Infection Flashcards

1
Q

list the portals of entry

A
  • penetration
  • direct contact
  • ingestion
  • inhalation
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2
Q

what does it mean if an infection is endemic

A

the incidence and prevalence are expected and stable

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3
Q

when is an infection an epidemic

A

there is an abrupt and unexpected increase in incidence over endemic rates

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4
Q

when is an infection a pandemic

A

it has spread beyond continental boundaries

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5
Q
define penetration 
(infection - portal of entry)
A

disruption to the integrity of the skin or a mucous membrane

ex. a wound

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6
Q

define direct contact

infection - portal of entry

A

infected tissue/secretations contact a mucous membrane

ex. STI’s

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7
Q
define ingestion
(infection - portal of entry)
A

the pathogen enters the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract
An infectious dose must survive low pH, enzyme activity, and peristaltic action
ex. food poisoning

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8
Q

who would be more at risk for becoming infected through ingestion

A

those with decreased gastric acidity due to medications/disease

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9
Q
define inhalation
(infection - portal of entry)
A

the pathogen enters the respiratory tract

ex. meningitis, bacterial pneumonia, tuberculosis

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10
Q

who would be more at risk for becoming infected through inhalation

A

those with defective pulmonary function such as cystic fibrosis, emphysema or smoking

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11
Q

what are the stages of the disease course

A
  • incubation
  • prodromal
  • acute
  • covalescent
  • resolution
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12
Q

describe the incubation phase of the disease course

A
  • the pathogen begins to replicate

- no symptoms

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13
Q

describe the prodromal phase of the disease course

A
  • initial appearance of symptoms

- host may experience mild fever, headache, myalgia, fatigue

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14
Q

describe the acute phase of the disease course

A
  • rapid proliferation and dissemination of the pathogen
  • maximum impact experienced, symptoms pronounced and more specific
  • toxic by-products of microbial metabolism, cell lysis, and the immune response cause tissue damage and inflammation
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15
Q

describe the convalescent phase of the disease course

A
  • containment and progressive elimination of pathogen
  • repair of tissue damage
  • resolution of symptoms
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16
Q

describe the resolution phase of the disease course

A
  • total elimination of pathogen

- no symptoms

17
Q

define subclinical

A

illness progresses from infection to resolution without symptoms

18
Q

define insidious

A

the prodromal phase is longer than usual

19
Q

what is a fulminant illness

A

an abrupt onset of symptoms with little or no prodromal stage

20
Q

what are 3 lab techniques for diagnosis

A
  • culture
  • serology
  • DNA & RNA sequencing
21
Q

how is a culture used for diagnosis

A

microorganisms are propagated on an artificial growth media

  • bacterial pathogen is detected due to microscopic appearance and Gram stain
  • viruses require propagation of eukaryotic cells and will produce pathologic changes in the appearnace of the cell
22
Q

how is serology used for diagnosis

A
  • measures serum antibodies in the host
  • tentative diagnosis can be made by measuring the antibody level against a specific pathogen
  • certain antibodies are produced at different phases of infection
23
Q

what are two antibodies that serology measures

A

IgM and IgG

24
Q

how is serology used to detect congenital infections

A

IgM doesn’t cross the placenta but some IgG can.

Therefore IgM in a child must be from the child and indicate congenital infection, whereas IgG can’t differentiate

25
during acute infection, levels of the antibody IgM will do what
rise and fall
26
during acute infection, levels of the antibody IgG will do what
rise and remain level until or beyond resolution
27
what are the 2 types of DNA and RNA sequencing used for diagnosis
- DNA probe hybridization | - polymerase chain reaction
28
explain local manifestation
infection is specific, and reflects the site of infection (localized) ex. rash, diarrhea, hemorrhage, pneumonia
29
explain systemic manifestation
nonspecific and can be shared by many infectious diseases | ex. fever, myalgia, headache, lethargy
30
what are the 4 mechanisms of antibiotic action
- interference with a specific step in bacterial cell wall synthesis - inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis - interruption of nucleic acid synthesis - interference with normal metabolism
31
what is the main target of antiviral drugs
viral RNA or DNA synthesis (the virus's replication process)
32
how do antiviral drugs work
they mimic nucleoside building blocks of RNA or DNA. | during viral replication, nucleosides inhibit the viral DNA polymerase = prevents replication