Abbreviations

Incision and drainage: cutting open an abscess or collection so pus or fluid can drain out.

An abbreviation with several meanings, such as inspiratory capacity, interstitial cystitis or incident command; the setting shows which.

An abbreviation that can mean intradermal, identification, infectious disease or intellectual disability.

Immunoglobulin A: a kind of antibody found mostly in the body's linings and in saliva, tears and breast milk.

Immunoglobulin D: an antibody found mostly on the surface of B cells, where it helps start an immune response.

Immunoglobulin E: the type of antibody involved in allergic reactions and in fighting parasites.

Immunoglobulin G: the most common type of antibody in the blood, which gives long-lasting protection against germs.

Immunoglobulin M: the antibody the body makes first when it meets a new infection.

An abbreviation for "injection" that ISMP says not to use; in line and procedure notes, IJ also means internal jugular vein.

Steam sterilizing an urgently needed item, with little or no drying, for use right away; once called flash sterilization.

A small device placed under the skin with leads in the heart that watches the rhythm and shocks the heart out of a dangerous fast rhythm.

A short form for intranasal, meaning given into the nose.

Finding and treating disease through a needle or a thin catheter steered by medical images, in place of an open incision.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a long-term lung disease of unknown cause in which lung tissue becomes thick and scarred.

An abbreviation with two common meanings: inactivated poliovirus vaccine, or intimate partner violence.

Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, Request, Repeat back: a set order for sharing client information.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a US nonprofit organization devoted entirely to preventing medication errors.

An abbreviation for intrathecal (into the spinal fluid) that ISMP lists as error-prone, because it is misread.

An abbreviation for international unit, banned by the Joint Commission because it is misread.

Intravenous: into a vein, or the tube placed in a vein to give fluids and drugs.

An abbreviation with more than one meaning, most often IV push or intravenous pyelogram.

Intravenous piggyback: a small bag of IV medicine given over a short time through a second line joined to the main IV line.