Glossary

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

A-D

Abdomen

"Gut" or bowel

Antibiotics

Treatments used for infections

Artificial feeding

Feeding by a tube into the stomach through the nose

Broad-spectrum treatment

Treatment that targets a large number of different microorganisms

Cardiovascular

Heart and circulatory

Coagulation

Blood clotting

Community-acquired infection

Infection caught outside the hospital

Compromised

Weakened

Cortisone

A steroid drug

Dialysis

Artificial kidney

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

Intensive care unit

Intravenous catheter

Small tube for dripping fluids into the vein

IV

Intravenous

Jaundice

Yellow discoloring of the skin

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

Nosocomial infection

Infection caught within the hospital

Optimal

Best, most favorable

Peritonitis

Infection of the gut wall

Purulent

Pus-like

Q-T

Sepsis

The body’s response to an infection

Septicemia

Blood poisoning

Sputum

Phlegm

Tachycardia

Rapid heart beat

Tracheotomy

Insertion of tube directly into the trachea by a hole made through the skin

U-Z

Urinary catheter

Small tube inserted into the bladder. Also called a Foley catheter

Vasopressor

Drug used to increase blood pressure