Glossary

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Some of the words and names used can be confusing so we present a glossary of the definitions of some of the terms commonly used in antimicrobial resistance, research and explanations of the acronyms that are often used. It is not a complete list of all words you might come across but we hope the listing is helpful.

 
ABU
Antibiotic use
ADR
Adverse Drug Reaction (also known as AR)
Adverse event
An unfavourable outcome that occurs during or after the use of a drug or other intervention, but is not necessarily caused by it.
AMC
Antimicrobial Consumption
AMP
Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides form an integral part of organism's host defence system.
AMRHAI
Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections.
AmpC
AmpC beta-lactamases are enzymes which convey resistance to penicillins, second and third generation cephalosporins and cephamycins. They also result in resistance to combinations of these antibiotics and substances which are actually intended to inhibit the effect of beta-lactamases
AMR
Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, and some parasites) to stop an antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials) from working against it.
AMS
Antimicrobial Stewardship
AMU
Antimicrobial Use
Antibiotic
Substance produced by or obtained from certain bacteria or fungi that can be used to kill or inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.
Antibodies
Defensive protein produced by an organism in response to the presence of foreign or invading substances such as proteins found on viruses or bacteria.
APAM
Antibiotic Prescribing Appropriateness Measures
AR
Any untoward and unintended response to an investigational medicinal product related to any dose administered
ARGs
Antibiotic resistance genes
AST
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing

 

Bacteriophage
Commonly called a phage, is a virus that infects and replicates within a bacterium.
Bacterium
Any of a large group of single-celled organisms which have no organized nucleus.
Biofilm
Colony of billions of bacteria living on the surface of something that can provide them with water and nutrients. The biofilm colony produces a protective slimy coat.
BSI
Bloodstream infection

 

Cell
This is the basic unit of life. Cells can exist as independent life forms, such as bacteria and protists– or form tissues in more complicated life forms.
Chromosome
Thread-like structures that become visible in the nucleus of a cell just before it divides. Chromosomes carry the genes that determine the characteristics of an organism.
Compound
Two or more chemical elements forming a substance.
Contagious
describes a disease that can be transmitted by contact between one organism and another.
CPE
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae
CRE
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

 

DDD
Defined Daily Doses
Disease Agent
Any organism, such as a bacterium, that can cause disease.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid – genetic material of almost all living organisms, except some viruses. DNA is formed by two long chains of nucleotides joined together in a double helix.
DRI
Drug resistant infections.

 

EM
Experimental Medicine
Epidemic
An infectious disease that affects many people at the same time and spreads rapidly.
Epidemiology
The study of population and community health, not just individuals.
Equipoise
A state of uncertainty where a person believes it is equally likely that either of two treatment options is better
ESBL
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase
Evidence base
A collection of all the research data currently available about a health or social care topic, such as how well a treatment or service works.
Evolve
In biology, to develop a characteristic over a period of time as a result of mutation and natural selection.

 

FQRP
Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Fungus
spore producing organisms such as mushrooms and moulds

 

Gene
A unit of heredity, a gene is a set of instructions for assembling a protein from amino acids. Each gene is a length of DNA and each chromosome carries a number of genes.

 

HAI
Hospital Acquired Infection. Medical term for a HAI is nosocomial.
Helminth
Any of a group of parasitic worms – such as flukes, tapeworms.
HPV
human papillomavirus

 

ICU
Intensive care unit
Immune System
Cells of the body that give protection against invasion by foreign micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses. These cells directly attack invading organisms and cells that destroy infected body cells.
Immunization
By introducing a weakened or killed form of a virus into the body the immune system triggers a response to that particular disease thus making the body ready to deal with the actve form of the virus if encountered.
IMP
Investigational Medicinal Product: an unlicensed new drug, or an existing drug tested outside its licence, or existing drugs tested against each other for their efficacy/safety.
IND
Investigational New Drug: sometimes used instead of IMP.
Infection
An invasion of an organism by disease causing micro-organisms.
Infectious
Something capable of causing infection or is caused by an infection.
Interferon
When cells in the body are infected by viruses they produce a protein – interferon – which then travels to other non-infected cells to protect them from infection.
IPC
Infection, prevention and control
Interferon
When cells in the body are infected by viruses they produce a protein – interferon – which then travels to other non-infected cells to protect them from infection.
IPC
Infection, prevention and control

 

KPC
Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase

 

Medical Device
Any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, appliance, implant, software, material, or other similar or related article.
MIC
Minimum inhibitory concentration
Microbe
A minute organism typically visible under a microscope. Microbes include bacteria, fungi and protozoan parasites.
Microbiome
A community of micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that inhabit a particular environment and especially the collection of micro-organisms living in or on the human body.
Microorganism
Any microscopic living thing such as bacteria and protists.
Morbidity
Illness or harm
M&E
Monitoring and Evaluation
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
MSSA
Methicillin Sensitive staphylococcus aureus
Mutation
A usually harmful change in the genes produced by a change in the DNA as it is copied during cell division.
Mycosis
Growth of fungus on or in the body.

