Infectous Diseases Flashcards
Define ‘pathogenic’
If a microorganism is pathogenic it is a disease-causing Microbes
Explain these microbial relationships and give an example of each.
Commensal:
Mutualistic:
Parasitic:
Opportunistic:
Commensal:
A symbiotic relationship b/w organisms whereby one benefits and the other is unaffected .
eg; Microbes on your skin.
Mutualistic:
A symbiotic relationship b/w organisms, whereby both benefit
eg; E. coli make vitamin K for humans.
Parasitic:
A symbiotic relationship b/w organisms whereby one benefits at the other’s expense
eg; Head lice
Opportunistic:
A symbiotic relationship
b/w organisms which is initially commensal /
mutualistic then becomes parasitic.
eg; Candida
Describe the difference between ‘Pasteur’ and ‘Bechamp’ theories.
Pasteur’s germ theory of disease was that all germs are bad and cause disease. Therefore we should be kiiling them off. Hence pasturisation
Bechamp’s theory is that germs are opportunistic in nature and live with us symbiotically. To promote health we should not be killing them but instead improving our terrain (diet, exercise) so that germs do not have the opportunity to harm us.
List TWO differences between ‘gram-negative’ and ‘gram-positive’ bacteria.
Bacteria have two types of cell wall
gram positive
* Thick mesh like cell wall
* stains purple with Grams method
* Wall made of peptidoglycan
gram negative.
* Thinner cell wall layer
* stains pink with Grams method
* Wall has an additional outer lipid-rich membrane
Exotoxins are gram-positive and negative
Endotoxins are gram-negative only
‘Bacteria are prokaryotic cells with a simple structure, nucleus and membrane bound organelles’
True or False - discuss
True - Bacteria are Prokaryotic cells
False - The DNA is not in the nucleus. The control centre of bacteria is a single loop of DNA.
Bacteria are simple structures to allow for very fast division.
Bacteria reproduce through binary fission which is a rapid form of cell division that allows bacteria to reproduce in high numbers at a rapid rate.
For example, e. Coli can divide in as little as 20 minutes
Describe TWO key differences between ‘exotoxins’ and ‘endotoxins’.
EXOTOXINS
* Gram-positive and negative bacteria
* Released by a living microbe
* Very toxic, protein toxins
* Have a variety of effects on bodily functions
* Eg: Diptheria, e.coli
ENDOTOXINS
* Gram-negative bacteria only
* Released from cell wall after organism death
* Usually less toxic
* Stimulate inflammatory cascade and and often cause fever / malaise
* Eg: Salmonella
Name ONE method by which bacteria reproduce.
Asexual Binary fission
With regards to resident and transient microflora, list:
a. TWO body locations where microflora is present
b. TWO body locations where microflora is absent
a. TWO body locations where microflora is present
1. Small and large intestine
2. Mouth
3. Vagina and perineum
4. Nasal Cavity
5. Skin
b. TWO body locations where microflora is absent
There are parts of the body that should be sterile and therefore bacteria in these locations is potentially dangerous.
- Blood
- Lungs
- Bladder and Kidneys
- Ovaries; fallopian tubes; uterus
Describe how microflora organisms can become pathogenic.
Organisms within the microflora can become pathogenic if the local
environment changes or if the immune system becomes compromised
(opportunistic).
Explain how broad-spectrum antibiotics affect microflora in the body.
Broad spectrum antibiotics possess no specificity for the bacteria they kill and instead can have devastating effects on the body’s microflora because they are indiscriminate and wide ranging.
Often used because there is not enough time or money to test further and refine choice of microorganism to target.
List TWO adverse effects of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Broad spectrum antibiotics possess no specificity for the bacteria they kill and lead to
* Microflora damage
* Antibiotic resistance
* Impaired immunity
* Candida overgrowth (yeast) due to loss of friendly flora
* Diarrhoea
Describe the structure of a virus.
- A virus is not a cell but rather consists of either a strand of RNA or DNA which is enclosed in a hard protein shell called a capsid.
- Each capsid is unique for each virus.
- Viruses are the smallest microbes and are too small to be seen with light microscopy
Name TWO DNA viral pathologies.
- Varicella Zoster - chicken pox and shingles
- Herpes
- Smallpox
Describe how viruses reproduce.
- Viruses are unique because they are only able to multiply inside the cells of other living things.
- They reproduce by injecting their RNA or DNA strand into a living host cell and use the host cell’s apparatus for reproduction.
- They are specific about which cells they infect
- When the virus binds with a cell it only allows entry of the genetic material. The capsid remains outside.
- A virus will generally burst a host cell as it leaves it
Describe FOUR ways in which viruses make it difficult for the body to identify and destroy.
- They hide inside the host cells (can be latent).
- They do not have a metabolism of their own — hence anti-microbial agents cannot be targeted towards enzymes.
- They do not have many structures of their own.
- Able to mutate — this allows them to change their surface antigens and avoid host immune response.
Explain the following terms:
a. Viral lysis
b. Viral budding
c. Latent stage
a. Viral lysis
Virus particles burst out of the host cell into the extracellular space, resulting in the death of the host cell.
b. Viral budding
Process by which a virus exits a cell and acquires an envelope (outer membrane) of its own from the host cell membrane and usually leads to cell death. Used in viruses which need an envelope; e.g. HIV.
c. Latent stage
Stage of infection where the disease is present but hidden and inactive. Viruses can remain in a latent stage for years; e.g. herpes simplex.
