Infection Control

Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) works to ensure your stay or visit at any of the Eastern Health facilities is as safe as possible. We work with staff to prevent the transmission of microorganisms in our facilities.

While at our facilities, you may hear things you don’t understand. We encourage you to ask your health-care provider to explain anything you are unclear about.

Our IPAC team is always available to speak with you if you have questions during your stay.

Definitions

ARO (Antibiotic Resistant Organism):

A micro-organism that has developed resistance to the action of several antimicrobial agents and that is of special clinical or epidemiologic significance.

Asepsis:

The absence of pathogenic (disease-producing) micro-organisms. This can be further divided into:

• Aseptic technique is a set of specific practices designed to render and maintain objects and areas maximally free from micro-organisms. This is also called sterile technique.
• Clean technique refers to practices that reduce the numbers of micro-organisms and minimizes the risk of transmission from personnel or environment to the patient.

Bacteria:

Popularly called “germs.” Bacteria is a very small micro-organism visible only through a microscope. There are many varieties, only some of which cause disease.

Carrier:

An individual who is found to be persistently colonized (culture-positive) for a particular organism, at one or more body sites, but may have no signs or symptoms of infection.

Colonization:

Presence of micro-organisms in or on a carrier with growth and multiplication but without tissue invasion or cellular injury.

Contamination:

The presence of micro-organisms or inanimate objects (e.g. clothing, surgical instruments) or micro-organisms transported transiently on body surfaces such as hands, or in substances (e.g. water, food, milk).

Decontamination:

To remove disease-causing microorganisms and leave an item safe for further handling.

Disinfection:

The inactivation of disease producing micro-organisms on non-living items.

Flora:

A normal bacteria residing in a given area of the body.

Fungus:

An organism that is filamentous or thread like in structure (e.g. yeast, mushrooms).

Infection:

The entry and multiplication of an infectious agent in the tissues of the host.