Infectious Disease Flashcards
What are global risk factors for infectious disease?
Poverty War Lack of clean and food water supply Environment Under resourced health care services Life style Illiteracy Political instability International Travel
Why it is important to understand the epidemiology of communicable diseases?
Globalisation
Emerging diseases
Natural disasters
Economic costs
What causes malaria?
Parasites from the plasmodium genus
P.falciparum, P.ovale, P.malaria and P.vivax
Describe the stages of malaria infection
Mosquito takes blood meal
Infects liver cells which become schizont and then rupture
From here it enters blood and forms gametocytes
A non infected mosquito could then bite here and ingest gametocytes
Who is most likely to die from malaria?
Mostly children
What can be a problem with malaria treatment?
Resistance to chloroquine
What is the most common infectious disease in the world?
TB
What is the second leading cause of disease burden worldwide?
AIDS
What are the causative agents of Bilharziasis?
Schistosomiasis species of parasitic worms spread in contaminated water - freshwater snails
S.mansoni, S. haematobium and S. japanicum
May infect urinary tract or intestines
Abdo pain, diarrhoea, bloody stool/urine
Long term liver damage, kidney failure etc
What is yellow fever?
Viral disease transmitted by several species of mosquito
Caused by yellow fever virus, which belongs to genus flavivirus
Humans and monkeys are the principle reservoirs for the virus
Most common types of mosquito that transmit yellow fever virus are Aedes aegypti or Haemagogus spp
Symptoms: high temp, headache, N&V, muscle pain, loss of appetite
Can develop into more serious: jaundice, kidney failure, bleeding from mouth, nose, eyes, stomach
What is bronchiolitis?
Common lower respiratory tract infection, affects babies and children under 2. Viral, 70% respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Major cause of admission to hospital in children under 1
Highly infectious, epidemic in winter months. 80% of 2 year olds have antibodies
Most cases mild and clear up without need for treatment in 2-3weeks, some children have severe symptoms and need hospital treatment
Early symptoms similar to those of a cold: runny nose, cough
Further symptoms develop over next few days: high temperature, dry and persistent cough, difficulty feeding, rapid or noisy breathing (wheezing)
What are symptoms and signs of Bronchiolitis?
Distressed child (and parents!)
Respiratory distress, wheeze
Poor feeding, lethargy
Apnoea
What are management steps for Bronchiolitis?
Supportive: majority managed in community, recover in 7-10d
Fluids, nutrition, antipyretics, Careful safety netting
Admission required if markers of severity: RR high, low sats
Oxygen, NG feeding, tiny minority ventilated
Remember infection control: isolation, PPE, careful handwashing
What can be done to prevent Bronchiolitis?
Hygiene
RSV vaccine made disease worse
Passive immunisation may have a role in the patients at highest risk of severe disease
What are outcomes of Bronchiolitis?
Most make full recovery
up to 50% will wheeze recurrently
Mortality 8/100k, mostly in under 6m and with cardiac/pulmonary disease
What is an infective exacerbation of COPD?
More sputum, more purulent sputum and more breathless
Sustained worsening of patient’s symptoms from his or her usual stable state, which is beyond normal variations and acute in onset
Caused by: Viruses 20-40% Rhinovirus, Adenovirus, RSV, Influenza
Bacteria: >= 50% Haemophilus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella, Gram negatives including E. coli, Pseudomonas
What are management options for an infective exacerbation of COPD?
Bronchodilators
Steroids
Antibiotics: Amoxicillin PO, Doxycycline PO
What are preventative measures against infective exacerbations of COPD?
Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination
NO role for prophylactic antibiotics
What organisms can cause influenza like illnesses? And what would be initial symptoms?
Influenza, parainfluenza viruses Adenovirus RSV Coronavirus Sudden onset fever, chills, Dry cough, runny nose, Headache, Myalgia
What are antibiotic management options for community acquired pneumonia?
Amoxicillin +/-clarithromycin
What’s atypical pneumonia?
