This document provides the official standardised terminology used across Georgian infection prevention and control (IPC) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) guidelines — ensuring consistent use of clinical and laboratory terms in national documentation, surveillance reporting and accreditation assessments.
Key terminology definitions (selected)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) | Used as a marker of biological contamination on surfaces; measured by luminescence bioluminescence assay to assess cleaning efficacy |
| Aerobic colony count (ACC) | Total number of viable aerobic bacteria on a specific surface, expressed as colony-forming units (CFU) per cm² |
| Antiseptic agent | A liquid, gel or foam used on body surfaces to inactivate microorganisms or inhibit their growth |
| Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) / hand sanitiser | A preparation (liquid, gel or foam) based on alcohol (ethanol, isopropanol) for hand treatment to reduce microorganism counts when hands are not visibly soiled; requires less time than handwashing |
| Antimicrobial soap | Soap with antiseptic action beyond mechanical removal |
| Aseptic technique | Practices used to prevent introduction of microorganisms into sterile body areas during clinical procedures |
| Biofilm | Community of microorganisms attached to a surface and enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix; significantly more resistant to antimicrobials than planktonic organisms |
| Contact transmission | Transfer of microorganisms through direct physical contact between persons or indirect contact via contaminated surfaces/objects |
| Droplet transmission | Transfer of microorganisms via large respiratory droplets (>5 μm) generated by coughing, sneezing or talking; deposited on mucosal surfaces within ~1 metre |
| Airborne transmission | Transfer via small particles (≤5 μm) that remain suspended in air and travel beyond 1 metre; requires airborne precautions and, for procedures, N95/FFP2 respirators |
| Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) | Infection occurring in a patient during the process of care in a hospital or other healthcare facility that was not present or incubating at the time of admission |
| Multimodal strategy | Combination of ≥3 interventions from different categories implemented simultaneously to achieve behavioural change and IPC improvement |
| Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) | Ability of microorganisms to survive or grow in the presence of antimicrobial agents at concentrations that would normally inhibit or kill them |
Original Georgian text (ქართული ტექსტი)
Georgian original source / ქართული წყარო
AMR Surveillance Annexes — Georgian Original (gapince.org.ge)
In plain language
The annexes define the terms, case definitions and data elements used in national AMR surveillance, so that laboratories and hospitals across Georgia report in the same way.
Why it matters
Key actions checklist
- Use the national definitions when recording isolates
- Remove duplicate isolates according to the rules
- Classify infections as community- or hospital-onset
- Apply the agreed interpretive criteria for susceptibility testing
International guidance
Questions and answers
Why standard definitions?
Comparable data are only possible when every laboratory and hospital uses the same definitions.
Where is the main guideline?
See AMR surveillance.