3. An Infection Model Flashcards
What 4 things can a pathogen be?
Virus
Bacterium
Fungus
Parasite
How does age of patient affect an infection?
Immune system becomes worse with age
Neonates are affected by infections that adults are not
Can gender affect likelihood of getting an infection?
Yes
E.g. women are more likely to get a UTI
What physiological states can affect an infection in a patient?
Pre-puberty
Post-puberty
Post-menopause
Pregnancy
How can pathological state of a patient affect infection?
Co-morbidities
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, lung disease
Surgery
What social factors can affect an infection?
Behaviours: unprotected sex, tattoos, IV drug use, sharing needles, shard toilets
Infections such as hepatitis
How can calendar time affect infections seen?
During winter, more colds and flu
Seasonal infections are seen at certain times of year
What is relative time of infection?
Incubation periods (e.g. salmonella 24-48hrs) Exposures and therefore corresponding disease
What questions need to be asked about a patients location?
Current - where are they now?
Recent - where have they been? When? (Weeks, months, years)
Why is where the patient has been so important?
Standard tests don’t test for many diseases present in foreign countries so need to know what extra tests to carry out
What are the mechanisms of infection?
Contiguous (direct) spread Inoculation Haemoatogenous Ingestion Inhalation Vector Vertical transmission
What is haematogeous transmission?
Blood borne spread
What is vertical transmission?
Mother to child
What are the stages of the infection in the body?
Attachment Toxin production Interaction with host defences Inflammation Host damage
What are the steps for management?
Diagnosis: history, examination, investigations
Treatment: specific (kills virus specifically, surgery), supportive (paracetamol, physiological restoration)
Infection prevention: hospital, community
