Designed to reduce the risk of airborne infectious agents. Airborne droplets (nuclei) are less than 5 microns in size and contain microorganisms that are infectious through the respiratory route. These tiny droplets are small enough to easily float in air currents allowing the organisms to spread easily and travel significant distances. An N95, P2, or higher level respirator should be worn when entering the patients room and not removed until after leaving. Special air handling, negative pressure conditions with external exhaust are required. Infections requiring airborne precautions include measles, legionella, disseminated herpes, or Varicella zoster, avian flu, SARS, smallpox, and chicken pox (if caregiver is not immune).
Letter: a
A general term which means to keep the airway clear; includes tracheal suction that may or may not require disconnection from the ventilator to allow suction of collecting mucus distal to ET or T tube. Many other procedures fall under the Airway Management name.
Is a concept used in respiratory physiology to describe mechanical factors which limit the access of inspired air to the pulmonary alveoli, and thus determine airflow.
Plasma proteins synthesized in the liver, responsible for colloidal osmotic pressure; also a transport protein for fatty acids, bilirubin, many drugs, and hormones. A decrease in serum albumin may occur with metabolic stresses such a liver disease, malnutrition, severe burns, and kidney failure. Analysis of level and types of albumin in blood, urine and other fluids is the basis of many diagnostic tests.
In appropriate concentrations, alcohol rubs provide the most rapid and greatest reduction in microbial counts on skin, but have no persistent activity unless provided by additives. They are NOT effective against spores (ex: Clostridium difficile (diarrhea), Clostridium perfringens (gas gangrene), Clostridium tetani (tetanus, lockjaw), anthrax spores (anthrax).
Nourishment, feeding.
A blood condition in which the pH is greater than 7.4.
A condition in which the body fluids have excess base (alkali). This is the opposite of excess acid (acidosis).
An exogenous (foreign) antigen, usually a protein, that is able to elicit an IgE antibody response and thus activate mast cells. Every allergen is a type of antigen, but not every antigen is an allergen.
An allergic rash (Type IV) with physiological memory to the chemical sensitizer which caused it (meaning it will cause symptoms again with subsequent exposure).