Presents other than with symptoms of “typical” pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae
caused by “atypical” bacteria, also viruses
Often used to mean lacking lobar consolidation on chest X ray
What’s an “atypical?”
(Usually) No cell wall
Intracellular pathogens
Relevant because no antibiotic acting on the cell wall will work
Also, generally not amenable to regular culture
What are important atypical causes of pneumonia to be aware of?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Chlamydophila pneumoniae and psittaci
Legionella
Respiratory viruses
What is Legionella?
Gram negative, standard cell wall Intracellular pathogen Sporadic and outbreaks Mild illness “Pontiac fever” Severe illness esp in older male smokers: “Legionnaire’s disease”, mortality 10%
How do you treat Legionella infection?
Antibiotics active against intracellular bacteria: macrolides (clarithromycin), tetracyclines, quinolones (e.g levofloxacin)
What is empyema thoracis? And what organisms can cause it?
Pus in pleural cavity
Spontaneous: complication of pneumonia
Streptococcus milleri, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus
aureus, anaerobes e.g Fusobacterium
Tubercular: spontaneous but more chronic presentation
Iatrogenic: following pleural incision, including pleural drain Staphylococcus aureus, Gram negatives e.g E. coli
Who is most likely to be affected by bronchiectasis?
F»_space;M, May present at any age, but prevalence highest in older women
No identifiable underlying cause approx 50%
If underlying cause identified, most commonly post-infective (pneumonia, TB, pertussis, childhood respiratory virus including measles)
How do you diagnose bronchiectasis?
Radiological diagnosis: High resolution CT thorax shows bronchial wall thickening
Sputum culture usually positive, may not be helpful in determining whether antibiotics needed
What are usual causative organisms of bronchiectasis?
Haemophilus influenzae
Staphylococcus aureus
Gram negatives e.g E. coli, Klebsiella
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What is an important cause of bronchiectasis?
Cystic fibrosis
What would you call a severe, localised pyogenic (pus-forming) infection in lung tissue?
Lung abscess
What are some causes of lung abscesses?
Aspiration of pyogenic organisms Streptococcus milleri Anaerobes Unresolved pneumonia Staphylococcus aureus Klebsiella Septic emboli from endocarditis Staphylococcus aureus Seeding of bacteraemia Penetrating trauma Infected tumour Infected foreign body
What are alternative options if you can’t see, grow and kill a microbe?
Detect the organism
Antigen
Nucleic acid (PCR)
Detect the immune response to the organism, usually antibody
What things do you need to specifically ask to be tested for in a sputum sample?
TB: Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria
Legionella
Bordetella (whooping cough)
Fungi
What organisms might you detect rather than grow? And why?
Seeing them is hard (viruses)
We can’t grow them e.g Pneumocystis
It takes too long to grow them e.g most viruses, intracellular bacteria, Legionella
It’s cheaper to do it another way e.g most viruses
What are ways of detecting an organism?
Antigen detection: Uses specific antibody to identify pathogen of interest
Nucleic acid detection: No antibody needed, Pathogen may not be alive (can be done on formalin-fixed specimens), Quick, relatively cheap, highly specific, multiplex
Name some organisms that you might detect using Nucleic acid detection
Viruses: influenza, RSV
Bacteria: tuberculosis, pertussis
Fungi: Pneumocystis
What are some disadvantages to using direct detection of organisms?
No sensitivity testing results (some genomic sensitivity available for TB)
Multiplex increases chance of finding something, but relevance of that may be harder to interpret
No typing data if simple yes/ no detection
How can you detect an immune response to an organism?
Usually antibody to pathogen of interest
Not timely e.g. need 4 week convalescent specimen to see rising antibody titres in “atypical” pneumonia
Activation of T cells: the IGRA tests for TB
What are the general principles of management of severe infection?
Treat the patient: ABCDE and sepsis six
Cultures before antibiotics if well enough
Start SMART then focus: appropriate empirical antibiotics (local guidelines)
What principles should be applied to Smart antibiotic use?
