CBIC CIC key terms

A model describing the six elements needed for infection to spread: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any one link stops transmission.

The interval between exposure to an infectious agent and the appearance of the first symptoms or signs of illness. Its length varies by organism and helps define exposure windows during investigations.

The presence and multiplication of microorganisms on or in a body site without causing signs or symptoms of illness. Colonized patients can still transmit organisms and may later develop infection.

The degree of harm a microorganism can cause, determined by factors such as toxin production, invasiveness, and ability to evade host defenses. Highly virulent organisms cause severe disease in otherwise healthy hosts.

Indirect protection that occurs when a large enough proportion of a population is immune to an agent, reducing spread to people who are not immune. It depends on how contagious the organism is.

An infection a patient acquires while receiving care in a healthcare setting that was not present or incubating at admission. Also called nosocomial infection; many are device or procedure related.

The number of new cases of a condition in a defined population during a specified period, divided by the population at risk. It measures how quickly new infections are occurring.

The proportion of a population that has a condition at a given point in time or during a defined period. It reflects both new and existing cases and is useful for burden estimates.

The proportion of a defined exposed group that develops illness during a specified period. It is used in outbreak investigations to compare risk among people with different exposures.

A standard set of clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic criteria used to decide whether a person should be counted as a case in surveillance or an investigation. It must be applied consistently.

A graph plotting the number of cases by date or time of illness onset. Its shape helps estimate when exposure occurred, the likely incubation period, and whether spread is common-source or person-to-person.

A method in which infection prevention staff proactively review microbiology results, charts, or admission data to identify infections, rather than waiting for reports to be submitted to them.

A summary statistic comparing the number of observed infections in a facility or unit with the number predicted from national baseline data, adjusting for risk factors such as patient mix and device use.

More cases of a disease than expected in a defined setting or population over a given time period. Investigation involves case finding, generating hypotheses, and applying control measures.

Basic infection prevention practices applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask and eye protection as needed, and safe handling of sharps and contaminated items.

Additional contact, droplet, or airborne precautions used along with standard precautions when a patient is known or suspected to be infected or colonized with an agent spread by a specific route.

Precautions for organisms spread by small particles that stay infectious over long distances, requiring an airborne infection isolation room with negative pressure and respiratory protection such as an N95 respirator.

Cleaning hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub at the correct moments to remove or kill transient organisms. It is the single most effective way to prevent transmission.

Barrier items such as gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, and eye protection worn to protect healthcare personnel and patients from exposure to infectious agents. Correct donning and doffing are essential.

A medical procedure such as intubation, bronchoscopy, or open suctioning that can produce small infectious particles and raises the risk of airborne transmission, so added respiratory protection is required.

Grouping patients with the same confirmed or suspected infectious agent in a shared area, or assigning dedicated staff to them, to limit contact with other patients and reduce cross-transmission.

Treatment given after exposure to an infectious agent to prevent infection or reduce its severity, such as HIV antiretroviral drugs or hepatitis B immune globulin plus vaccine.

A microorganism carried in blood or other body fluids that can be transmitted through needlesticks or splashes to mucous membranes, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.

A penetrating wound from a needle, scalpel, or other sharp item that may expose healthcare personnel to bloodborne pathogens. Prompt reporting and postexposure evaluation are required.

A state in which a person is infected with tuberculosis bacteria but has no symptoms and is not contagious. Preventive treatment can stop progression to active disease.

Vaccinating staff against agents such as influenza, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella to protect them, patients, and coworkers and to reduce transmission within the facility.

A coordinated program that promotes appropriate antimicrobial use, meaning the right drug, dose, duration, and route, to improve outcomes, reduce harm, and slow the emergence of resistance.

A structured team method for investigating an adverse event or serious infection control failure to find underlying system causes and design changes that prevent recurrence.

The professional responsible for running a facility's infection prevention program, including surveillance, policy development, education, outbreak investigation, and reporting to leadership and committees.

Using the best available research evidence together with clinical expertise and patient preferences to guide infection prevention decisions, policies, and procedures rather than tradition alone.

A structured process that verifies staff can correctly perform required infection prevention tasks, such as hand hygiene or PPE use, through direct observation, testing, or return demonstration.

A committee that reviews planned research involving human subjects to ensure ethical treatment, valid informed consent, and protection from harm before the study may begin.

A system that sorts medical devices into critical, semi-critical, and non-critical categories based on infection risk from their intended use, which sets the minimum level of reprocessing required.

The physical removal of soil, organic matter, and microorganisms from a surface or device using detergent, water, and friction. Cleaning must come before disinfection or sterilization for those steps to work.

A process that destroys all microorganisms except high numbers of bacterial spores, used for semi-critical devices such as flexible endoscopes and typically achieved with chemical germicides and proper contact time.

A validated process that destroys all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores, on an item. It is required for critical devices that enter sterile body sites or the vascular system.

A test strip or vial containing highly resistant bacterial spores used to confirm that a sterilization cycle reached conditions sufficient to kill microorganisms. Results are read after incubation.

A process completed before construction or renovation that estimates the risk of dust and contamination to patients and specifies barriers, air handling, and cleaning measures for the work.