Immunology AC Flashcards
Function of the immune system
Protect the host (body) against environmental agents or organism. It is an organized series of actions in response to a pathological organism
Intention of the immune system
To destroy or neutralize the invader
The immune system identifies and destroys __________ and _________
Dead cells and malignant cells
Organs of the immune system
Bone marrow, thymus gland, spleen, and lymph system
Which organ is the cell production center?
Bone marrow
B and T cells are generated in the ________from_______
Bone marrow from stem cells
Where do B cells mature and differentiate?
Bone marrow
Where do T cells mature?
Thymus gland
What is WBC stand for?
White Blood Cells or Leukocytes
Which cells participate in natural and acquired response?
WBC or Leukocytes
What does the spleen do?
Filters the blood looking for foreign cells, stores different defense cells, stores RBC’s, and breaks down old RBC’s
What does the lymph system do?
Drains and filters fluids to detect and remove bacteria
Components of the lymph system
Lymph nodes and mucosal lymphatic system
What is also called an antibody generator?
An antigen
What is an antigen
A substance recognized as foreign or “no self” by immune system
What is an antigen capable of?
Capable of triggering an adaptive (specific) immune response
What are the 4 stages of the immune response?
I. Recognition stage, II. Proliferation stage, III. Response stage, and IV. Effector stage
What happens in the recognition stage?
Antigens are recognized by circulating lymphocytes and macrophages
What happens in the proliferation stage
The dormant lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into cytotoxic (killer) T cells or B cells responsible for formation and release of antibodies
What happens in the response stage
The cytotoxic T cells and B cells perform cellular and hormonal functions respectively
What happens in the effector stage
Antigens are destroyed or neutralized through the action of antibodies, complement, macrophages, and cytotoxic T cells
How is an antibody also called
Immunoglobulin (a large PR)
Antibodies or immunoglobulins are formed in response to what?
In response to specific antigens by B lymphocytes (cells)
How do antibodies or immunoglobulins tag and/or inactivate antigens?
Phagocytosis, precipitation, neutralization, lysis, agglutination, opzonization.
The immune response is divided in 2 categories
Innate (natural) immunity and adaptive (acquired) immunity
Characteristics of innate(natural) immunity
1st line of defense after antigen exposure with an inflammatory response, non-specific (no memory), we are born with it➡️has genetic influence, ⬇️ tissue damage and work of the adaptive immune system, includes skin and mucosa barriers
Characteristics of adaptive (acquired) immunity:
Specific to an antigen (has memory), it is a systematic response, 2 types: passive and active.
What is passive adaptive (acquired) immunity?
Temporary immunity and produced by a source outside the body
Examples of passive adaptive (acquired) immunity?
Immune globulins (antitoxin, snake venom antitoxin, HBIG-Hepatitis B immunoglobulins) and maternal antibodies transferred via placenta or breastmilk.
Phagocytosis immune response primary involves _______and it is the ________ response to most invading organism
WBC and it is the initial response for most invading organism
Humoral response involves…
B-lymphocytes and production of Immunoglobulins
Types of immunoglobulins
IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, IgD
Cell mediated response is initiated by ________
T-lymphocytes
Leukocytes are the key in _____ of the immune response
Initiation
Where are Leukocytes produced? And from which cell?
Bone marrow from the hematopoietic stem cell
What are the 3 major groups of Leukocytes ?
Granulocytes, {monocytes, lymphocytes} agranulocytes
What are the 3 major groups of granulocytes?
Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils
Which granulocytes are the first line of defense?
Neutrophils
Which granulocytes are the first to respond to bacterial infections and are phagocytosis?
Neutrophils
Which granulocytes elevate with allergic reactions and parasitic infections?
Eosinophils
Which granulocyte are releases during acute hypersensitivity or stress ?
Basophils
If somebody has an infectious process what do expect to see leukopenia or Leukocytosis?
Leukocytosis
What are the 2 types of agranulocytes?
Lymphocytes and monocytes
Another way to call monocytes is?
