Infection 3: Diagnosis & prognosis

Question 1

What are the 4 major groups of pathogens

Answer 1

• bacteria
• viruses
• fungi
• parasites

Question 2

Examples of bacteria

Answer 2

• staphylococcus aureus
• streptococci
• escherichia coli
• tuberculosis

Question 3

Examples of viruses

Answer 3

• rhinovirus
• influenza
• hepatitis B/C
• HIV

Question 4

Examples of fungi

Answer 4

• candida

- Tinea

Question 5

Examples of parasites

Answer 5

• malaria

- hookworm

Question 6

What do you listen out for when patients giving their history

Answer 6

• non-specific symptoms
• specific symptoms
• conditions that make people more susceptible to infection
• lifestyle activities that brings people in contact with infection

Question 7

What does bacterial infection elevate

Answer 7

Neutrophils

Question 8

What does viral infection elevate

Answer 8

Lymphocyte

Question 9

What does parasitic infection elevate

Answer 9

Eosinophil

Question 10

What does C-reactive protein (CRP) mark

Answer 10

Inflammation

Question 11

What do urea & electrolyte levels mark

Answer 11

Kidney function

Question 12

What is used for liver function testing

Answer 12

LFTs

Question 13

What sample is taken to test for pneumonia

Answer 13

Sputum

Question 14

What sample is taken to test for gastroenteritis

Answer 14

Faeces

Question 15

What sample is taken to test for tonsillitis

Answer 15

Throat swab

Question 16

What is lumbar puncture used for

Answer 16

Testing cerebrospinal fluid for meningitis

Question 17

How is lumbar puncture done

Answer 17

Put needle between spinal cord

Question 18

What tests do microbiologists use

Answer 18

Microscopy
- Gram stain

Culture
- plates kill anything except suspected bacteria

Antibiotic sensitivity

Question 19

How do we detect organisms we can’t grow in the lab

Answer 19

• identify part of organism
• proteins (antigens)
• DNA/RNA (PCR)
• identify body’s immune system response to infection

Question 20

How can infections be treated

Answer 20

• Supportive therapy

- Specific therapy

Question 21

What entails supportive therapy

Answer 21

• Symptomatic - paracetamol for fever

- Dehydration/ Low blood pressure - IV fluids

Question 22

What entails specific therapy

Answer 22

• Antimicrobials - drugs kill microorganisms

- Antibiotic - chemical substance derived from mould - kill bacteria

Question 23

What does self-limiting infection mean

Answer 23

No treatment is required

Question 24

What is the ideal antimicrobial

Answer 24

• selective toxicity
• bacteriocidal NOT bacteriostatic
• no resistance
• good pharmacokinetics
• no side effects
• not inactivated by enzymes secreted by microbes

Question 25

List some of the problems with antimicrobials

Answer 25

• broad spectrum
• narrow spectrum
• some cannot be given orally
• many cause serious side effects
• bacterial resistance

Question 26

How to reduce pathogens in general environment

Answer 26

• clean drinking water
• improving sanitation
• hygienic food preparation

Question 27

How to reduce pathogens in hospital environment

Answer 27

• cleaning wards
• filtered air in operating theatres
• sterile instruments

Question 28

What are prophylactic treatments

Answer 28

• antimalarials

- antibiotics given to immunosuppressed patients

Question 29

What are the two types of vaccination

Answer 29

Active
- antibodies

Passive
- stimulating immune system