Chapter 16 The Immune System, Bacterial and fungal infections Flashcards
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immune system
a complex system made up of specialized organs, ducts, cells, and proteins that work together to help fight infection
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spleen
an organ that filters blood and removes microbes and damaged red blood cells
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pathogen
a microorganism, such as bacterium or virus, that can cause infection or disease
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phagocytosis
the process by which phagocytes engulf and often destroy pathogens and other particulate matter
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antibody
a y-shaped protein that recognizes and then binds to a specific type of antigen after the immune system has been exposed to that antigen
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bacterial infection
a condition in which bacteria grow in body tissues and cause tissue damage to the host either by their presence or by the toxins they produce
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antibiotic
a chemical substance with the ability to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria
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spectrum of activity
the range of bacteria against which it is effective
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nosocomial infection
one that is acquired while the patient is in a hospital or nursing home
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antiseptic
a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms
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Stevens-Johnson syndrome
a reaction that can be fatal, marked by large red blotches on the skin
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arrythmia
varying or irregular heartbeat
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sepsis
a systemic inflammatory response to an infection, usually blood-borne bacterial infections caused by gram-negative organisms
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loading dose
a large initial dose that rapidly brings blood concentration to a therapeutic level
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chancre
a small, usually painless ulcer with a hard base, at the site of infection
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fungus
a single celled organism similar to an animal cell and to a green plant cell
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pulse dosing
a type of dosing regimen that produces escalating antimicrobial levels early in the dosing interval, followed by a prolonged dose-free period
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normal saline
is a sterile IV or irrigation solution containing a concentration of 0.9% sodium chloride in water
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echinacea
is an herb some patients use to treat the common cold, RTI’s, and even vaginal yeast infections
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synergistic drug therapy
drug therapy using two or more drugs together because they employ different mechanisms of action that work better together than either drug works alone
