Infection control
Organisms, precautions and the practices that stop infection spreading.
endemic
en-DEM-ik · adjective
Describing a disease that is always present at a steady, expected level in a certain area or group.
Full entryUP-er RES-pruh-tor-ee in-FEK-shunAn infection of the nose, sinuses, throat or voice box, such as the common cold.
urinary tract infectionYUR-ih-nair-ee TRAKT in-FEK-shunAn infection anywhere in the urinary tract: the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra.
vaccineDrugvak-SEENA product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
vancomycinDrugvan-koh-MY-sinAn antibiotic, given by IV for serious gram-positive infections or by mouth for one bowel infection.
varicellavair-ih-SEL-uhA very contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus; also called chickenpox.
varicella vaccineDrugvair-ih-SEL-uh vak-SEENA live vaccine given as a shot under the skin to protect against chickenpox.
varicella-zoster virusvair-ih-SEL-uh ZOS-ter VY-rusThe virus that causes chickenpox and, years later, can wake up again to cause shingles.
ventilator-associated pneumoniaVEN-tuh-lay-ter uh-SOH-see-ay-tid noo-MOH-nyuhA lung infection that starts 48 hours or more after a client has been put on a breathing machine through a tube.
viral gastroenteritisVY-rul gas-troh-en-ter-EYE-tisAn infection of the stomach and intestines caused by a virus, such as norovirus or rotavirus.
viral infectionVY-rul in-FEK-shunAn illness caused by a virus, a very small germ that can multiply only inside living cells.
viral loadLabVY-rul lohdThe amount of a virus in a person's blood, usually measured in copies per milliliter.
virucidalvy-ruh-SY-dulAble to kill viruses, or inactivate them so they can no longer infect.
virulenceVEER-yuh-lensHow strongly a germ is able to cause disease, or how severe the disease it causes is.
virusVY-rusA tiny germ, much smaller than a bacterium, that can only multiply inside the living cells of another organism.
VREAbbreviationvee-ar-EE (said as letters)Vancomycin-resistant enterococci: Enterococcus bacteria that the antibiotic vancomycin can no longer kill.
VRSAAbbreviationvee-ar-es-ay (said as letters)Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: staph bacteria that the antibiotic vancomycin can no longer kill.
washer-disinfectorWAH-sher dis-in-FEK-terA machine that cleans instruments with jets of water and detergent, then disinfects them with a hot water rinse.
wet packWET pakA sterilized package with dampness, droplets or puddles on or in it after the cycle; it is treated as contaminated.
wound classificationWOOND klas-ih-fih-KAY-shunThe CDC's four classes of surgical wound, from I (clean) to IV (dirty or infected), set by how contaminated the wound became and so its infection risk.
yeast infectionYEEST in-FEK-shunAn infection with Candida, a yeast that normally lives on the body in small numbers.
zidovudineDrugzy-DOH-vyoo-deenAn antiretroviral drug used with other HIV drugs, and to lower the chance of HIV passing from a pregnant person to the baby.
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