Antibiotic-resistant: Organisms that have the ability to alter themselves genetically so that antibiotics do not have an inhibitory or lethal effect on them, thus allowing continued proliferation.

Antimicrobial: The property pertaining to any of several categories of agents that are intended to combat or to be toxic to pathogenic organisms, including antibacterials, antiprotozoals, antifungals, and antiparasitics.

Biofilm: A complex microbial community containing bacteria and fungi. The microorganisms synthesize and secrete a protective matrix that attaches the biofilm firmly to a living or non-living surface. The biofilm contributes to underlying wound infection, chronic inflammation, and delay in healing, and it is much more prevalent in chronic wounds than in acute wounds.

Colonization: Microorganism replication on the surface of a wound without host immune response or invasion into wound tissue.

Cross-contamination: The process of inadvertently transferring microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, from one location to another. Cross-contamination of post-operative wounds is a high risk for surgical patients.

Culture: A laboratory test to identify organisms (and potential applicable antibiotics) through growing and monitoring bacteria or other cells in a special growth medium.

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites with an associated host reaction. Signs of infection may include redness, tenderness, warmth, odor, erythema, swelling, fever, pain, and increased white blood cells.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Among the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria. MRSA often causes hospital-acquired infections. Symptoms may begin as small red bumps on the skin that can become pus-filled abscesses or boils.

Planktonic bacteria: Free-floating bacteria that are continuously shed in fully mature biofilms. These bacteria can disperse and attach to other parts of the wound bed or to other wounds, thus forming new biofilm colonies.

Topical antibiotics: Antibiotics that are applied to a localized area to combat superficial infection. They often have a lower risk profile than systemic antibiotics, although there is decreased tissue penetration in comparison.