Glossary of COVID

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

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A[edit | edit source]

COVID 19 Glossary
COVID 19 Glossary

Ratio of the volume of air flowing through a space in a certain period of time (air flow rate) to the volume of that space (room volume);usually expressed as the number of room air changes per hour (ACH).

Single- occupancy patient-care room in which environmental factors are controlled to minimize transmission of infectious agents spread from person to person by droplet nuclei associated with coughing or aerosolization of contaminated fluids;AIIRs typically have specific requirements for controlled ventilation, air pressure, and air filtration.

Measures to reduce the risk of airborne transmission of infectious agents; an AIIR with negative pressure relative to the surrounding area is required for full implementation.

Occurs by dissemination of either airborne droplet nuclei (small-particle residue [5 µm or smaller] of evaporated droplets containing microorganisms that remain suspended in the air for long periods of time) or dust particles containing the infectious agent. Microorganisms carried in this manner can be dispersed widely by air currents and may become inhaled by a susceptible host in the same room or over a longer distance from the source patient, depending on environmental factors.

B[edit | edit source]

Procedure for visually examining the respiratory tract and/or obtaining specimens for diagnostic purposes; requires inserting an instrument (bronchoscope) through a patient’s mouth or nose into the trachea.

C[edit | edit source]

A person who has cared for or lived with a person with SARS or had a high likelihood of direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a person with SARS either during the period the person was clinically ill or within 10 days of resolution of symptoms. Examples of close contact include kissing or embracing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, talking within 3 feet, physical examination, and any other direct physical contact between persons. Close contact does not include activities such as walking by a person or briefly sitting across a waiting room or office.

Measures to separate infected or exposed persons by use of isolation, quarantine, or other restrictions on movement and activities ;isolation and quarantine are common practices in public health, and both aim to control exposure to infected or potentially infected persons; both may be used voluntarily or compelled by public health authorities.

In the context of SARS, transmission of SARS-CoV outside of well-defined settings (i.e., hospitals; households of SARS patients).

A person who may be at risk of a contagious disease because of their proximity or exposure to a known case. Exact definition of close contact differs by disease; for COVID-19, the CDC defines a close contact as anyone who has been within 6 feet of a person infected with the virus for a prolonged period of time, or has had direct contact with the infected person’s secretions. 

The process of identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to a contagious disease to prevent onward transmission.

A family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The novel coronavirus recently discovered has been named SARS-CoV-2 and it causes COVID-19. 

A person who has been exposed to someone with a communicable disease during the infectious period. 

Work practices to reduce the risk of transmitting infectious agents by direct or indirect contact with an infectious person.

One of a group of viruses that have a halo or crown-like (corona) appearance when viewed under a microscope. These viruses are a common cause of mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness in humans and are associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and neurologic disease in animals.

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D[edit | edit source]

Measures to reduce the risk of droplet transmission of infectious agents.

Occurs when droplets containing infectious agents are propelled a short distance through the air (e.g., by coughing, sneezing, or talking) and deposited in the eyes, nose or mouth of a susceptible person.

E[edit | edit source]

An increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area.

Condition of being subjected to something (e.g., an infectious agent) that could have a harmful effect.

F[edit | edit source]

The use of a protocol to qualitatively or quantitatively evaluate the fit of a respirator on an individual to assess the adequacy of fit of that respirator brand/model on that individual.

H[edit | edit source]

A general term that applies to any one of the following: 1) handwashing with plan (non-antimicrobial) soap and water, 2) antiseptic handwash (soap containing antiseptic agents and water), 3) antiseptic hand rub (waterless antiseptic product, most often alcohol-based, rubbed on surfaces of hands), or 4) surgical hand antisepsis.

Any employee in a healthcare facility who has close contact with patients, patient-care areas, or patient-care items; also referred to as “healthcare personnel.”

Type of air filter that removes >99.97% of particles 0.3 um or larger at a specified flow rate of air.

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I[edit | edit source]

Predetermined organizational structure for potential mass casualty events that address planning, operations, logistics, finance, and administration.

Time interval between infection (i.e., introduction of the infectious agent into the susceptible host) and the onset of the first symptom of illness known to be caused by the infectious agent.

Measures practiced by healthcare personnel in healthcare facilities to decrease transmission and acquisition of infectious agents (e.g., proper hand hygiene, scrupulous work practices, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) [masks or respirators, gloves, gowns, and eye protection]; infection control measures are based on how an infectious agent is transmitted and include standard, contact, droplet, and airborne precautions.

Separation of an ill person who has a communicable disease (e.g., SARSpatient) from those who are healthy. Isolation prevents transmission of infection to others and also allows for the focused delivery of specialized health care to ill persons.

M[edit | edit source]

Watching, keeping track of, or checking for a specific purpose. In the context of SARS, monitoring refers to assessment (by phone or in person) of a person who has a known or possible exposure to SARS-CoV to detect the development of symptoms and ensure prompt implementation of precautions if necessary.

relies on self-assessment by the affected person, who is asked to contact health authorities if symptoms develop.

  • Active monitoring: involves direct assessment of each affected person at least once a day by healthcare or public health staff or designee.

N[edit | edit source]

Respirator whose filtering efficiency has been determined to be at least 95% for the most penetrating sized particle (~0.3 um); an N-95 respirator may either be a disposable filtering facepiece respirator (the entire face piece serves as the filter) or an elastomeric facepiece respirator equipped with an appropriate particulate filter cartridge.

