streptococcemia
the presence of the bacterium streptococcus in the blood. usually called a strep infection. frequently starts in the throat "strep throat" or in the mouth following a dental procedure. can affect the heart, subject to permanent damage
Key Terms
streptococcemia
the presence of the bacterium streptococcus in the blood. usually called a strep infection. frequently starts in the throat "strep throat" or in th...
tetanus
a disease caused by a powerful neurotoxin released by the common bacterium clostridium tetani. the toxin acts on the central nervous system to caus...
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
streptococcemia | the presence of the bacterium streptococcus in the blood. usually called a strep infection. frequently starts in the throat "strep throat" or in the mouth following a dental procedure. can affect the heart, subject to permanent damage |
tetanus | a disease caused by a powerful neurotoxin released by the common bacterium clostridium tetani. the toxin acts on the central nervous system to cause convulsions and spastic paralysis (in which muscles are unable to relax) infection can be obtained from a puncture wound that is not properly cleaned, but is easily presented with periodic vaccination. |
aut/o | self |
globin/o | protein |
immun/o | exempt, immunity |
-crit | to separate |
-logous | pertaining to study |
-therapy | treatment |
anticoagulant | a chemical agent that delays or prevents the clotting process in blood. often administered to reduce the likelihood of clot formation after surgery. most common agent is warfarin |
antiretroviral therapy | a pharmacological therapy that is useful in battling a class of viruses that tend to mutate quickly, called retroviruses. used against the virus that causes AIDS HIV. the drugs form a cocktail that includes nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors, which block HIV replication by a variety of means |
attenuation | the process in which pathogens are rendered less virulent, or infectious, prior to their incorporation into a vaccine preparation. 'to make thin' |
autologous transfusion | a transfusion of blood donated by a patient for their personal use. 'pertaining to study of self' common procedure before surgery to avoid potential incompatibility or contamination of blood |
blood chemistry | a test or series of tests on a sample of plasma to measure the levels of its composition, including glucose, albumin, triglycerides, pH, cholesterol, and electrolytes. |
blood culture | a clinical test to determine infection in the blood. performed by placing a sample of blood in a nutrient rich liquid medium in an effort to grow populations of bacteria for analysis |
blood transfusions | the introduction of blood, or blood products, or a blood substitute into a patient's circulation to restore blood volume to normal levels. two main types are autologous and homologous transfusions. |
bone marrow transplant | a common procedure to treat leukemia, or injury resulting from radiation therapy or chemotherapy. involves the removal of a sample from a compatible donor, usually from the red marrow in the pelvis, and its inoculation into the donor's red marrow |
coagulation time | a timed blood test to determine the time required for a blood vlot to form. one form is called prothrombin time which measures the time required for prothrombin, a precursor protein, to form thrombin. thrombin then acts on the blood protein fibrinogen to form fibrin, a threadlike protein that coagulates blood. the procedure is often used to monitor the effects of anticoagulants. another type of test is used to evaluate clotting ability and is called partial thromboplastin time |
complete blood count | a common laboratory test that evaluates a sample of blood to provide diagnostic information about a patient's general health is abbreviated CBC which means complete blood count. includes multiple tests, hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood count, white blood count, platelet count. |
differential count | a microscopic count of the number of each type of white blood cell in a sample of blood. procedure uses staining techniques to highlight the features of white blood cells, allowing the hematologist to distinguish between the types. |
hematocrit | a procedure included in a CBC that measures the percentage of red blood cells in a volume of blood. abbreviated HCT it is obtained by centrifuging a sample of blood to separate the cells from plasma in the centrifuge tube. |
hemoglobin | a procedure included in CBC that measures the level of hemoglobin in red blood cells (in g) abbreviated HGB. any level below normal is diagnosed as a form of anemia. |
hemostasis | the stoppage of bleeding is a physiological process. 'standing still blood' |
homologous transfusion | transfusion of blood that is voluntarily donated by another person. 'pertaining to study of the same' it requires blood-type work called crossmatching to prevent incompatibility. |
immunization | a treatment that establishes immunity against a particular foreign substance that may otherwise cause disease. the treatment includes inoculation of antigen components that stimulate the patient's immune response to produce memory lymphocytes and antibodies, which will be available in the blood to provide immune protection when a future exposure occurs |
immunotherapy | the treatment of infectious disease by the administration of pharmacological agents, such as serum, gamma globulin, treated antibodies, and suppressive drugs. |
lymphadenectomy | surgical removal of one or more lymph nodes |
platelet count | a laboratory procedure that calculates the # of platelets in a known volume of blood. abbreviated PLT. a reduced count suggests a potential failure or hemostasis because platelets play a major role in blood clot formation and coagulation. |
red blood count | a lab test included in CBC that measures the # of red blood cells within a given volume of blood. RBC |
splenectomy | the surgical removal of the spleen is often necessary if it has ruptured, which may occur during a physical injury to the left side of the trunk. |
thrombolysis | a treatment that is performed to dissolve an unwanted blood clot, or thrombus. 'dissolve clot' |
vaccination | the inoculation of a foreign substance that has reduced virulence, or a reduced ability to cause infection, as a means of providing a cure or prophylaxis |
vaccine | a preparation that is used to activate an immune response to provide acquired immunity against an infectious agent. |