infection tests Flashcards
what are infection tests for?
optimal treatment and prevention of infection
why would you carry out a diagnostic test?
to improve outcome or to provide epidemiological data
how is a diagnostic hypothesis reached?
through history, examination, non - microbiological tests, lab tests
what is direct detection?
it is detection of a whole organism, antigen or genomic material
what does serology detect?
an antibody response
what is fever a sign of?
a sign of inflammation and can be a sign of infection
what is the most common cause of community acquired pneumonia?
streptococcus pneumoniae
`how is Hb related to infection?
can be anaemia of chronic disease - normocytic or chromic caused by infection
what is the use of WCC?
can be raised in infection and other condition and therefore is not specific. Severe sepsis can lower WCC
what are the levels of markers in bacterial infection?
WCC raised, lymphocytes are normal or low, neutrophils are raised
what are the levels of markers in viral infection?
normal WCC, raised lymphocytes and normal neutrophils
what are the inflammatory markers of the innate immune system?
procalcitonin (0.5micrograms/L) and CRP (<0.5mg/L) - raised means diagnosis of infection
what imaging is used to support a diagnosis of respiratory infection?
chest Xray, CT and CT combined with PET
what two tests can help to identify severe sepsis and respiratory failure?
blood gases and blood lactate
what comprises biological diganosis?
culture, direct detection and immunological tests
what needs to be done for ABs are started?
culture
what can culture do?
it enables the identification of organisms by immediate or further testing, typing to establish organism relatedness and sensitivity testing to direct antimicrobial therapy
what is culture?
it is the isolation of viable pathogens
what is the process of sampling?
patient sampling, sampling handling, sampling transport incubation, growth detection , preliminary results, incubation, culture results, definitive results and then reporting
what is considered in patient sampling?
the aseptic technique to reduce contamination and the optimal volume for sensitivity
what will local sample handling guidelines tell you?
the safety, labelling, number of samples and bottles required