Key Terminology 2

Practicum of Health Science – Pharmacy Tech Program

An unexpected and undesirable effect caused by a drug; different from a known side effect.

Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) One single, relatively large quantity of

a substance, administered rapidly. Bolus

Severe or fatal reaction by a patient to an agent for which the patient has become extremely sensitized.

Anaphylactic Shock Agent that stops or inhibits the growth

of bacteria (such as erythromycin) Bacteriostatic agent

Procedures designed to prevent contamination of drugs, packaging, equipment, or supplies by microorganisms during processing.

Aseptic preparation A substance that kills bacteria or

inhibits its growth. Antibacterial agent

Used to treat cancer by substituting in or blocking the use of essential nutrients and enzymes

antimetabolites A drug that is able to kill or inhibit the

growth of bacteria or other microorganisms.

antibiotics

Air pressure is greater inside of an enclosed area as compared to outside of enclosed area. This forces particulate matter to the outside of the enclosed area.

positive air pressure

An IV access into one of the major blood vessels

central line Extraneous undissolved mobile

substances, such as precipitate present in the parenteral products

particulate matter

Occurs when two or more chemical substances react and cause a significant change of one or more of the substances.

chemical incompatibility A sterile, injectable medication (i.e.

SC, ID, IM, IV) parenteral

Condition or circumstance that mandates that a drug should not be given

contraindication An infection acquired while the patient

is in the hospital or healthcare facility nosocomial infection

When a drug accumulates in the body faster than the body can metabolize or eliminate it

cumulative effect A drug administered for therapeutic

purposes into the body via the vascular system

infusion

Fluids used to dissolve drugs in solid form

diluents Two or more drugs mixed together

that cause either a physical, chemical or therapeutic change in the drug, and produce undesirable effects

incompatible

Long or short term IV feeding of high protein, high carbohydrate solutions to provide a patient’s total nutritional requirements

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) The substance that is dissolved in a

solution solute

Measure and documented evidence, providing a high degree of assurance that a specific process will consistently produce a product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes

process validation

The complete destruction of microorganisms by heat or other method; free of microorganisms.

sterilization The outcome that is expected for a

particular disease, and whether there is a chance for recovery

prognosis

The substance used to dissolve another substance (the solute)

solvent The set of activities used to assure

that the process used in the preparation of sterile drug products leads to products that meet predetermined standards of quality

quality assurance

Some drugs are in a powder form because they are too unstable to be mixed until ready for use. Mixing the powder with a liquid is called

reconstitution Under the skin; an injection

administered under the skin subcutaneous

The set of testing activities used to determine that the ingredients, components, and final sterile pharmaceuticals prepared meet predetermined requirements with respect to identity, purity, non-pyrogenicity, and sterility

Quality Control

Introduction of undesired microorganism or particles

contamination Produced during a single

manufacturing order batch Undesired effect of a drug side effect

Results from a poison or a dangerous amount of a drug

toxicity Invasion by an agent into the body infection An agent produced by the body in

response to an antigen antibody

An agent that destroys or inhibits microorganisms on inanimate objects

disinfectant

Common Medical Prefixes

a-; an- without; not ante- before; forward anti- against

bi- two; both brady- slow contra- against; opposite dys- difficult; painful; bad

en-; endo- inside; within epi- above ex- out; outward hyper- excessive; above

hypo- insufficient; below infra- under; below inter- between intra- within

iso- equal; same micro- small multi- many; multiple neo- new

para- beside; near per- through peri- around poly- many; excessive

post- after, behind pre- before semi- half; one-half sub- below; under

Let’s review some Common Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms, and Common Pharmacy Abbreviations