Infection Model

Question 1

What is the infection model?

Answer 1

Pathogen + Patient – (mechanism of infection) –> Infection –> Management –> Outcome

Question 2

What different types of infection are relevant to the infection model?

Answer 2

• Virus
• Bacteria
• Fungus (yeast/mould)
• Parasites (protozoa/helminth(worm))

Question 3

What factors relating to the patient affect the disease model?

Answer 3

Person 
- Age
- Gender
- Physiological state
- Pathological state
- Social factors
Time
- Calender time
- Time since infection
Place
- Current
- Recent

Question 4

What are the mechanisms for infection?

Answer 4

• Contagious (direct) spread
• Inoculation (break in physical barrier)
• Haematogenous (spread through bloodstream)
• Ingestion
• Inhalation
• Vector
• Vertical transmission

Question 5

How is infection portrayed in the infection model?

Answer 5

Attachment – (toxin production) –> Interaction with host defences – (inflammation of toxin effects) –> host damage

Question 6

What are the stages of infection management?

Answer 6

1) History, examination, investigations to lead to a diagnosis, which will determine the treatment
2) Treatment (specific, supportive)
3) Infection prevention (either in hospital or community) to prevent transmission to other patients/ staff/ other contacts

Question 7

What are the specific and supportive forms of treatment?

Answer 7

Specific

• Antimicrobial
• Surgery
• -> Drainage
• -> Debridement (removal of infectious tissue)
• -> Dead space removal

Supportive

• Symptom relief
• Physiological restoration

Question 8

What is the outcome in the infection model?

Answer 8

A scale between cure and death +/- chronic infection and disability