INFECTIOUS DISEASE Flashcards
Who was Robert Hooke
Observed and illustrated structures of moulds
His book contained the first known description of microorganisms
Who was Antonio van Leeuwenhoek
The first known person to observe and describe bacteria
Who was Edward Jenner
The pioneer of the smallpox vaccination.
Hypothesised that vaccination with cowpox prevented the deadlier disease smallpox.
Who was ignaz Semmelweis
The early pioneer of antiseptic surgery.
He noticed that mothers who gave birth at home were less likely to die from puerperal fever compared to mothers delivering in hospitals.
He championed washing hands in antiseptic solution before each patient but doctors took offence to this despite the data because there was no obvious explanation
Who was John Snow
Father of modern epidemiology
Linked to cholera outbreak in London - clustering of cases suggested a public water source was the cause. Examination of the water was inconclusive but epidemiological data was strong enough for the authorities to disable the pump
His observation led to discounting miasma theory of disease
Who was Joseph lister
Pioneer of antiseptic surgery: sterilise instruments, clean wounds, wash hands
Who was Louis Pasteur
Discredited the spontaneous generation theory.
Reasoned that putrefaction resulted from microbial activity - if an object is rendered sterile and protected from contamination it will remain sterile.
Demonstrated the role of bacteria in infection
Who was Robert Koch
Reasoned association was different from causality.
Using koch’s postulates showed that: bacillus anthracis as the cause of anthrax and mycobacterium tuberculosis as the cause of TB
What are Koch’s postulates?
The pathogen must be found in all hosts with the disease but not healthy individuals.
The pathogen must be isolated from a disease host and be able to be grown in pure culture.
When given to a healthy individual the pathogen must reproduce the disease of the original case.
The pathogen can be isolated and grown in pure culture from the newly infected host.
Historically relevant but there are still problems.
What were the leading causes of death in the developed world in 1900 v 2000
1900:
Influenza and pneumonia
Tuberculosis
Gastroenteritis
2000:
Heart disease
Cancer
Stroke
What were non specific causes that changed infection patterns
Better hygiene - better sanitation/sewers
Improved housing - less overcrowding
Better nutrition - safe milk/pasteurisation
What are the specific causes that changed infection patterns?
Immunisation - smallpox (Jenner in late 18th century) and other vaccines in 20th century
Antibiotics (1940s)
What are some continuing infections that are still a challenge?
HIV TB influenza Measles HAI Chlamydia Gonorrhoea Bioterrorism New diseases - SARS and MERS Malaria Schistosomiasis Lymphatic Filariasis Onchoceriasis Trypanosomiasis Chagas’ disease Leishmaniasis Leprosy
How is the source of infection controlled?
People - treatment or isolation
Animal - difficult to control
Environment - often impossible to control
What are the tests used for diagnosis?
Microscopy - different stains
Selective media/differential culture
Biochemical tests
Molecular tests
Antibody tests