Right drug
Right dose
Right time: lifesaving early treatment of sepsis
Right duration: most eminence not evidence based!
Do not use antibiotics where other therapy more appropriate
Describe alternative management of infections
If there’s pus drain it!: Empyema requires drainage and possible surgical clearance
If there’s a foreign body, get it out: Aspirated objects a cause of persistent cough in children
If there’s dead tissue, cut it off Lobectomy or partial pneumonectomy still sometimes used for refractory TB
How do you know if you have the right antibiotic drug?
Effective against likely or known pathogen
Local guidelines take into account common organisms and resistance patterns
Specific culture and sensitivity results
Safe
Check allergy history, renalfunction, liver function and other meds
Give some examples of broad spectrum antibiotics
Cephalosporins (ceftriaxone)
Aminoglycosides (gentamicin)
Quinolones (ciprofloxacin)
Extended spectrum penicillins (piperacillin-tazobactam)
Give an example of a drug which only works on gram positive bacteria
Vancomycin
Give an example of drug which only acts on gram negative bacteria
Aztreonam
What sort of spectrum drug is flucloxacillin?
Narrow spectrum in gram positive range
What bacteria can be killed using macrolides (erythromycin and clarithromycin), tetracyclines, rifampicin?
Mainly gram positive, also intracellular bacteria
What sort of range of bacteria can be killed by amoxicillin?
Medium range mainly gram negative but including some gram positive bacteria
What do you use to treat non complicated community acquired pneumonia?
Amoxicillin plus clarithromycin
What do you use to treat aspiration pneumonia?
Co-amoxiclav
What do you use to treat hospital acquired pneumonia?
Co-amoxiclav plus gentamicin or
Piperacillin-tazobactam plus gentamicin
Why must you be careful with gentamicin and vancomycin?
Toxic and need levels monitoring
According to WHO data what are the 3 biggest killers in Europe and how does this compare to Africa?
Europe: ischaemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer
Africa: lower respiratory tract infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoeal diseases
What is surveillance?
Ongoing systematic collection, collation, analysis and
interpretation of data, and dissemination of information (to those who need to know) in order that action may be taken
Give some examples of surveillance systems in hospital?
Notifications of Infectious Disease
Laboratory notifications
Other disease specific systems
Primary care surveillance systems: Remote health advice (NHS 111), GP in hours and GP out of hours, RCGP, COVER (immunisation data)
Secondary care surveillance systems: Emergency Department Syndromic surveillance
What is the role of public health England in communicable disease control?
Statutory responsibility to take notifications of infectious disease and manage outbreaks/chemical or environmental incidents
What is the responsibility of NHS England in communicable disease control?
Lead and co-ordinate NHS response to an outbreak
What are the roles of clinical commissioning groups in communicable disease control?
Support role of NHS England and work with community and acute trust providers to support outbreak response
What is primary cares role in communicable disease control?
Support outbreak investigation and management, through taking samples (nose/throat swabs, stool samples, blood samples, oral swab samples) and organising treatment and prophylaxis (latter being either medications or vaccinations)
What are roles of acute hospital trusts in communicable disease control?
Provide microbiological advice regarding single cases of communicable disease/outbreaks
In a hospital incident, Director of Infection Prevention and Control (often a microbiologist) leads outbreak management
What is the role of local authorities in communicable disease control?
Environmental Health Officers support investigation of certain communicable disease cases/outbreaks which may have an environmental source, e.g. gastrointestinal infections, Legionella etc. Organise food questionnaires and stool samples in an outbreak of
gastrointestinal disease, as well as inspection of food premises/kitchens which may be implicated. Have powers to prosecute as necessary
Director of Public Health (and teams) in Local Authority has statutory responsibility to ensure there are plans in place to protect the health of the population, and will support outbreak response
What 3 things may affect the outcome of a communicable disease?
