Surviving Sepsis > Glossary

GLOSSARY

A-D E-H I-L M-P Q-T U-Z

A-D

Abscess
          A collection of pus
Abdomen
         "Gut" or bowel
Antibiotics
         Treatments used for infections
Apnea
         Periods without breathing
Artificial feeding
        Feeding by a tube into the stomach through the nose
Bacteremia or "Blood Poisening"
        Bacteria is present in the bloodstream
Blood Cultures
        Tubes of blood collected to determine what bacteria are present in the bloodstream helping to
select the right antibiotics for the organism present
Broad-spectrum Antibiotics
       Treatment that targets a large number of different microorganisms
Cardiovascular
       Heart and circulatory
Central Line
       An intravenous catheter placed in one of the body's main vessels going directly to the heart
Coagulation
      Blood clotting
Continuous Renal Replacment Therapy (CRTT)
      Cleaning the blood when the kidneys are not functioning fully
Community-acquired infection: Infection caught outside the hospital
Compromised: Weakened
Concurrent Data Collection
          Information that is collected while the event is happening
Cortisone
          A steroid drug that reduces inflammation
Dialysis
          Periodic blood cleansing when the kidneys are not functioning

E-H

Empiric treatment: Broad-based antibiotic treatment based on prior experience of the microorganism
Fever: High body temperature
Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and intestine or "gut"
Hyperglycemia: Abnormally high levels of blood sugar
Hyperventilation: Abnormally rapid breathing
Hypoglycemia: Abnormally low levels of blood sugar
Hypothermia: Low body temperature

I-L

ICU/CCU: Intensive care unit/Critical Care Unit
Intravenous catheter: Small tube for dripping fluids into the vein
IV
          Intravenous
IV Bolus
          Rapid administration of large amounts of fluids quickly
Jaundice
         Yellow discoloring of the skin
Lactic Acid
         Laboratory test used to help diagnose sepsis reflecting a disruption of oxygen
         delivery to the tissues

M-P

Mechanical ventilation
          Breathing machine
Microorganism
          Infecting germ
Multiple organ disease, dysfunction, or failure
          Disease involving more than one of the vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidney, liver
MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
          Bacteria resistant to many types of antibiotics
Nosocomial infection
          Infection caught within the hospital
Optimal
         Best, most favorable
Organ dysfunction
         Organ in the body not functioning as it should
Organ failure
         Body organ not working at all
Outcome Measure
         A measure that indicates if changes are actually leading to intended improvement
Peritonitis
         Infection of the gut wall
Process Measure
         Indentifies if a reliable system has been created that follows the timing, sequence and goals
         intended
Purulent
         Pus-like
Retrospective Chart Review
         Collecting information after the event has occurred

Q-T

Sepsis: The body’s response to an infection
Septicemia: Medical emergency caused by bacteria and their toxins in the blood
Septic Shock
Multiple organ failure resulting from advancement of severe sepsis
Severe Sepsis
Advacement of sepsis more organs impacted and not functioning well
Sputum: Phlegm coming from the lungs
Tachycardia: Rapid heart beat
Tracheostomy: Insertion of tube directly into the trachea by a hole made through the skin to help; an individual breathe better used sometimes with a mechanical ventilator

U-Z

Urinary catheter: Small tube inserted into the bladder allso called a Foley catheter
Vasopressor: Drug used to increase blood pressure