Infection Flashcards
what are the 6 chains of infection
infectious agent reservoir portal of entry portal of exit transmission susceptible host
give an example of an endotoxin and exotoxin
endotoxin - lipopolysaccharide wall
exotoxin - proteases
what is a fomite
an area that a microbe can survive between reservoirs - keyboards, worktops
what is the incubation period and what is the relevance
where a person is infected but not showing clinical symptoms - dont realise they are. a long incubation period allows for more transmission
what is colonisation
where a patient has high levels of the microbe but is showing no signs of infection. no symptoms or clinical onset - staph aureus in nose
what is the difference between an endogenous and exogenous infection
endogenous - infectious agent comes from within, just in a different place - mutans in pulp
exogenous - infectious agent comes from an external source
what is the RO
risk of transmission, if 1 case can cause 1 case - high risk of transmission, likely to cause an outbreak
describe hepatitis A
RNA virus, lives in contaminated water, transmission via faecal-oral route - seafood can be contaminated. causes an acute infection, more common in developing countries
how can hepatitis A be detected
serology - antibodies (if enough time has passed since infection) or antigens
or antigens detected in faeces
what is the viral load
number of viral particles per ml of blood - high suggests highly transmissible
what is the viral structure of hepatitis B
double stranded DNA genome, protein coat with surface antigens, a core antigen beneath the surface
what are the 3 main routes of transmission of hepatitis B
blood borne - intravenous drug user, healthcare worker
sexual - homo and hetero
mother to baby
why is hepatitis b concerning in a baby
more likely to cause chronic disease - cirrhosis or liver cancer
what is the difference in disease in hepatitis b in endemic and non-endemic areas
endemic - acute disease mainly, with recovery - only 5% of chronic disease
non-endemic - common in children and 95% have chronic disease
describe hepatitis C
RNA virus, blood borne from human flavivirus, no vaccine available but effective treatments, subclinical infection can result in chronic disease - 60%
how is hepatitis D a defective virus
can only replicate protein coat if hepatitis B is present
what is the difference between co infection and super infection
co-infection - infection of hepatitis b and d at same time
super infection - hepatitis b infection, then get d infection
explain the virology of HIV
RNA virus, enters cells and converts to DNA. Then everytime the cell replicates, DNA replicates and proteins made. these can be released to then infect more cells. infects CD4 cells - reduces numbers, less able to fight infections
describe the primary infection of HIV
virus enters CD4 cells and reduces numbers - may have flu like symptoms
describe the latent infection of HIV
body is managing to control the virus, dont realise you have it for 2-15 years. control is lost, allows CD4 numbers to drop and patient to develop more infections
what infections are indictive of HIV
kaposi’s sarcoma, candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, non-hodgkin lymphoma
what does HIV cause
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
how is HIV transmitted
blood transfusion, IV drug user, unprotected sex
what is HIV PrEp
pre-exposure prophylaxis, given to HIV negative patients who are high risk for catching HIV, keeps virus from establishing a permanent infection
what is the aim of treatment of HIV
reduce viral load to stop developing AID
who are high risk individuals for HIV
sex workers, IV drug users, gay men
define sepsis
organ dysfunction due to excessive inflammatory response to infection