Bloodstream and Systemic Infection Flashcards
What is the difference between bacteremia and septicemia?
Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the blood without clinical manifestation, and septicemia is the presence of bacteria in the blood with clinical signs
Can one become septic without first having systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)?
No, must have SIRS in order to become septic
What occurs in severe sepsis and septic shock?
Severe sepsis: Organs start to shut down
Septic shock: Not responsive to fluid therapy, high mortality rate
What agents can cause sepsis?
Bacterial infection (Gram + or -), viruses, fungi
By what mechanisms do bacteria cause sepsis?
Pore-forming exotoxin, superantigens, enzymes (DNAse, coagulase, etc.)
How does sepsis occur?
A localized infection releases bacterial components into the blood
How do superantigens cause sepsis?
Stimulate massive T cell recruitment which then calls a massive amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines to the area, causes septic shock
What is the sepsis cascade?
Infection leads to increased inflammation and coagulation, which leads to increased presence of clots, causing less oxygen to be taken to organs, which ends in organ dysfunction
What are the two phases of sepsis?
Inflammatory and immunosuppressive
What are PAMPs and how are they useful?
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns, they are recognized by host cells attempting to rid them from the body
How does the body recognize PAMPs?
With PRRs (Pattern-recognition receptor)
Name three things that the macrophage causes to occur when bacterial components bind to it.
Inflammation is triggered, fever, B cell development
What is ARDS?
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
What clinical signs are seen if Bacillus anthracis is in the blood?
ARDS, initial increased cardiac output then decreased, hypotension which can lead to renal failure, increased WBCs, decreased platelets, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), internal bleeding, ischemia/organ failure
What are the two types of viremia?
Primary: Initial spread of virus to bloodstream
Secondary: Second tissue affected via the blood-spread of the primary viremia
