Work Flow - ANSMovement of items from clean areas to dirty areas to prevent contamination of
the environment.
VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus) - ANSa strain of the bacterium enterococcus that is
resistant to the powerful antibiotic vancomycin; infections occur when the bacteria enter the
bloodstream, urinary tract, or surgical wounds
Vector - ANSLiving carrier of pathogenic organisms from one host to another.
TASS - ANSToxic Anterior Segment Syndrome; an acute inflammation of the anterior segment
of the eye after cataract surgery. Caused by inadequate removal of detergent or disinfectant
residues after cleaning of ocular instruments.
Tunnel washer - ANSMultichamber unit composed of three to five interconnected chambers,
each with a specific task.
Table Top Sterilizers - ANSCompact steam sterilizer that has a chamber volume of no more than
2 cubic feet and that generates steam when distilled or deionized water is added.
susceptible host - ANSIndividual who has little resistance to disease.
Semi critical device - ANSDevice that comes in contact with mucous membranes.
Saturated steam - ANSSteam that contains 3% entrained water
Sepsis - ANSCondition resulting from microorganisms or their toxins in the bloodstream.
Reverse osmosis water - ANSWater produced by a filtration process in which pressure is used
to force a solution through a membrane, with the result that solutes are retained on one side of
the membrane and the pure solvent passes to the other side.
Prions - ANSAbnormal virus-like proteins that do not contain DNA or RNA.
Prevacum Sterilizer - ANSSteam sterilizer in which the air is removed by means of a series of
vacuums.
Oxidation - ANSProcess by which oxygen combines with another substance.
par level - ANSAmount of inventory to keep on hand.
Passivation - ANSFinal stage in the manufacturing of instruments; process in which a chemical
dip removes all debris and creates a layer of chromium oxide.
Pathogen - ANSdisease-producing microorganism
Microbes - ANSBacteria; germs producing fermentation, putrefaction, and disease.
Low-temperature gas plasma sterilization - ANSQuick low-temperature sterilization process that
uses gas plasma for the sterilization of packaged devices. The parameters for LTGP sterilization
are time, temperature, and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma.
Intermediate level disinfectant - ANSProcess that kills viruses, mycobacteria, fungi, and
vegetable bacteria, but not spores.
IUSS - ANSimmediate use steam sterilization
Integrating indicators - ANSClass 5 chemical indicators; chemical indicators whose response
depends on the achievement of all of the critical parameters of the specific sterilization process
they were designed to monitor.
Infection - ANSInvasion of the body by microorganisms that multiply and produce injurious
effects.