Fungal growth usually results from 3 forms of fungi.
What are they and how do they promote growth?
a. Yeasts
*Single celled fungus thateproduce through budding
* eg: Candida Albicans
b. Dermatophytes
* Fungi causing skin disease.
* They obtain nutrients from keratin in skin (no living tissue is invaded) and colonise in the stratum corneum.
* It’s the only fungus dependent on humans
* e.g. ringworm or tinea.
c. Moulds:
* Multi-cellular fungi.
* Reproduce by means of tiny spores
* Some moulds cause disease, others are involved in production of various foods and antibiotics;
* e.g. aspergillus and penicillium.
List FOUR factors that promote growth of fungi in the body.
Warmth
Acidity
Rich Nutrition
Moisture
List TWO ways in which fungi reproduce.
Asexual reproduction
Occurs via budding (extension of the Hyphae) containing chromatin that eventually detach and develop into an independent organism.
Sexual reproduction
This is less common and occurs by fungal spores
-
Name ONE example of a protozoa.
Helminths – Parasitic Worms
Define the following terms:
a. Epidemic
b. Pandemic
c. Endemic
a. Epidemic – Infections in large groups
b. Pandemic – Worldwide infections
c. Endemic – Infections restricted to an area
Define the following infection sources:
Reservoir
Carrier
Vector
Host
Reservoir
Location where the pathogen exists, reproduces and spreads to new hosts
Carrier
Infected individuals who are asymptomatic
Eg: A human with HIV, who can transmit the virus to another healthy individual
Vector
Intermediate carrier, transporting pathogens from reservoir to host.
eg: Mosquitos carry malaria
The main difference between vector and carrier is that a vector does not show any symptoms of the disease whereas a carrier is an infected organism capable of transmitting the disease-causing microorganisms to a healthy individual.
Host
An infected person or animal
Explain what is meant by ‘nosocomial’.
Infection acquired from a medical setting (hospital or care facility);
e.g. surgical site, UTIs, pneumonia, ulcers.
Describe in detail the FOUR stages of infection.
- Incubation period: the time between the initial exposure to the infecting Organism and the appearance of the first signs of symptoms it produces
- Prodomal period: This is the interval from the non specific symptoms such as malaise and fever fatigue to more specific acute symptoms related to that particular infecting agent.
- Acute period: this is when the quantity of pathogen peaks and this associated with very pronounced symptoms specific to the disease
- Chronic Infection: infection with insidious or slow onset of long duration.
List FOUR ways in which a host can provide resistance against microbes.
First Line: Inate
* Active skin and mucous membranes
* Body secretions - stomach acid, tears etc
Second Line: Inate
* Phagocytosis
* Interferon production
* Effective inflammatory response
Third Line - Adaptive
* Effective inflammatory response
* Effective immune system
List FOUR ways in which a microbe displays ‘virulence’ against a host.
- Production of invasive and destructive enzymes
- Production of endo or exo toxins
- Spore formation
- Entry of a large number of organisms but formed colonies
- Presence of bacterial capsule and Pillai
- Ability to mutate Eg; MRSA, HIV
State THREE methods to reduce the spread of infection.
- Reduce the reservoir.
- Stop droplet transmission — covering the mouth (not with the hand).
- Block the method of transmission - hand washing, gloves, condoms
- Kill the organism.
- Sterilisation.
Explain how the following ‘infection control’ processes work:
a. Sterilisation
b. Pasteurisation
a. Sterilisation
All microorganisms and their spores are destroyed. There are two methods:
Hot air - 30 minutes of 180°C
Steaming - 20 minutes at 120°C
b. Pasteurisation
71.7°C for 15 to 25 seconds. It will kill most pathogenic microbes but not their spores
Note: Disinfectants and antiseptics will destroy/ reduce the number of organisms but not their spores
With regards to natural anti-microbials, name TWO examples for each of the following:
a. Anti-bacterial
b. Anti-fungal
c. Anti-viral
d. Anti-parasitic
a. Anti-bacterial
* Oregano.
* Grapefruit seed extract.
* Colloidal silver.
b. Anti-fungal
* Oregano
* Garlic
* Cinnamon.
* Berberine.
c. Anti-viral
* Elderberry
* Olive leaf.
* St John’s Wort
* Lemon balm (Herpes simplex).
d. Anti-parasitic
* Garlic.
* Berberine.
* Goldenseal.
* Oregano.
Explain briefly how ‘sepsis’ develops in the body.
It occurs when the pathogen has infected the blood. It arises when the body’s response to the infection causes injury to the body’s own organs, potentially leading to multi-organ failure.
Symptoms include lethargy, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, coughing, etc.
List TWO groups of individuals at higher risk of developing sepsis.
- Elderly populations [over 75]
- The very young
- Alcoholics
- Diabetics
- Chemotherapy patients
Using definitions, describe the difference between ‘cellulitis’ and ‘erysipelas’.
Both are bacterial skin infections
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection creating inflammation of dermal and subcutaneous layers.
Erysipelas is a more superficial bacterial skin infection of the dermis and upper subcutaneous layer, producing a well-defined edge.
List ONE bacterial cause of cellulitis.
Staphylococcus Aureus
Name TWO characteristic signs / symptoms of cellulitis.
Very red inflamed skin
Fever
Malaise
Miss X displays the following signs and symptoms. Which pathology do you suspect?
‘Pustules with round oozing patches and golden yellow crusts that grow larger daily. Mostly affects hands and face or in skin folds’.
Impetigo