AAMI: Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation - ANSWER Associa-
tion responsible for standards for steam sterilization, EO sterilization, chemical disinfection,
and other types of sterile processing that are recognized as the primary measure of good
practice in SPD.
Acid - ANSWER Substance having a pH of less than 7.
Action level - ANSWER Level at which additional monitoring for chemical exposure must
be performed.
Aerate - ANSWER To subject EO sterilized items to warm, circulating air.
Air exchanges - ANSWER Process of removing air from an area and replacing it with fresh
air.
Alkaline - ANSWER Substance having a pH greater than 7.
Alkylation - ANSWER Process by which EO destroys microorganisms.
ANSI: American National Standards Institute - ANSWER Organization that oversees the
development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems,
and personnel in the U.S.
AORN: Association of periOperative Registered Nurses - ANSWER Organization that facili-
tates the management, teaching, and practice of perioperative nursing.
1
,Aseptic technique - ANSWER Maintaining sterility or preventing contamination.
ASGE: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - ANSWER Association of physi-
cians dedicated to improving endoscopy.
Autoclave - ANSWER Vessel used for sterilization by saturated steam under pressure.
Bacillus atropheus - ANSWER Microorganism used to biologically monitor EO and dry
heat sterilizers.
Antibacterial - ANSWER Chemical agent or compound that counteracts, inhibits, and/or
destroys bacteria.
Antimicrobial - ANSWER Chemical or material capable of destroying or inhibiting the
growth of microorganisms.
Antiseptic - ANSWER Germicidal process that inhibits, inactivates, or destroys microor-
ganisms present on skin.
Aseptic - ANSWER Free from pathogenic organisms.
Abrasive - ANSWER Material used for grinding, rubbing away, wearing down or smooth-
ing.
Airborne - ANSWER Suspended or carried through the air.
Aqueous - ANSWER Water, prepared with water.
2
, Bactericide - ANSWER Chemical agent that kills bacteria.
Bacteriostatic - ANSWER Chemical agent that retards, inhibits, and/or prevents the
growth of bacteria.
Bevel - ANSWER Angle of the point of a needle.
Bioburden - ANSWER Number of microorganisms on a contaminated object.
Biodegradable - ANSWER Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or enzymatic solu-
tions.
Biological indicator - ANSWER Sterilization process monitoring device consisting of a via-
ble population of microorganisms (usually bacterial spores) known to be resistant to the
mode of sterilization being monitored.
Bloodborne pathogens - ANSWER Transmissible microorganisms present in blood and
blood products.
Bowie-Dick test - ANSWER Test used daily to evaluate the ability of a prevacuum sterilizer
to remove air from the chamber under specific conditions.
Capital equipment - ANSWER Major fixed equipment (e.g. new sterilizers or washers) for
which the cost is spread over a period of time or the life of the equipment.
Carcinogen - ANSWER Cancer-causing substance.
Case cart - ANSWER Distribution and inventory handling system that provides supplies for
specialty areas (e.g. OR).
3
tion responsible for standards for steam sterilization, EO sterilization, chemical disinfection,
and other types of sterile processing that are recognized as the primary measure of good
practice in SPD.
Acid - ANSWER Substance having a pH of less than 7.
Action level - ANSWER Level at which additional monitoring for chemical exposure must
be performed.
Aerate - ANSWER To subject EO sterilized items to warm, circulating air.
Air exchanges - ANSWER Process of removing air from an area and replacing it with fresh
air.
Alkaline - ANSWER Substance having a pH greater than 7.
Alkylation - ANSWER Process by which EO destroys microorganisms.
ANSI: American National Standards Institute - ANSWER Organization that oversees the
development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems,
and personnel in the U.S.
AORN: Association of periOperative Registered Nurses - ANSWER Organization that facili-
tates the management, teaching, and practice of perioperative nursing.
1
,Aseptic technique - ANSWER Maintaining sterility or preventing contamination.
ASGE: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - ANSWER Association of physi-
cians dedicated to improving endoscopy.
Autoclave - ANSWER Vessel used for sterilization by saturated steam under pressure.
Bacillus atropheus - ANSWER Microorganism used to biologically monitor EO and dry
heat sterilizers.
Antibacterial - ANSWER Chemical agent or compound that counteracts, inhibits, and/or
destroys bacteria.
Antimicrobial - ANSWER Chemical or material capable of destroying or inhibiting the
growth of microorganisms.
Antiseptic - ANSWER Germicidal process that inhibits, inactivates, or destroys microor-
ganisms present on skin.
Aseptic - ANSWER Free from pathogenic organisms.
Abrasive - ANSWER Material used for grinding, rubbing away, wearing down or smooth-
ing.
Airborne - ANSWER Suspended or carried through the air.
Aqueous - ANSWER Water, prepared with water.
2
, Bactericide - ANSWER Chemical agent that kills bacteria.
Bacteriostatic - ANSWER Chemical agent that retards, inhibits, and/or prevents the
growth of bacteria.
Bevel - ANSWER Angle of the point of a needle.
Bioburden - ANSWER Number of microorganisms on a contaminated object.
Biodegradable - ANSWER Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or enzymatic solu-
tions.
Biological indicator - ANSWER Sterilization process monitoring device consisting of a via-
ble population of microorganisms (usually bacterial spores) known to be resistant to the
mode of sterilization being monitored.
Bloodborne pathogens - ANSWER Transmissible microorganisms present in blood and
blood products.
Bowie-Dick test - ANSWER Test used daily to evaluate the ability of a prevacuum sterilizer
to remove air from the chamber under specific conditions.
Capital equipment - ANSWER Major fixed equipment (e.g. new sterilizers or washers) for
which the cost is spread over a period of time or the life of the equipment.
Carcinogen - ANSWER Cancer-causing substance.
Case cart - ANSWER Distribution and inventory handling system that provides supplies for
specialty areas (e.g. OR).
3
