Antibiotic – a drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms.
Antimicrobial Dressing – a type of bandage that contains an agent that kills or inhibits the growth or replication of bacteria.
Aspiration Pneumonia – an infection of the lungs and bronchial tubes caused by breathing in a foreign material.
Bacteria – single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life) that are a frequent cause of hospital infections.
Bloodstream Infection – a condition in which bacteria enters the blood, which can occur through a wound or infection, or through a surgical procedure or injection. C. difficile – a type of bacteria (Clostridium difficile) that can cause a potentially serious form of gastrointestinal infection.
Catheter – a tubular, flexible surgical instrument that is inserted into a body opening to withdraw or introduce fluid.
Catheterization – the insertion of a catheter into the body.
Central Venous Catheter – a catheter that is passed through a vein to end up in the thoracic (chest) portion of the vena cava (the large vein returning blood to the heart) or in the right atrium of the heart.
Chlorhexidine Soap – a topical antimicrobial agent used to treat or help prevent infections.
Endoscope – a medical instrument used to visually examine the interior of a bodily canal or a hollow organ such as the colon, bladder, or stomach.
Fungus – a parasitic organism lacking chlorophyll that can be one of the causes for hospital infections.
Gastroenteritis – inflammation of the stomach and the intestines that causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Gastroesophageal Reflux – the return of stomach contents back up into the esophagus, frequently causing heartburn because of irritation of the esophagus by stomach acid.
Gastrointestinal Infection – (see gastroenteritis)
Hospital Infection – an infection that a person gets while staying as a patient in a hospital or other healthcare facility. Hospital infections are also sometimes referred to as healthcare-associated infections (HAI) or nosocomial infections. An infection that occurs more than 48 hours after a person is admitted to the hospital is usually considered to be a hospital infection.
Intravenous (IV) – within or administered into a vein.
Invasive Procedure – a medical procedure that involves entering the body, usually by cutting or puncturing the skin or by inserting instruments into the body.
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) – a serious and potentially fatal infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (often called "Staph") that is resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it.
Nosocomial Infection – (see hospital infection)
Parasite – an organism that lives in or on and takes its nourishment from another organism and cannot live independently.
Pneumonia – an infection of one or both lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other organisms.
Stethoscope – a medical instrument used to hear sounds made by the heart, lungs, and other organs.
Surgical Site Infection – an infection of the tissue in or around a surgical wound. To be considered a surgical site infection, the infection must occur within 30 days after surgery.
Urinary Bladder – the hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine.
Urinary Catheter – a small, flexible tube that is inserted into the urethra to the bladder to allow for the drainage of urine.
Urinary Tract Infection – an infection that can happen anywhere along the urinary tract, which includes the bladder, kidneys, ureters (the tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder), and the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside).
Ventilator – a machine that mechanically assists patients in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide (sometimes referred to as artificial respiration).
Virus – a microorganism smaller than a bacteria, which cannot grow or reproduce apart from a living cell, that is a frequent cause of hospital infections.
