Infection Flashcards
What are infections caused by?
Microorganisms damaging body cells or producing poisons (toxins) that harm body cells
Can infections be treated?
Yes, infections can be treated with drugs called antimicrobials (antibiotics)
What is inhibition?
Inhibition is when antimicrobials don’t kill the microorganisms, instead they just block or slow down their action.
What microorganisms cause infections?
Bacteria; bubonic, plague, tuberculosis. These can be treated with antibiotics.
Fungi; athlete’s foot, thrush, ringworm. These can be treated by anti-fungal medicine and antibiotics.
Viruses; common cold, Asian bird flu, measles etc. These are difficult to treat as antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.
Where can microorganisms be found?
They can be found on any surface, in food and drink, in water and in the the air we breathe.
Why does the body provide ideal conditions for microorganisms?
Because the body is warm, with plenty of nutrients and moisture.
What happens once microorganisms are in your body?
They begin to reproduce, and rapidly. Some populations can double as fast as every 20 minutes.
When do symptoms of an illness begin to show?
Only when there is a significant amount of infection. The symptoms are caused by microorganisms damaging infected cells (e.g. producing harmful toxins).