Pressure less than that of the ambient atmosphere.

Acquired in a healthcare setting or as a result of medical care.

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P[edit | edit source]

An epidemic that has spread over several countries/continents, usually affecting a large number of people.

Laboratory method for detecting the genetic material of an infectious disease agent in specimens.

Specialized clothing and equipment designed to create a barrier against health and safety hazards; examples include goggles, face shields, gloves, and respirators.

Respirator equipped with a face piece, hood, or helmet, breathing tube, air-purifying filter, cartridge and/or canister, and fan; air is pulled through the air-purifying element and pushed through the breathing tube and into the face piece, hood, or helmet.

Q[edit | edit source]

Separation or restriction of activities of well persons who are not ill but who are believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease and are therefore at high risk of becoming infected. In the context of SARS, quarantine refers to a combined approach to managing contacts, which consists of active monitoring plus activity restrictions.

R[edit | edit source]

An epidemiologic metric used to describe the contagiousness or transmissibility of infectious agents, which is usually estimated with complex mathematical models developed using various sets of assumptions. It is an estimate of the average number of new cases of a disease that each case generates, at a given point in time. R0 estimates for the virus that causes COVID-19 are around 2 to 3, which is slightly higher than that for seasonal influenza (R0 ~1.2-1.3), but far lower than more contagious diseases such as measles (R0 ~12 - 18). Source: Delamater et. al./Guerra et. al./Biggerstaff et. al.

A personal protective device that is worn over the nose and mouth to reduce the risk of inhaling hazardous airborne particles, gases, or vapors.

A group of infection control measures used to contain infection at its source by covering the mouth and nose during coughing and sneezing, using tissues to contain respiratory secretions with prompt disposal in a no-touch receptacle, and maintaining spatial separation when coughing. These measures are targeted to patients and the persons accompanying them beginning at the point of initial encounter with a healthcare setting.

When screening patients for potential SARS-CoV disease, “respiratory symptoms” generally refers to symptoms of infection of the lower respiratory tract (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing). However, when screening patients who have a high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV (e.g., persons previously identified through contact tracing or self-identified as close contacts of a laboratory-confirmed case of SARS-CoV disease; persons who are epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed case of SARS-CoV disease), respiratory symptoms used to screen patients should be expanded to include upper respiratory symptoms such as sore throat and rhinorrhea (in addition to other early non-respiratory symptoms of SARS-CoV disease such as subjective fever, chills, rigors, myalgia, headache, and diarrhea).

S[edit | edit source]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome; a clinical syndrome characterized by fever, lower respiratory symptoms, and radiographic evidence of pneumonia.

SARS-associated coronavirus; a newly described coronavirus that is genetically and antigenically distinct from other human coronaviruses.

The name of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease.

The combined use of Standard, Contact, and Droplet Precautions plus Airborne Infection Isolation for the care of SARS patients. This combination of isolation precautions is recommended until the dynamics of SARS-CoV transmission are more fully defined.

Four-fold or greater increase in antibody titer between acute- and convalescent-phase serum specimens tested in parallel, or negative antibody test on acute-phase serum with positive test on convalescent-phase serum tested in parallel.

Measures taken to reduce person-to-person contact in a given community, with a goal to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease. Measures can include working from home, closing offices and schools, canceling events, and avoiding public transportation. Source: CIDRAP

A laboratory method for detecting the presence and/or level of antibodies to an infectious agent in serum from a person. Antibodies are substances made by the body’s immune system to fight a specific infection.

One type of community containment measure designed to prevent transmission of a communicable disease by limiting social interactions and preventing inadvertent exposures. Community members are asked to stay home as they would during a major snowstorm. Schools are closed, work sites are closed or restricted, large public gatherings are cancelled, and public transportation is halted or scaled back.

Work practices required for the basic level of infection control; they center on proper hand hygiene and also include use of protective barriers and appropriate handling of clinical waste.

Ability to obtain additional resources when needed during an emergency.

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T[edit | edit source]

Any mechanism through which an infectious agent, such as a virus, is spread from a reservoir or source to a human.

One type of notification of an outbreak of disease occurring in a geographic area. A travel advisory provides information about the disease outbreak and informs travelers how to reduce their risk of acquiring the infection. An advisory recommends against nonessential travel to the area.

One type of notification of an outbreak of disease occurring in a geographic area. A travel alert provides information about the disease outbreak and informs travelers how to reduce their risk of acquiring the infection. An alert does not include a recommendation against nonessential travel to the area.

The process for sorting or “ranking” ill or injured people into groups based on their need for or benefit from immediate medical treatment.

COVID vaccine development
COVID vaccine development

WHO preventing coronavirus[edit source]

Coronavirus: WHO declares COVID 19 a pandemic.

Treatments[edit source]

The monoclonal antibodies treatments Bamlanivimab (made by Eli Lilly and Company) and the therapeutic cocktail Casirivimab/Imdevimab (made by Regeneron) called monoclonal antibodies that can be given to help treat patients with COVID-19.  

Vaccines[edit source]

List of approved COVID-19 vaccinations in US[edit source]

The following COVID-19 vaccines have received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of COVID-19:

External links[edit source]

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