Infection Flashcards
What is an infection?
Invasion of a host tissue and multiplication of organisms
How broadly is disease caused by infection?
By microbial multiplication, toxins, host reponse
What is virulence?
Genetic, biochemical or structure features that enable an organism to produce a disease
What is toxic shock?
Fever, hypotension, multisystem organ failure, erythematous rash caused by toxins of esp staph aureus
What is catalase? What is coagulase? What are they used to differentiate between?
Catalase - enzyme that can convert H2O2 to H2O and O2 to prevent Ros damage of bacteria (virulence)
Coagulase - enzyme that can clot blood - helps prevent neutrophil phagocytosis of bacteria (virulence).
Catalase differentiates between strep and staph (positive)
Coagulase differentiates between types of staph (+ or -)
What is facultatively anaerobic vs obligate anaerobic?
Will do respiration anaerobically in the absence of O2 but in the presence of O2 will do it aerobically
Obligate anaerobes are poisoned by O2 so do respiration anaerobically only
What is agar?
General nutrients + 5% sheeps blood useful for cultivating organisms with complex nutritional needs and determining haemolytic properties of an organism
What is post-infection sequelae? Give an example?
Disease that occurs from prior infection e.g. rheumatic heart disease –> valve problems due to strep pyogenes infection
What is sepsis vs septic shock??
Life threatening organ dysfunction due to dysregulated host response to infection
Septic shock is persisting hypotension requiring treatment to maintain blood pressure despite fluid resuscitation.
What is bacteraemia?
Presence of bacteria in the blood +/- clinical symptoms
What is the sepsis 6 bundle?
Antibiotics (IV) Fluids O2 Urine output measurement Cultures Lactate
How would you determine if someone has an infection?
History - clinical symptoms/history of infection
Examination - physical signs
Investigations - blood tests/cultures etc
What is supportive care?
Managing the symptoms of the disease but not treating the underlying cause e.g. painkillers/fluids/O2
What is the human micro biome?
The total number and diversity of microbes living in and on the human body
Where are you most likely to find human flora?
the skin, eye, and mouth as well as the upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts.
Name 2 common skin flora
Staph epidermis - 90%
Staph aureus
Name 3 common skin floras of the eye
Staph epidermis
Strep pneumonia
Staph aureus