.
A disease in which the body produces antibodies against its own cells and tissues leading to injury from ones own immune system.
"Acting or occurring involuntarily (autonomic reflexes); relating to, affecting, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system (autonomic ganglia; autonomic dysfunction); having an effect upon tissue supplied by the autonomic nervous system resulting from internal stimuli; spontaneous."
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
"The part of the nervous system that is concerned with control of involuntary body functions, such as glandular secretions, heart beat, bowel function, bronchodilation, bronchoconstriction, vasodilation, and vasoconstriction. Also called the visceral nervous system, as opposed to the somatic nervous system. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system. "
"Flu primarily caused by viruses that normally infect only birds (e.g. H5N1 virus). Transmission is from bird to bird, but occasionally transmitted from bird to human. Fear of global pandemic would occur if the virus were to become capable of spreading from person to person as the human immune system would not recognize the virus and would require time to mount a defense. Unfortunately, the virus may be very virulent and kill the individual before the defense is capable of mounting. Death rates could be extremely high."
The axial nerve or circumflex nerve is a nerve that comes off the brachial plexus at the level of the axilla (armpit) and carries nerve fibers from C5 and C6. The nerve supplies the deltoid (shoulder muscle) teres minor (one of the rotator cuff muscles) and an elbow extensor muscle.
The second cervical vertebra (C2) of the spine; aka epistropheus.
A long slender projection of a nerve cell that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body (soma).
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