CPA #3 Questions Flashcards
define pathogenicity
the ability of a microbe to cause disease
define virulence
the degree of pathogenicity; relative ability of a pathogen to infect a host; indicates severity of disease
define phagocytosis
digestion via phagocyte; engulf and remove pathogens from the body
are antiphagocytic factors good for the body?
bad; they interrupt the body’s phagocytic cells, stopping them from removing pathogens
how are capsules antiphagocytic?
slippery due to the mycolic acid coating on outside; the capsules are composed of chemicals found in the human body; therefore they do not trigger the immune response
what are the 5 stages of the disease process in order?
- incubation
- prodromal
- illness
- decline
- convalescence
which stage of the disease process does not always present with every disease?
prodromal
define incubation period
first stage; no signs of symptoms, time between infection and first s/s
define prodromal stage
second stage; vague, general s/s
define illness stage
third stage; most severe s/s; usually when the physician first sees a patient
define decline stage
declining s/s
define convalescence stage
no s/s at all
define incidence
number of new cases of a disease in a given area of population during a given period of time
define prevalence
total number of cases, both new and already existing in a given area of population during a given period of time
where do hospitals report infectious disease occurances?
local health department
