Infections On Surfaces Flashcards
What is meant by a surface?
Any interface between a solid and either a liquid or a gas
What does the microbiota consist of?
The microorganisms that are carried on the skin and mucosal surfaces
What is normally true of the microbiota?
They are normally harmless, or even beneficial
When can microbiota be harmful?
When they transfer to other sites
What are the categories of normal skin flora?
Gram positive coccus
Gram positive bacilli
What are the gram positive coccus found in the skin flora?
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Streptococcus species
What are the gram positive bacilli found in the skin flora?
Corynebacterium species
Propionibacterium species
What are the mucosal flora found in the eye?
Coagulase negative staph
Diphtheroids
Saprophytic neisseria species
Viridans group streptococci
What are the mucosal flora found in the nares?
Staph aureus
What are the mucosal flora found in the nasopharynx?
Neisseria meningitidis
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae
What are the mucosal flora found in the mouth?
Viridans streptococci Neisseria Veillonella Lactobacillus Actinomyces Bacteroides Capnocytophaga Eikenella Prevotella Fusobacteria Clostridia Propionibacteria Candida Ceotrichum species
What are the mucosal flora found in the stomach?
Helicobacter
Streptococci
Staphylococci
Lactobacilli
What are the mucosal flora found in the intestine?
Bacteroides Bifidobacterium Eubacterium Lactobacillus Coliforms Aerobic and anaerobic streptococci Clostridium Yeasts
What are the mucosal flora found in the urethra?
Enterobacteriaceae Lactobacilli Diphtheroids Alpha and non-haemolytic streptococci Entercocci
What are the mucosal flora found in the vagina?
Lactobacilli Diphtheroids Micrococci Coagulase-negative staphlococci Enterococcus faecalis Microaerophilic and anaerobic streptococci Mycoplasmas Ureaplasmas Yeasts
How is a coagulase test conducted?
By testing for coagulase in a test tube
How can you tell if coagulase is being produced in a coagulase test?
If plasma clots on addition of bacteria
What does a positive coagulase test indicate?
The staphylococcus in question is staph aureus- all other staphylococci are coagulase negative
What is the problem with surface infections?
They can be a major cause of hospital acquired infection
How can surface infections be acquired in hospitals?
Prosthetic surfaces that are implanted during surgeries
Infections of the mucosa or skin caused by procedures or invasive devices
What prosthetic surfaces implanted during surgery can cause a surface infection?
Pacemaker
Joint replacements
What invasive devices can result in a hospital acquired surface infection?
Cannulas
Catheters
How can the majority of hospital acquired surface infections be prevented?
Proper sterilisation of surfaces
Care during the procedure
What is the problem with HAIs?
Cost a large amount of money
Have a large negative impact on the outcome of treatment, and can often even cause death
Why do HAIs cost a large amount of money?
Cost of investigations
Treatments
Extended hospital stays
Loss of reputation and subsequent funding
Give 6 internal infections on natural surfaces
Cellulitis Pharyngitis Conjunctivitis Gastroenteritis UTI Pneumonia
What pathogens can cause cellulitis?
Strep. pyogenes
Clostridium perfingens
What pathogens can cause pharyngitis?
Strep. Pyogenes
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Adenovirus