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
Q

during acute infection, levels of the antibody IgM will do what

A

rise and fall

26
Q

during acute infection, levels of the antibody IgG will do what

A

rise and remain level until or beyond resolution

27
Q

what are the 2 types of DNA and RNA sequencing used for diagnosis

A
  • DNA probe hybridization

- polymerase chain reaction

28
Q

explain local manifestation

A

infection is specific, and reflects the site of infection (localized)
ex. rash, diarrhea, hemorrhage, pneumonia

29
Q

explain systemic manifestation

A

nonspecific and can be shared by many infectious diseases

ex. fever, myalgia, headache, lethargy

30
Q

what are the 4 mechanisms of antibiotic action

A
  • 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
Q

what is the main target of antiviral drugs

A

viral RNA or DNA synthesis (the virus’s replication process)

32
Q

how do antiviral drugs work

A

they mimic nucleoside building blocks of RNA or DNA.

during viral replication, nucleosides inhibit the viral DNA polymerase = prevents replication