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Pharmacology for Nurses

Key Terms

Pharmacology for NursesKey Terms
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
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