This glossary was created with input from members of PICNet, PHAC Infection Control Guidelines and the BC Ministry of Health. A list of references is available here. Definitions will be updated frequently and may change or be removed. Please send us your comments and feedback by email to picnet@phsa.ca.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Acute Care Facility: A hospital where lengths of stay average < 30 days, and where a variety of services are provided, including surgery and intensive care (9).
Additional Precautions: Interventions implemented for certain pathogens or clinical presentations in addition to routine infection control practices, to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms from patient to patient, patient to HCP, and HCP to patient (10).
Airborne Transmission: Occurs by dissemination of either airborne droplet nuclei (small-particle residue of evaporated droplets containing microorganisms that remain suspended in the air for long periods of time) or dust particles containing the infectious agent. Microorganisms carried in this manner can be dispersed widely by air currents and may become inhaled by a susceptible host in the same room or over a longer distance from the source patient, depending on environmental factors (7).
Antibiotic: A chemical substance that is produced by microorganisms and has the ability to kill or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms. (21)
Antimicrobial Agent: A product that kills or suppresses the growth of microorganisms (9).
Antimicrobial Resistant Organism: A microorganism that has developed resistance to the action of several antimicrobial agents and that is of special clinical or epidemiologic significance. Organisms included in this group are MRSA, VRE, penicillin-resistant pneumococcus, certain Gram negative bacilli resistant to penicillin and cephalosporin, and multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Other microorganisms may be added to this list if antibiotic resistance is judged to be significant in a specific health care facility or patient population, at the discretion of the infection control program or local, regional or national authorities (9).
Antiseptics: A product with antimicrobial activity that is designed for use on skin or other superficial tissues; removes both transient and resident flora. The term is used for preparations applied to living tissue (9).
Assisted Living: Assisted Living provides housing, with appropriate support and health services, that enables residents to maintain an optimal level of personal independence. Residents live independently in their own lockable personal space and make choices about their daily activities based on personal preference and lifestyle. Staff provides assistance only when requested. The Office of the Assisted Living Registrar has jurisdiction over all assisted living residences in BC regardless of their form of funding or ownership. Operators must meet health and safety standards to become registered. The authority of the Registrar is specified in the Community Care and Assisted Living Act (15).
Attack rate:The proportion of the population at risk who ever experience a specific event. This is useful only when the risk is not time-dependent (e.g., surgical site infections; transfusion-related infections). (21)
Autogenous Infections: an infection that results from the flora of the individual, whether or not the organism was part of the patient’s flora prior to admission. (1)
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