Dictionary

Infection control

Organisms, precautions and the practices that stop infection spreading.

vaccineA product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.

vancomycinAn antibiotic, given by IV for serious gram-positive infections or by mouth for one bowel infection.

varicellaA very contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus; also called chickenpox.

varicella vaccineA live vaccine given as a shot under the skin to protect against chickenpox.

varicella-zoster virusThe virus that causes chickenpox and, years later, can wake up again to cause shingles.

ventilator-associated pneumoniaA lung infection that starts 48 hours or more after a client has been put on a breathing machine through a tube.

viral gastroenteritisAn infection of the stomach and intestines caused by a virus, such as norovirus or rotavirus.

viral infectionAn illness caused by a virus, a very small germ that can multiply only inside living cells.

viral loadThe amount of a virus in a person's blood, usually measured in copies per milliliter.

virulenceHow strongly a germ is able to cause disease, or how severe the disease it causes is.

virusA tiny germ, much smaller than a bacterium, that can only multiply inside the living cells of another organism.

VREVancomycin-resistant enterococci: Enterococcus bacteria that the antibiotic vancomycin can no longer kill.

VRSAVancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: staph bacteria that the antibiotic vancomycin can no longer kill.