8.6 Glossary

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

a group of conditions associated with immune system dysfunction caused by the human immunodeficiency virus

adaptive immunity

the body’s organism-specific defenses against infection

anti-infective stewardship

the process of using anti-infectives judiciously to prevent drug resistance

antibiogram

a document detailing local bacterial resistance patterns that is used to guide antibiotic choices

antiretroviral therapy (ART)

medications designed to treat infections caused by the human immunodeficiency virus

apoptosis

programmed cell death, usually due to cellular damage

bactericidal

the ability to directly kill bacteria

bacteriostatic

having the property of preventing bacteria from actively replicating, although not killing them directly

helminths

worms capable of causing parasitic infections

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

retrovirus that causes progressive immune system dysfunction

immunocompromised

the state in which the immune system is unable to effectively prevent infection

innate immunity

the body’s nonspecific defenses against infection

parasitic infection

infection caused by parasites—organisms that derive nutrition from their host while causing it harm

protozoa

unicellular organisms capable of causing parasitic infections

sexually transmitted infection (STI)

infections passed on via sexual forms of contact

superinfection

infection caused by resistant bacteria after the use of broad-spectrum anti-infectives

tuberculosis (TB)

a pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

viral load

the number of viral particles measured in a sample of body fluid or tissue (usually blood)

virologic cure

sustained undetectable viral levels in the blood

From Chapter 8

adenocarcinoma

cancer development arising from the glandular tissues that line body organs

alopecia

abnormal loss of body hair

benign

not causing harmful effects

chemotherapy

drug therapy focused on killing cancer cells

embolization

the introduction of a foreign object (bone fragments, cells, air, blood clot) into the bloodstream

erythrocytes

a red blood cell

erythrocytopenia

a decrease below normal levels of circulating erythrocytes

extravasate

the leakage of a vesicant drug into the tissues surrounding the intravenous infusion site

febrile neutropenia

occurrence of a fever during a period of neutropenia, when the risk of infection is higher than normal

fibrosis

the thickening or scarring of connective tissue

granulocytes

a white blood cell type; assists in fighting invading organisms

granulocytopenia

a decrease below normal levels of circulating granulocytes

hematological cancers

cancer development arising from bone marrow cells

hemorrhagic cystitis

inflammation of the bladder lining, resulting in bleeding and hematuria

leukemia

cancer development arising from leukocytes

leukocytes

a white blood cell type; assists in fighting invading organisms

leukopenia

a decrease below normal levels of circulating leukocytes

mesna

a medicine used to prevent hemorrhagic cystitis in clients receiving chemotherapy

metastasize

spread to other sites in the body

mucositis

inflammation and ulceration of oral and/or gastrointestinal mucous membranes; often a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation therapy

multiple myeloma

cancer development arising from plasma cells

mutation

a change in the nucleic acid sequence in a cell

myelosuppression

decreased production of blood cells by the stem cells in the bone marrow

nadir

the point after a chemotherapy treatment at which a client’s blood cell counts are at the lowest level before recovery

neoangiogenesis

the ability of a tumor mass to grow new vascularity

neutropenia

a decrease below normal levels of circulating neutrophils

neutrophils

a white blood cell type; assists in fighting invading organisms

non-Hodgkin lymphoma

cancer development arising from lymph cells

oncogene

a mutated gene that has the potential to cause cancer development

pancytopenia

a decrease below normal levels of all circulation blood cell lines including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets

plant alkaloid

naturally occurring organic nitrogen-containing bases derived from plants

pulmonary toxicity

lung damage

secondary cancer

a cancer that develops after exposure to treatment for a previous cancer

squamous cell carcinoma

cancer development arising from skin cells

thrombocytes

a platelet: a cell that helps to form blood clots

thrombocytopenia

a decrease below normal levels of circulating thrombocytes

tumor lysis syndrome

a condition occurring after administration of chemotherapy resulting in cell death that releases cellular contents into the blood

vesicant

any intravenous drug capable of causing blistering and tissue damage should extravasation occur