Penn Home IT Glossary

Penn Home Infusion Team
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Last Modified: November 1, 2001


This glossary will help you to understand some of the words and phrases used when describing infusion therapy. Not all of the words will relate to your program.

Additive	Medication or vitamin added to the IV solution.
Ambulatory	Able to walk around.
Amino Acids	The basic building blocks of protein.
Ampule	A small, sealed glass container of medication used one time only.
Analgesic	Medicine which relieves pain.
Antibiotic	Medication used to fight an infection by killing bacteria.
Antiseptic	A solution that stops bacteria from multiplying.
Aseptic	Free of bacteria.
Bacteria	Germas that may cause infection.
Bolus	Infusion of a medication or solution over a short period of time.
Carbohydrates	Sugars and starches that are energy sources for the body.
Chemotherapy	Medication that kills cancer cells.
Contaminated	Dirty, soiled or infected by coming into contact with unsterile objects or surfaces.
cc	A unit of measurement which means cubic centimeter. Same as ml.
Cycle	Giving infusion therapy for only a certain number of hours each day.
Dextrose	Type of sugar.
ml	A unit of measurement which means millimeter. Same as cc.
Minerals	Nutrients that the body uses such as iron and zinc.
Nutrients	Parts of food which the body needs to make new cells and tissues.
Parenteral	Administration of fluides, nutrients or medication directly into the vein.
Procedure	A series of steps to follow.
Residual	The amount of feeding left in the stomach from prior feeding.
Sepsis	An infection throughout the body caused by germs or bacteria in the blood stream.
Sterile	Free from bacteria or other contamination.
Subcutaneous	Method of giving medications under the skin.
Trace Elements	Minerals that the body requires in very small amounts.
Vitamins	Essential nutrients that the body needs for a variety of functions.