Infection

Question 1

pathogens

Answer 1

specific microorganisms that are capable of causing infectious disease

viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites

Question 2

host

Answer 2

term used to describe the human or animal invaded and colonized by a pathogen

Question 3

colonization

Answer 3

indicates that a pathogen is living with the host but does not mean an infections exists

example: strep carriers or MRSA in the nostrils

Question 4

infection

Answer 4

describes the invasion, colonization, and multiplication of pathogens within the host; has been identified by diagnostic testing or evidence by sympotms

Question 5

reservoir

Answer 5

a source of a pathogenic organism that may or may not be suffering from the disease caused by the pathogen

Question 6

vector

Answer 6

a living being that can carry the pathogenic organism from the reservoir to the host.

Vectors are not infected they just transmit the pathogen, common vectors are mosquitos, ticks, and houseflies,

Question 7

epidemiology

Answer 7

the study of disease distributions in human populations

Question 8

incidence

Answer 8

number of new cases of an infection within a population

Question 9

prevalence

Answer 9

number of active ongoing cases of an infection at any given time

Question 10

endemic

Answer 10

the time when an incidence and prevalence are relatively stable

Question 11

epidemic

Answer 11

an abrupt increase in the incidence of disease within a geographic region

Question 12

pandemic

Answer 12

a term used to describe a global spread of a specifc disease

Question 13

carriers

Answer 13

individuals who can carry certain bacteria and transmit infections

Question 14

immunocompetence

Answer 14

refers to an individual’s ability to protect oneself from infectious agents because of a strong immune system

Question 15

immunosuppression

Answer 15

indicates that there is a defective immune system that is placing a person at risk for infections

Question 16

opportunistic infection

Answer 16

caused by a microorganisiom that flourishes becasue of a host’s weakened immune system

Question 17

nosocomial infections

Answer 17

an infection that is acquired in a healthcare facility

example: a post-operative patient who gets a urinary tract infection from the foley catheter.
C-diff, CAUTI, VRE, MRSA, and pneumonia are common nosocomial infections

Question 18

exudate

Answer 18

a collection of interstitial fluid formed in an inflamed area

examples: serous, fibrinous, purulent

Question 19

serous

Answer 19

fluid with small amounts of protein and white blood cells

example: the fluid in a blister from a burn

Question 20

fibrinous

Answer 20

thick sticky fluid with high cell and fibrin content

causes an increase risk for scarring

Question 21

purulent

Answer 21

thick, yellow-green fluid with more leukocytes and cell debris as well as microorganisms

known as pus

Question 22

abscess

Answer 22

localized pocket of purulent exudate in solid tissue

can be a hemorrhagic abscess if blood vessels have been damaged