Immunity/Inflammation Flashcards
Innate immunity
1st line/what you’re born with - natural barriers (physical, chemical, mechanical), cellular defenses. Non-selective/non-specific
WBCs
5-10,000. Stimulate inflammatory response and protect against infection. Elevated: inflammation/infx. Decreased: aplastic anemia, autoimmune, overwhelming infx, side effect of chemo
Neutrophil
40-70% of WBCs. Segmented = mature. Banded = new.1st to respond to bacteria, virus. Phagocytosis.
Bandemia
WBC differential tells how many young/mature. Shift to the left = infx
Macrophages
Help stimulate immediate response of inflammation and longer acquired immunity (arrive 24 hrs after neutrophils). Phagocytosis, signal protein to activate immune cells, clear out dead cells.
Eosinophils
Allergic response, asthma. Parasitic larvae infxs.
Basophils
Produce histamine and serotonin (inflammation) and heparin (prevent bld clotting at site). Allergies, anaphylaxis, asthma
Mast cells
Similar to Basophils. Release chemical mediators to maintain inflammation (heparin, histamine, cytokines)
Anaphylaxis
Massive degranulation of mast cells and basophils leads to venous congestion and leaky vessels. Airway swelling, low BP, spasms of bronchial smooth muscle, airway constriction.
Natural killer cells
Destroy host cells with invading microbes. Innate.
Dendritic cells
Identify threats and act as messenger for immune system. Bridge between innate and adaptive. Capture foreign agents and transport to lymph nodes.
Benefits of inflammation
- prevent infx and further damage by invading microorgansims
- limit and control inflammatory processes
- interacts with adaptive immunity system to elicit more specific response
- repairs the area of injury for healing
Pyrexia
fever - 101F (38.3C)
Labs for inflammation
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) - RBCs clump together more quickly w/ inflammation
- C-reactive protein - increased w/ infx/inflammation
Collecting cultures
Obtain culture before beginning antimicrobial therapies. Sources: respiratory, blood, urine, cerebospinal or peritoneal fluid.