Contaminated: state of having actual or potential contact with microorganisms. As used in health care, the term generally refers to the presence of microorganisms that could produce disease or infection. Control, positive: biologic indicator, from the same lot as a test biologic indicator, that is left unexposed to the sterilisation cycle and then incubated to verify the viability of the test biologic indicator. Cleaning: removal, usually with detergent and water or enzyme cleaner and water, of adherent visible soil, blood, protein substances, microorganisms and other debris from the surfaces, crevices, serrations, joints, and lumens of instruments, devices, and equipment by a manual or mechanical process that prepares the items for safe handling and/or further decontamination. Culture: growth of microorganisms in or on a nutrient medium; to grow microorganisms in or on such a medium. Culture medium: substance or preparation used to grow and cultivate microorganisms. Cup: 8 fluid ounces. Decontamination: according to OSHA, “the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal” [29 CFR 1910.1030]. In health-care facilities, the term generally refers to all pathogenic organisms. Decontamination area: area of a health-care facility designated for collection, retention, and cleaning of soiled and/or contaminated items. Detergent: cleaning agent that makes no antimicrobial claims on the label. They comprise a hydrophilic component and a lipophilic component and can be divided into four types: anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and non-ionic detergents. Disinfectant: usually a chemical agent (but sometimes a physical agent) that destroys disease-causing pathogens or other harmful microorganisms but might not kill bacterial spores. It refers to substances applied to inanimate objects. EPA groups disinfectants by product label claims of “limited,”“general,” or “hospital” disinfection. Disinfection: thermal or chemical destruction of pathogenic and other types of microorganisms. Disinfection is less lethal than sterilisation because it destroys most recognized pathogenic microorganisms but not necessarily all microbial forms (e.g., bacterial spores). D value: time or radiation dose required to inactivate 90% of a population of the test microorganism under stated exposure conditions. 60 ΚΛΙΝΙΚΕΣ ΚΑΤΕΥΘΥΝΤΗΡΙΕΣ ΟΔΗΓΙΕΣ • ΑΠΟΣΤΕΙΡΩΣΗ
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