Defence against disease - pathogens Flashcards
What is a pathogen?
A pathogen is any microorganism that causes disease in another organism.
Name four types of pathogens.
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Protists
- Viruses
True or False: All species of bacteria, fungi, and protists are pathogens.
False
What type of diseases do pathogens cause?
Pathogens cause communicable diseases.
Give three examples of communicable diseases.
- Tuberculosis
- Athlete’s foot
- Malaria
What are non-communicable diseases?
Non-communicable diseases are non-infectious diseases.
Name two examples of non-communicable diseases.
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
What role does careful observation play in disease treatment?
Careful observation can lead to important progress and understanding of diseases.
Cholera is caused by which bacterium?
Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
How is cholera transmitted?
Cholera can be transmitted through contaminated water or food.
What major event occurred in 1854 related to cholera in London?
A cholera outbreak in Soho led to the death of over 500 people in a month.
Who was John Snow?
John Snow was a local doctor who studied cholera outbreaks and traced them to a contaminated water pump.
What was the result of John Snow’s intervention during the cholera outbreak?
The outbreak came to an end after the pump handle was removed.
What is childbed fever also known as?
Childbed fever is also known as puerperal fever.
How is childbed fever transmitted?
Childbed fever is transmitted through direct contact during the delivery process.
What did Ignaz Semmelweis observe about maternity wards?
Semmelweis observed a higher number of deaths in one maternity ward compared to another.
What practice did Semmelweis implement to reduce deaths from childbed fever?
Semmelweis initiated a mandatory hand washing policy.
Fill in the blank: The removal of the pump handle during the cholera outbreak was an example of _______.
[an effective public health intervention]
True or False: Hand washing is considered fundamental in healthcare for controlling transmissible diseases.
True
