Disease

any process that detrimentally interferes with the functioning of an organism

Microbe

micro organism (MO) 

a living organism too small to be seen with the unaided eye

Pathogen

micro organism capable of causing disease

Infection

relationship between a parasite and its host, which may cause disease if the parasite is a pathogen.  Having greater then 10 ^5 bacteria  per gram of tissue

Micro Flora

Normal Flora

micro organisms normally found in healthy animals which may cause disease in debilitated animals or if transferred to other organs of the body.  This is referred to as opportunists/opportunitistic micro organisms

i.e. E coli when outside the intestine causes peritonitis

Surgical asepsis

methods and practices used to prevent contamination in surgery; involves proper prep of environment, surgical site, surgical team, and surgical equipment

Resistance

sum of all factors contributing to the ability of the animal to overcome invasion by pathogens

i.e.  the resistance of an animal subjected to surgery is decreased and the animal must be protected against infection by aseptic techniques

Sepsis

presence of pathogens (or their toxic by-products) in the blood or tissues of patients

Asepsis

the absence of bacteria, viruses and other micro organisms in living tissue

Sanitation

any cleansing measure intended to prevent disease and promote health

i.e.  routine cleaning of cages, floors, buckets, and sinks to remove soil, saliva, urine, and feces

Bacteriostatic

inhibits growth

does NOT destroy bacteria

Nosocomial Infection

infection that originates in a hospital or hospital like setting

Non-sterile

any item that has not undergone a sterilization procedure

Disinfectant

agents uses on inanimate objects;

a chemical or physical agent that is applied to inanimate objects to kill microbes

Antiseptic

agents used on living tissue - often diluted disinfectants.  Typically an antiseptic is a chemical agent that is appiled to living tissue to kill microbes.  Note that not all disinfectants are antiseptics because an antiseptic additionally must not be so harsh that it damages living tissue.  With this constraint imposed on antiseptics, in general antiseptics are either not as cheap or not as effective at killing microbes as disinfectants

precut opening if cloth;

placed over entire operating site and secured with towel clips