Letter: s

Skin Prick Test

SMS is a three-layer polypropylene fabric technology developed by Halyard. The top and bottom layers are for strength and a base for treatments such as static charge and alcohol resistance. The inner layer is for microbial filtration.

Mucous secretion from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea.

Surgical Site Infection

Hypoxia caused by conditions of extremely low blood flowrates to the tissues despite adequate arterial oxygen tension and hemoglobin concentration. SYN: ischemic hypoxia.

Same as Non-Reinforced Gowns from Halyard.

A three-layer mask: an inner facing layer, a filtration layer, and an outer facing layer. Most Halyard standard masks have a BFE of 96% and a PFE of 97%. There is no official definition.

Also known as Universal Precautions: precautions designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms from both recognized and unrecognized sources of infection in hospitals.

A type of bacteria that causes what is commonly called a Staph infection and can potentially cause a life-threatening illness should it infect a major organ. Staphylococcus is responsible for approximately 34% of all SSI. 20% by coagulase positive Staph and 14% by coagulase negative Staph. S. epidermitis, a skin resident in high numbers on almost everyone, is coagulase negative. S. aureus is a more virulent (aggressive) pathogen; present on a larger percentage of people (on the skin and in the nares) is coagulase positive. Many Staph infections respond to antibiotics; however, there are increasing numbers and types of resistant strains emerging (e.g. MRSA, VISA, VRSA): – MSSA Methicillin sensitive S. aureus – MRSA Methicillin resistant S. aureus – VISA Vancomycin intermediate S. aureus – VRSA Vancomycin resistant S. aureus Approximately 50-60% of S. aureus infections in the US are MRSA. Percentages vary dramatically in different countries.

The suffix used to designate inhibitory treatments such as bacteriostatic or fungistatic. Organisms are kept from growing or multiplying, but can often be rejuvenated after the biostatic disinfectant is no longer in contact.