 

NDM
New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase
Nosocomial
Medical term for a hospital-acquired infection
Nutrient
Any nutritious substance found in food.

 

OXA
Oxacillinase

 

Pandemic
An epidemic that is spread over a wide geographical area.
Parasite
An organism living on another and benefiting at the expense of it.
PBP
Penicillin-binding protein
PCV
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Plasmid
A circular strand of DNA found in bacteria that is separate from the main chromosome DNA.
Protein
One of a group of complex organic molecules that perform a variety of essential tasks in living things.
Protists
A diverse group of organisms that are either unicellular or multicellular without highly specialized tissues.
PV
Pharmacovigilance, the science relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of the adverse effects of medicines.

 

QA
Quality Assurance
Quarantine
Period of time during which a person or animal suspected of carrying an infectious disease is kept isolated to prevent the spread of disease.
QC
Quality Control
QLQ
Quality of Life Questionnaire.
QP
Qualified Person. All manufacturing activities will need to be conducted in a unit which has an IMP manufacturing authorisation with a named Qualified Person (QP). Disease is kept isolated to prevent the spread of disease.

 

Radiation
Energy transmitted in the form of waves or perticles as a result of the breakdown of a radioactive substance.
RNA
Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins, although in some viruses RNA rather than DNA carries the genetic information.
RVD
Rational Vaccine Design
Rupture
To break open or burst

 

SAE
Serious Adverse Event - any adverse event or adverse reaction that is Life-threatening and results in death.
SAR
Severe Adverse Reaction. Any adverse event or adverse reaction that results in death, is life-threatening, requires hospitalisation or prolongation of existing hospitalisatin, results in persistant or significant disability or incapacity, or is a congenital anomaly or birth defect.
SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus of the genus Betacoronavirus
SHV
Sulfhydryl-variable beta-lactamase
SIR
Susceptible, intermediate, resistant
SPC
Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC or SPC). The basis of information for health professionals on how to use the medicinal product safely and effectively.
Spleen
Organ of the body that also destroys old and damaged red blood cells.
Spore
 Resting state of a bacterium entered when conditions are unfavourable. A spore can successfully resist hostile conditions for a long time.
ST
Sequence type
Strain
A group of organisms of one species that have distinctive characteristics but are not sufficiently different to be considered a separate species
SUSAR
Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reactions. An adverse reaction that is both unexpected (not consistent with the applicable product information) and also meets the definition of a Serious Adverse Event/Reaction.
Symptom
Any change in mind or body that indicates that someone is suffering from a disease.
Synthetic
Something produced by artificial means rather than naturally.

 

Toxicity
The degree to which a medicine is poisonous. How much of a medicine can be taken before it has a toxic effect.
Toxin
Poisonous substance produced by an organism such as a bacterium.

 

UAR
Unexpected Adverse Reaction. An adverse reaction, the nature or severity of which is not consistent with the applicable product information.
UTI
Urinary Tract Infection

 

Vaccination
Giving a vaccine in order to give protection from a disease.
Vaccine
A weakened or killed form of a bacterium or virus that causes disease, given to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against the disease.
Vector
The path by which a disease causing micro-organism travels from one host to another. Biting insects are a common vector of disease.
VIM
Verona integron-encoded metallo-beta-lactamase
Virulent
The disease causing ability of a micro-organism.
Virus
Viruses are disease agents and are true parasites as they need a living organism as a host; they are not complete living organisms. Viruses occupy a special taxonomic position: they are not plants, animals, or prokaryotic bacteria (single-cell organisms without defined nuclei), and they are generally placed in their own kingdom.
VRE
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, or vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), are bacterial strains of the genus Enterococcus that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin.
A One Health approach is needed to fight antibiotic resistance – everyone has a role to play to improve antibiotic prescribing and use. Join the global fightback against AMR