Infection Dieseases and Sepsis Flashcards
What is an epidemiologist?
Person that studies how diseases affect a population.
What is an infectious disease?
illness caused by infestation of the body by biological organisms.
Most infectious diseases are usually not what?
Life threatening
Define index case
The first individual to bring an infectious disease to a population.
Define opportunistic pathogens
nonharmful bacteria that cause disease only under unusual circumstances.
Define normal flora
organisms that live inside our bodies without ordinarily causing disease.
Define pathogen
a disease-producing agent or invading substance
Define bacteria
microscopic single-celled organisms that range in length from 1 to 20 micrometers.
Bacteria can reproduce independently but require a host for what?
supply of food and environment
What is the most common method of differentiating bacteria?
Gram staining
What does a gram stained purple bacteria indicate?
Gram Positive
What does a gram stained red bacteria indicate?
Gram Negative
Bacteria that stain similarly have similar what and may respond similarly to what?
Cell walls and Treatments
How may bacteria harm the body?
Heavy colonization can cause direct damage to the tissue it feeds on
Bacteria can indirectly harm the body through the release of toxins
What are the two different types of toxins?
Exotoxins and endotoxins
Most bacterial infections respond to what?
Antibiotics; bactericidal (kill bacteria) or bacteriostatic (inhibit the bacterial growth or reproduction)
Define virus
Much smaller than bacteria; only seen in electron microscope
Cannot reproduce and carry on metabolism by themselves
Obligate intracellular parasites: grow and reporduce only within host cell
Resist antibiotic treatment
What is the problem with attempting to kill a virus?
A virus will integrate itself within a host cell thus making any attempt at killing the virus killing the host cell as well.
Define prions
Disease producing agents referred to as slow viruses
Causes a lot of dementia and insomnia
Define fungi
plantlike microorganisms, most are non pathogenic
Yeasts, mold, mushrooms are types of fungi
Become pathogenic in patients with compromised immune function
What are parasites?
Common causes of diseases where sanitiation poor
Roundworms: Live in the intestinal mucosa. May reach 30 - 50 cm in length
Symptoms: Abd Cramping, Fever , Cough
What is a pinworm
Tiny worms that livei n the distal colon.
Common cause of anal pruitus (itching) and infection
Define hookworms
Found in warm moist climates
LArvae passed in stool of infected animals. contracted when barefoot walks in contaminated area
Epigastric pain and anemia
Define trichinosis
Contracted by eating raw and inadequately cooked pork products
Gastrointestinal disturbacnes, edema and fever
If worms invade the heart\ lungs an\or brain death may result
