MI10.1-5 | Healthcare-Associated Infections — Glossary

70–80% isopropanol or ethanol-based formulation for rapid hand decontamination; effective against most bacteria and viruses in 20–30 seconds; NOT effective against C. difficile spores or when hands are visibly soiled

Negative-pressure single room with ≥12 air changes per hour and air exhausted outdoors or through HEPA filtration; required for patients with TB, measles, or varicella

Transmission-based precautions for pathogens spread via droplet nuclei (<5 µm) including TB, measles, varicella; require N95/FFP2 respirator for HCW and Airborne Infection Isolation Room (negative pressure)

Coordinated programme promoting appropriate antibiotic selection, dosing, route and duration to improve outcomes, reduce toxicity and decrease AMR; includes prior authorisation, de-escalation and formulary restriction

Selective/differential agar for Staphylococcus aureus isolation from food and environmental samples; S. aureus produces black shiny colonies with a clear halo due to lecithinase and protease activity

Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract agar; selective medium for Legionella pneumophila culture from water samples; provides L-cysteine and alpha-ketoglutarate required by Legionella for growth

Any waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment, immunisation or research related to humans or animals; regulated under BMW Management Rules 2016 (MoEFCC, India)

Central Indian regulations governing generation, segregation, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of biomedical waste; amended 2018 and 2019; mandate colour-coded segregation, bar-coding and CBWTF use

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection; the most common HAI; caused by E. coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Candida; prevented by minimising catheter duration and maintaining closed drainage systems

Licensed centralised facility for treatment and disposal of BMW collected from multiple healthcare establishments; uses incineration, autoclave, shredder and secured landfill

Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection; bloodstream infection in a patient with a central venous catheter; caused by CoNS, MRSA, Klebsiella, Candida; prevented by aseptic insertion bundles

Spore-forming anaerobic Gram-positive rod producing toxins A and B; causes antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis; alcohol hand rub ineffective against spores; treated with metronidazole or vancomycin PO

Direct cell-to-cell transfer of plasmids (including R-plasmids carrying resistance genes) via a sex pilus; the most clinically important mechanism of AMR spread in hospital Gram-negative outbreaks

Antibiotic stewardship strategy of transitioning from broad-spectrum to narrower-spectrum therapy once culture results identify the causative organism and its sensitivity pattern

The process of removing PPE in the correct sequence (gloves → eye protection → gown → mask) to prevent self-contamination with pathogens on the outer surfaces of PPE

The process of putting on PPE in the correct sequence (gown → mask/respirator → eye protection → gloves) to establish a protective barrier before entering a contaminated environment

Enzyme produced by Klebsiella, E. coli and other Enterobacteriaceae that hydrolyses penicillins and cephalosporins including 3rd/4th generation cephalosporins; detected by double disc synergy test; treated with carbapenems

Acronym for the six priority resistant nosocomial pathogens: Enterococcus faecium, S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp.

User self-check of N95 respirator seal performed before each use: positive pressure check (cover exhalation valve, exhale — no air leaks) and negative pressure check (cover inhalation vents, inhale — mask collapses)

An infection not present or incubating at the time of hospital admission, developing ≥48 hours after admission or within 30 days of a surgical procedure; previously called nosocomial infection

High-Efficiency Particulate Air filtration; removes ≥99.97% of particles ≥0.3 µm; used in cleanrooms, laminar flow OTs and immunocompromised patient rooms to reduce airborne organisms including Aspergillus

Multidisciplinary committee mandated by NABH for hospitals >100 beds; formulates infection control policies, conducts HAI surveillance, investigates outbreaks and oversees antibiotic stewardship

Transfer of genetic material between organisms other than parent-to-offspring; primary mechanism of AMR spread in hospitals via conjugation (plasmid transfer), transduction (phage) and transformation (naked DNA)

Ultraclean operating theatre with unidirectional HEPA-filtered air flow; achieves <1 CFU/m³; used for orthopaedic implant and transplant surgeries to minimise SSI risk

Water quality testing method where a known volume is filtered through 0.45 µm membrane; membrane placed on selective agar; colonies of target organisms (coliforms, E. coli) counted after incubation

Statistical estimation of coliform density in water using multiple tube fermentation (lactose broth, Durham tubes); expressed as MPN/100 mL; presumptive then confirmed

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; carries mecA gene encoding PBP2a with low β-lactam affinity; resistant to all penicillins and cephalosporins; treated with vancomycin or linezolid

NIOSH-certified particulate respirator that filters ≥95% of airborne particles ≥0.3 µm; must be fit-tested and seal-checked before each use; required for airborne precautions (TB, measles, AGPs)

Plasmid-encoded carbapenemase first described in New Delhi (2008); confers resistance to all β-lactam antibiotics including carbapenems; spreads globally via conjugation; detected by Carba NP test or bla-NDM PCR

Percutaneous injury from a needle, lancet, scalpel or other sharp contaminated with patient blood or body fluid; risk of transmission of HBV, HCV and HIV; protocol: wound bleeding, wash, report, PEP within 72 hours

Penicillin-Binding Protein 2a encoded by mecA gene in MRSA; low affinity for all β-lactam antibiotics; enables cell wall synthesis to continue even in presence of penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics

In the context of needle-stick: triple-drug ART (antiretroviral therapy) started within 72 hours of HIV exposure and continued for 28 days to prevent HIV seroconversion; plus HBIG/HBV vaccine for HBV exposure

Passive air sampling technique using open nutrient or blood agar plates exposed for a defined period; colony count after incubation estimates microbiological air quality; expressed as CFU/plate or CFU/m³

Minimum infection prevention practices applied to care of ALL patients regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status; includes hand hygiene, PPE, safe sharps handling and respiratory hygiene

Use of UV-C light (254 nm wavelength) to inactivate microorganisms on surfaces and in air; used in isolation rooms, operation theatres and biosafety cabinets; effective against TB, Aspergillus, MRSA

Pneumonia developing ≥48 hours after endotracheal intubation; caused by Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, MRSA; prevented by VAP bundles (head-of-bed elevation, oral care, daily sedation holds)

Enterococcus with vanA or vanB operon modifying D-Ala-D-Ala peptidoglycan terminus to D-Ala-D-Lac, preventing vancomycin binding; treated with linezolid or daptomycin