Infection Control Vocabulary

A type of disease transmission in which an infectious agent travels through the air attached to dust or tiny respiratory droplets.

A

A medication that kills or inhibits bacteria.

A

A diverse class of proteins produced by B cells in the immune system. They bind to antigens on the surface of infectious agents, essentially targeting them for destruction by the immune system.

A

A large domain of microscopic, single-celled organisms that exist in their millions, in every environment, both inside and outside other organisms, some of which can cause disease.

B

Grouping contagious patients together when single hospital rooms are unavailable.

C

A type of disease transmission that occurs directly, via contact with contaminated bodily fluids; or indirectly, via contact with a contaminated object or with a creature (e.g., a flea or a tick) carrying the infectious agent.

C

A type of disease transmission in which an infection can be passed on to the next host via direct physical contact.

D

The inactivation of non-sporing infectious agents via heat or chemical means.

D

A type of disease transmission that occurs via respiratory droplets expelled via (e.g.) sneezing or coughing.

D

An infectious disease whose incidence has recently increased or may increase in the future, usually caused by previously unknown or newly discovered infectious agents.

E

A description of a disease that is restricted to a particular region or area and is constantly present, but at manageable levels.

E

An unexpected increase in the number of disease cases in a specific geographical area.

E

An inanimate object that can be contaminated with an infectious agent and can transfer it to a host.

F

An organism harboring another organism on or in itself.

H

The frequency of a disease within a population.

I

The time period during which infected hosts are able to transmit their infection to another susceptible host. This time period does not necessarily coincide with disease signs and symptoms.

I

An infection that lies dormant in the host’s body.

L

A widespread or worldwide epidemic.

P

An agent (virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan, helminth or prion) that can cause infection.

P

The physical separation of potentially exposed individuals.

Q

The destruction of all infectious agents via heat or chemical means.

S

A preparation that is used to stimulate the body’s immune response against diseases.

V

An organism that spreads infectious diseases without being diseased itself.

V

A non-living infectious agent simply consisting of an RNA or a DNA genome surrounded by a protein coat, which may or may not be enveloped by a layer of lipid.

V

An infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans.

Z