Infections tutorial 1

Question 1

Routes of Transmission - direct

Answer 1

Direct – Faecal oral
Direct – droplet/kissing
Direct- sexual

Question 2

Routes of Transmission - indirect

Answer 2

Indirect- airborne
Indirect - vector
Indirect – Vehicle (food/water)

Question 3

Examples of direct diseases

Answer 3

Direct – Faecal oral:
Polio
Infective gastroenteritis

Direct – droplet/kissing:
Glandular fever
Ebola

Direct- sexual:
Gonorrhoea
Syphilis
HIV

Question 4

Examples of indirect diseases

Answer 4

Indirect- airborne:
Common cold
Influenza
Measles

Indirect - vector:
Malaria
Dengue fever
Plague

Indirect – Vehicle (food/water):
Hepatitis B
Cholera

Question 5

Patient factors that increase the risk of infection

Answer 5

Age – very young/old

Immunosuppression – disease or drug mediated

Behaviour – e.g. hygiene

Co-morbidities – diabetes

Secondary infection – measles/influenza leads to flu

Question 6

Common ailment - How long it actually lasts for?
Middle ear infection
Sore throat 
Common cold 
Influenza 
Nasal congestion/Sinusitis 
Cough

Answer 6

Middle ear infection 4 days
Sore throat 1 week
Common cold 7-10 days
Influenza 14 days
Nasal congestion/Sinusitis 18 days
Cough Up to 3 weeks

Question 7

List all the symptoms
below that you think would make you want to refer a patient with a common infection.
- Middle ear infection
- Sore throat
- Common cold
- Influenza
- Nasal
congestion/Sinusitis
- Cough

Answer 7

Middle ear infection Severe pain, child with body temp above 38 (0-3 months) 39 (3-6 months),
fluid leak from ear. Photosensitivity, stiff neck etc.

Sore throat - High temp over 38 for 3 days does not come down with paracetamol
Difficulty swallowing, change in voice, difficulty breathing,
Immunocompromised patient e.g carbimazole

Common cold - As for flu plus severe headache, eyesight changes, severe dizziness

Influenza - Very high temperature, confusion, SOB, swollen glands, chest pain

Nasal
congestion/Sinusitis -
High fever above 39 does not come down with paracetamol

Cough - Haemoptysis, 3-4 weeks duration, SOB, chest/shoulder pain, hoarseness for 3 weeks or more, new lumps in armpits/neck

Question 8

Broad Spectrum antibiotics

Answer 8

Amoxicillin
Co-amoxiclav
Tazocin
Cephalosporins
Carbapenems
Macrolides
Fluoroquinolones
Tetracyclines
Chloramphenicol

Question 9

Narrow Spectrum Antibiotics

Answer 9

Aztreonam
Aminoglycosides
Clindamycin (gram + and anaerobes)
Fucidin
Glycopeptides (aerobic and anerobic gram +)
Daptomycin
Linezolid
Fidaxomicin
Trimethoprim
Metronidazole
Nitrofurantoin