reservoir
Medical term Infection Control and Safety
The place where a pathogen lives and multiplies, such as a person, animal or surface.
Sources
Related terms
- pathogenA microorganism that causes disease.
- portal of entryThe route by which a pathogen enters a new host.
- portal of exitThe route by which a pathogen leaves its reservoir.
- protozoaSingle-celled organisms, some of which cause parasitic infections.
- regulated wasteLiquid or semi-liquid blood or OPIM, items caked or dripping with them, and contaminated sharps, all…
- sanitizationRemoving visible soil and debris from objects; cleaning must come before high-level disinfection or…
- sharpsObjects that can puncture or cut skin, such as needles, lancets, scalpels and broken glass.
- standard precautionsInfection prevention practices used with every patient, including hand hygiene, PPE based on expected…
- sterilizationA process that destroys all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, on an object.