INFECTIONS Flashcards
What is a fomite?
an object that is contaminated with a micro-organism
What is a high-traffic fomite?
things people are touching frequently (ex, doorknobs, tap handles, pens, cellphones, keyboard)
What is the chain of infection?
1) Infectious Agent
2) Reservoir
3) Portal of exit
4) Transmission
5) Portal of entry
6) Vulnerable host
What are the 4 types of infectious agents?
1) Virus
2) Bacteria
3) Fungus
4) Parasite
4 transmission routes
1) direct contact
2) indirect contact
3) droplets
4) airborne
Sidenote:
5) vectorborne (bites)
6) vehicle transmission (water, food, to multiple hosts)
Possibility of a micro-organism to grow is depent on (3):
1) virulence - ability to grow
2) invasiveness- ability to enter
3) pathogenicity- ability to cause disease
Examples of bacteria:
strep
ecoli
staph
tuberculosis
examples of virus:
HPV
HIV
HEP
examples of fungus:
gangrene
Candida
ringworm
athlete’s foot
examples of parasites:
tapeworm
fleas
lice
How long can Hep B survive on equipment?
a week or more
How long can HIV survive on a damp, warm surface?
several hours
How long can Hep A survive on a damp, warm surface?
months!
What is Hepatitis?
inflammation of the liver
What causes Hepatitis?
a virus (usually) also from toxins such as alcohol and medications (acetaminophen, etc)
Is Hepatitis communicable?
Viral, yes.
Hep contracted due to toxins, no.
Hepatitis B-
How is it transmitted?
Is there a cure? Is there a vaccine?
- transmitted through blood and secretions (body fluids)
- NO CURE
- Vaccine, yes.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B
Acute: jaundice, light colour stools, fatigue, joint pain, fever, nausea, stomach pain
Chronic: weakness, weightloss, confusion, loss of interest in sex, swollen stomach or ankles, poor blood clotting, small red spider-like blood vessels on skin (TCM symptoms of damp heat)
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
jaundice (20-30%)
fatigue (10-20%)
stomach pain, loss of appetite (10-20%)
Hepatitis C-
How is it transmitted?
Is there a cure?
Is there a vaccine?
- transmitted through blood
- no vaccine
- treatment available
Hepatitis A
how is it transmitted?
Is there a cure?
Is there a vaccine?
- transmitted by drinking/eating food/water contaminated with fecal matter
- transferred via feces, small risk of blood transfer
- both vaccine and treatment available
Symptoms of Hep A
diarrhea
How is HIV transmitted, what does it affect?
What kind of infections agent?
- transmitted via blood, some body secretions
- affects immune system
- virus
How is Tuberculosis transmitted? What kind of infectious agent?
- droplets, close and continued contact (spreads best in areas with poor ventilation)
- bacteria