The infections that begin inside the building itself.
Practise this list
From these 34 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
L’audit d’observance is the hand hygiene compliance audit, and l’observance is a false friend with a second trap waiting on the far side of it. In English, « observance » is the keeping of a rule, a fast or a feast day: religious observances, the observance of a treaty. French has that sense too — l’observance franciscaine is a monastic rule together with the community that follows it — but in a hospital the word has been taken over by medicine and narrowed. It now measures how far a patient, or a nurse, actually does what the protocol says. L’observance du traitement is adherence to treatment, and l’observance de l’hygiène des mains is what the auditor counts at the bedside. The English word for exactly that is « compliance » — and here the second trap closes, because French has borrowed « compliance » as well and handed it to physiology. La compliance pulmonaire is how readily a lung stretches, and it has nothing to do with obeying anybody. Each language keeps the other one’s word, and puts it to a different job.
L’audit d’observance se fait dans la chambre, pas sur papier.The compliance audit is done in the room, not on paper.
l’équipement de protection individuellethe personal protective equipmentNoun (m)C2
L’équipement de protection individuelle se retire dans un ordre précis.Personal protective equipment is taken off in a set order.
le dépistage à l’admissionthe admission screeningNoun (m)C2
Le dépistage à l’admission repère le portage avant l’opération.Admission screening finds carriage before the operation.
le typage des souchesthe typing of the strainsNoun (m)C2
Le typage des souches dit si les cas ont la même origine.The typing of the strains says whether the cases have the same origin.
les prélèvements d’environnementthe environmental samplingNoun (m)C2
Les prélèvements d’environnement visent l’eau et les surfaces.Environmental sampling goes after the water and the surfaces.
le plan de sécurité de l’eauthe water safety planNoun (m)C2
Le plan de sécurité de l’eau décrit les points de contrôle du réseau.The water safety plan describes the control points of the network.
le bras mortthe dead legNoun (m)C2
Un bras mort garde une eau qui ne bouge plus.A dead leg holds water that no longer moves.
le cycle de stérilisationthe sterilisation cycleNoun (m)C2
Le cycle de stérilisation est enregistré et conservé.The sterilisation cycle is recorded and kept.
le retraitement des instrumentsthe reprocessing of the instrumentsNoun (m)C2
Le retraitement des instruments commence au bloc, pas à la stérilisation.The reprocessing of the instruments begins in theatre, not in the sterilisation unit.
le traitement des endoscopesthe endoscope decontaminationNoun (m)C2
Le traitement des endoscopes suit une chaîne sans retour en arrière.Endoscope decontamination follows a chain with no way back.
le plan de nettoyagethe cleaning scheduleNoun (m)C2
Le plan de nettoyage dit qui fait quoi et à quelle fréquence.The cleaning schedule says who does what and how often.
le bionettoyage terminalthe terminal cleanNoun (m)C2
Le bionettoyage terminal a lieu au départ du patient.The terminal clean takes place when the patient leaves.
le tri des déchetsthe waste segregationNoun (m)C2
Le tri des déchets se fait au lit du patient.Waste segregation is done at the patient’s bedside.
l’accident d’exposition au sangthe blood exposure incidentNoun (m)C2
L’accident d’exposition au sang se déclare tout de suite.A blood exposure incident is reported at once.
l’infirmier hygiénistethe infection control nurseNoun (m)C2
L’infirmier hygiéniste passe dans les services chaque semaine.The infection control nurse goes round the wards every week.
le signalement à l’autorité sanitairethe notification to the health authorityNoun (m)C2
Le signalement à l’autorité sanitaire suit des délais fixés.Notification to the health authority follows fixed deadlines.
