Infectious diseases Flashcards
What are the different routes of transmission for infection?
- Air-borne
- Ingestion
- Direct contact
- Parenteral
- Sexual
- Vector
- Vertical transmission
- Endogenous
What is the normal human flora?
What are the different types of infections and infestations?
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Protozoans
- Nematodes
- Insects
- Worms
What is the usual clinical presentations of infection?
fever
rashes
sore throat
diarrhoea
cough, sputum
neck stiffness (indicative of meningitis)
weight loss
night sweats
urinary symptoms
reduced consciousness
heart murmur
finger clubbing
splenomegaly
hepatomegaly
lymphadenopathy
body ache
joint swelling
photophobia
discharge (urethral/vaginal)
What are the investigations that are carried out of a suspected infection?
- Haematological investigation
- Biochemical test
- Microbiological test
– Staining, blood Culture, Sensitivity - Serological test ( IgG, IgM)
- Molecular diagnostics
What are the Specimens that can be collected for investigation?
- Blood
- Urine
- Faeces
- Sputum (TB)
- CSF (meningitis)
- Swabs- Genital, Throat, Skin
- Nail clipping
What are the different types of blood tests that could be performed?
- FBC
- U&Es
- LFTs
- Clotting
- CRP/ESR
- Glucose
- Serum lactate
- Arterial blood gases
In practice leukocytes are measured as they are indicative of infection
What can you investigate with a blood sample?
Blood culture to see what microorganisms grow in culture
Staining
Serology
What is a stool sample used to test for?
- For testing Salmonella,
Shigella,
Campylobacter and
E.coli species, ova, cyst
and parasite (OCP), - C. difficil toxin
What are swab samples used for?
Microscopy
Culture & sensitivity
MRSA screening
