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A general term. Assisted ventilation includes all forms of artificial ventilation.

Not-for-profit global organization of multidisciplinary volunteers from industry, government agencies, institutions and clinicians addressing aspects of safety and effectiveness of medical instrumentation and related technologies. AAMI also establishes test methods and standards for healthcare apparel, sterilization wrap, sterilization parameters, biocompatibility determinations, etc.

Association of Surgical Technologists

A condition of the lungs in which there is widespread narrowing of the airways, caused by the local release of spasmogens and vasoactive substances. Most cases represent a chronic form of allergy due to IgE antibodies. Irritant asthma is activated by an irritant such as a chemical or particle (e.g. powder, smoke).

American Society of Testing and Materials

Develops testing methods specifications, and performance standard on many consumer, healthcare, and engineering products. The development of these documents is conducted by volunteers from manufacturers, government agencies and consumer, clinician or other interested parties.

Loss of muscle coordination.

Any agent that kills or suppresses the growth of microorganisms. The term antimicrobial is an umbrella term of which antibiotics, antiseptics and disinfectants are subsets, etc.

Use of antimicrobial agents before an infection has occurred, to prevent a subsequent infection.

Loss of activity against that microorganism. The mechanism of resistance may be associated with enzymatic inactivation of the drug or antibiotic, altered permeability barriers, an altered target protein in the microorganisms cell wall, or altered cytoplasm targets.