Agent: organism which produces infection e.g.: Virus, Bacteria, Fungus, Rickettsia, Protozoa
Host factors: Age, Gender, Socio-economic status, Ethnicity, Lifestyle factors (e.g. drug use, sexual behaviours, diet, personal hygiene), Level of inherent resistance, Immunological status: Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, Previous exposure to infection, Immunisation
Environmental factors: Climate and temperatures, Physical surroundings, Crowding, Sanitation, Availability of health services
Define infection or colonisation
Entry and development or multiplication of an infectious agent in/on the body of man or animals (not synonymous with disease)
Define communicable or infectious disease
Disease which occurs following direct or indirect transmission of an infectious agent or its toxic products
Define contagious
Describes an infectious transmitted by direct contact
Name some direct modes of transmission of disease
Touching (scabies), kissing (oral infections), sexual intercourse (Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B)
Droplet spread (e.g. measles, mumps, flu, meningococcal disease)
Transplacental (bloodborne viruses such as Hep B and HIV)
Faeco-oral (campylobacter, salmonella, E Coli 0157, Hepatitis A)
What is surveillance?
Ongoing systematic collection, collation, analysis and
interpretation of data, and dissemination of information (to those who need to know) in order that action may be taken
Give some examples of surveillance systems in hospital?
Notifications of Infectious Disease
Laboratory notifications
Other disease specific systems
Primary care surveillance systems: Remote health advice (NHS 111), GP in hours and GP out of hours, RCGP, COVER (immunisation data)
Secondary care surveillance systems: Emergency Department Syndromic surveillance
What is the role of public health England in communicable disease control?
Statutory responsibility to take notifications of infectious disease and manage outbreaks/chemical or environmental incidents
What is the responsibility of NHS England in communicable disease control?
Lead and co-ordinate NHS response to an outbreak
What are the roles of clinical commissioning groups in communicable disease control?
Support role of NHS England and work with community and acute trust providers to support outbreak response
What is primary cares role in communicable disease control?
Support outbreak investigation and management, through taking samples (nose/throat swabs, stool samples, blood samples, oral swab samples) and organising treatment and prophylaxis (latter being either medications or vaccinations)
What are roles of acute hospital trusts in communicable disease control?
Provide microbiological advice regarding single cases of communicable disease/outbreaks
In a hospital incident, Director of Infection Prevention and Control (often a microbiologist) leads outbreak management
What is the role of local authorities in communicable disease control?
Environmental Health Officers support investigation of certain communicable disease cases/outbreaks which may have an environmental source, e.g. gastrointestinal infections, Legionella etc. Organise food questionnaires and stool samples in an outbreak of
gastrointestinal disease, as well as inspection of food premises/kitchens which may be implicated. Have powers to prosecute as necessary
Director of Public Health (and teams) in Local Authority has statutory responsibility to ensure there are plans in place to protect the health of the population, and will support outbreak response
What 3 things may affect the outcome of a communicable disease?
Agent: organism which produces infection e.g.: Virus, Bacteria, Fungus, Rickettsia, Protozoa
Host factors: Age, Gender, Socio-economic status, Ethnicity, Lifestyle factors (e.g. drug use, sexual behaviours, diet, personal hygiene), Level of inherent resistance, Immunological status: Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, Previous exposure to infection, Immunisation
Environmental factors: Climate and temperatures, Physical surroundings, Crowding, Sanitation, Availability of health services
Define infection or colonisation
Entry and development or multiplication of an infectious agent in/on the body of man or animals (not synonymous with disease)
Define communicable or infectious disease
Disease which occurs following direct or indirect transmission of an infectious agent or its toxic products
Define contagious
Describes an infectious transmitted by direct contact
Name some direct modes of transmission of infectious disease
Touching (scabies), kissing (oral infections), sexual intercourse (Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B)
Droplet spread (e.g. measles, mumps, flu, meningococcal disease)
Transplacental (bloodborne viruses such as Hep B and HIV)
Faeco-oral (campylobacter, salmonella, E Coli 0157, Hepatitis A)