Infection Control Keywords

Disease-causing micro-organisms are termed pathogens and mainly consist of bacteria, viruses and fungi.

• Micro-Organism

• Pathogen

• Infection

• Contamination

• Systemic Infection

The body’s reaction to infection whereby blood cell activity and antibodies at the site of infection have caused, redness, swelling and the collection of pus (dead white cells)

• Micro-Organism

• Pathogen

• Infection

• Contamination

• Inflammatory Response

A person infected with a pathogen that remains in the body but causes no sign of illness

• Infection

• Carrier

• Pathogen

• Localised Infection

• Cross Infection

Process by which micro-organisms on one object or person transfer to another object or person (e.g., dishcloth to food)

• Infection

• Carrier

• Pathogen

• Localised Infection

• Cross Infection

Micro-organism with the ability to cause disease.

• Infection

• Carrier

• Pathogen

• Localised Infection

• Cross Infection

The presence of micro-organisms in the body that causes illness

• Infection

• Carrier

• Pathogen

• Localised Infection

• Cross Infection

When something has become infected or polluted

• Contamination

• Carrier

• Systemic Infection

• Localised Infection

• Cross Infection

Infection affecting the whole of the body

• Contamination

• Carrier

• Systemic Infection

• Localised Infection

• Cross Infection

Infection affecting a specific area of the body, for example a finger or knee

• Contamination

• Carrier

• Systemic Infection

• Localised Infection

• Cross Infection

When micro-organisms multiply in the tissues but do not cause signs or symptoms of disease.

• Contamination

• Colonisation

• Systemic Infection

• Localised Infection

• Cross Infection