Macrophages
What type of cell are monocytes or macrophages?
Phagocytic
What agranulocyte responds primarily to viral infections and cancer cells?
Lymphocytes
What are the 3 types of lymphocytes?
B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, NK lymphocytes
What kind of response is the inflammatory response? Specific of nonspecific?
Nonspecific
Which are the two major parts that inflammatory response is divided into?
Vascular response and cellular response
In which kind of inflammatory response there is vasodilation secondary to the release of mediators like histamine and kinins
Vascular response
What is the result of the inflammatory vascular response?
Redness, edema, and fluid exudate that is high in protein in insterstitial space d/t cell membrane permeability
What is pus?
Dead Leukocytes (WBC) from the body’s immune system in response to infection
In which type of inflammatory response there is a migration of Leukocytes to the injury site
Cellular response
Which Leukocytes migrate to the injury site during the cellular response
Neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages
What is phagocytosis?
Engulfing of the pathogen
What Leukocytes are primarily involved in phagocytosis?
Neutrophils and macrophages
What are the 5 cardinal signs of inflammation?
Redness, warmth, swelling, pain, loss of function
Causes of inflammation
Mechanical injuries(surgeries), physical damage (burns), chemical injury (toxins), m.o. (Bacteria), extremes (hot or cold), immunologic responses (hypersensitivity), ischemic damage (trauma)
Causes of infection
Organism (pathogen) is able to colonize and multiply within host
Examples of organisms (pathogen)
Bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, rickettsia, chlamydia, fungi and parasite
Two of the classic hypersensitivities that cause inflammation
Bee sting and peanuts
How long should you leave hot or cold applications
No more than 20 minutes
Risk factors for infection can also______
Impair healing
Environmental risk factors for infection
Lifestyles, chronic diseases, drug therapy
What are some of the environmental risk factors for infection
Excessive ETOH, smoking, travel outside US. Air, water, food quality. Poor nutrition
What are the chronic diseases that are risco factors for infections?
Diabetes, renal insufficiency, chronic lung disease, adrenal insufficiency
What drug therapies put you at risk for infection
Immunosuppressive agents like corticosteroids and chemotherapy
What are the two classifications for corticosteroids
Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive.
Teaching for patients taking corticosteroids
Avoid crowds, wash hands, osteoporosis is a possibility with long term use of corticosteroids, watch glucose level because corticosteroids can increase levels, don’t stop the medication abruptly, long term use can cause cataracts, s/s of infection and to report them
What are the two types of tissue inflammation?
Acute and chronic
Which type of tissue inflammation is self-limiting with process lasting less than 2 weeks
Acute tissue inflammation
What are the localized manifestations of acute tissue inflammation
Erythema, local warmth, edema, pain, loss of function r/t affected site
Which type of tissue inflammation often results what acute process is ineffective in removing the offensive agent
Chronic tissue inflammation
What are the clinical manifestations of a systemic infection?
FEVER, CHILLS, pain or discomfort, DEHYDRATION, anorexia, vomiting, reddened, inflamed site
What are the symptoms of a systemic infection in elderly?
CONFUSION, behavioral changes, anorexia, dehydration
What interventions do we implement for infections
Encourage fluid or IV fluids, antipyretic medication, C & S before antibiotic therapy.
Nursing actions for Infection Assessment
S&S of infection, environmental history, recent travel or exposure, risky lifestyle or behaviors, nosocomial vs. community acquired
Intervention for infections
Obtain C & S if indicated, administer medications, encourage fluid intake, infection control measures (isolation precautions, patient education-hand hygiene)
Name an common opportunistic infection
Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff)
C. Diff starts within ________after antibiotic treatment initiated
1-2 weeks
Nursing interventions for opportunistic infections
Collect stool sample, implement contact precautions, administer meds
What are the indications when collecting stool sample
Do not delay➡️submit to lab, be careful not to contaminate specimen
What are the diagnostic done for infection
CBC with differential
C&S
