Introduction to Infectious Disease

Question 1

Develops rapidly, usually febrile and of short duration (from well to ill in hour or a couple of days e.g. typical pneumonia Streptococcus pneumoniae)

Answer 1

acute infection

Question 2

Infections that originate from encounters with agents in the environment

Answer 2

infections with exogenous infections

Question 3

infections that originate from normal microbiota acting as opportunisitc pathogens

Answer 3

infections with endogenous origins

Question 4

What are the four important gates of entry for pathogens?

Answer 4

respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tract, and breach in the skin

Question 5

Liste the 6 general steips in the pathogenisis of infection.

Answer 5

1. entry of pathogen into the body
2. attachment of the pathogen to some tissues into the body
3. multiplication
4. invasion or spread
5. evasion of host defenses
6. damage to host tissue

Question 6

the time between the acquisition of the organisms and the initiation of symptoms

Answer 6

incubation period

Question 7

period in which non-specific symptoms manifest (fever, malaise or loss of appetite)

Answer 7

prodromal period

Question 8

the characteristic signs and symptoms manifest

Answer 8

acute specific illness

Question 9

the ilness subsides adn the patient returns to health

Answer 9

recovery (convalescent) period

Question 10

The individual remains asymptomatic even though the organism is present

What is the name of a person who can still shed the organism during this type of infection?

Provide two examples of organism that can cause this type of infection

Answer 10

subclinical infection

carriers

(Salmonella Typhi, hepatitis B Virus)

Question 11

What is an example of a virus that can remain in a latent state and a recurrence of symptoms may recur at a later state?

Answer 11

Herpes labialis (cold sores) caused by herpes simplex virus type 1

Question 12

A disease with a slow onset that lasts a long time

Answer 12

chronic disease

Question 13

What are the components of exotoxins and their function?

Provide three examples or organisms that produce exotoxins.

Answer 13

polypeptides consisting of two domains or two subunits: one interacts with the receptor int eh cell membrane of the host cell, and the other possess the toxic enzymatic activity

(cholera, tetanus and diphtheria toxin)

Question 14

Where is endotoxin found and what reaction does it induce within the host?

Answer 14

part of the lipopolysaccharide of gram-negative bacteria, and in high concentrations can produce exacerbated inflammatory response that can lead to septic shock

Question 15

develops more slowly than an acute infection but more rapidly than a chronic infection (from well to ill in a week or two)

Provide an example of an agent that causes this type of infection

Answer 15

subacute infection

interstitial pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Question 16

develops slowly, milder and wiht long-lasting symptoms (from well to ill in weeks to a month)

Provide an example of an agent that causes this type of infection

Answer 16

chronic infection

tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Question 17

normally, these diseases are spread from one individual to another

Answer 17

contagious or communicable diseases

man-to-man: common cold (rhinovirus)

animal-to-man: tularemia (Francisella tularensis)

Question 18

Recovery of hte time-period follwing the illness. This individual may still harbor the pathogen and be a carrier.

Provide an example of an organism that would result in reinfection as well as initial infection through this type of carrier.

Answer 18

convalescence

a source for reinfection (e.g. malaria Plasmodium species) or infection (e.g. typhoid fever; Salmonella Typhi)

Question 19

State of impaired or abnormal anatomy or physiology e.g. tissue destruction, loss of functio, inflammation

Answer 19

disease or pathology

Question 20

a disease is more-or-less constantly present in a given geographic area

Provide two examples.

Answer 20

endemic disease

plague (western US)

malaria (Africa)

Question 21

when occurrence of a disease in a given area exceeds normally expected levels

Answer 21

epidemic disease

Question 22

organisms not know to inhabit humans without causing disease. In al cases, the ability of bacteria to cause disease is regulated to some degree by th innate and adaptive immune systems.

Answer 22

Frank or strict pathogens

rabies virus, Shigella, Salmonella, Vibrio, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Plasmodium, Yersinia pestis, Bacillus anthracis, and Francisella tularensis

Question 23

symptoms appear suddenly and intensely; explosive

Answer 23

fulminant infection

Question 24

due to the activity of a physician or therapy

Answer 24

Iatrogenic infection

Question 25

infection is confined or localized to a specific site or organ (e.g. boil). Systemic symptoms if present oftentimes involves toxin production.

Answer 25

local infection

Question 26

infection involving two or more organisms

Answer 26

mixed or polymicrobic infection

Question 27

originating or taking place in a hospital, acquired ina hospital, especially in reference to an infection

Answer 27

nosocomial infections

Question 28

worldwide epidemic

Answer 28

pandemic disease

Question 29

an organism capable of causing a disease or pathology

Answer 29

pathogen

Question 30

the ability to cause disease or pathology. Highly pathogenic organisms cause very serious or destructive disease

Answer 30

pathogenicity

Question 31

a sign or symptom that is so characteristic of a disease that it can be use dto make a diagnosis

Answer 31

pathognomonic

Question 32

pus-forming infection

Answer 32

pyogenic infection

Question 33

fever inducing infection

Answer 33

pyrogenic infection

Question 34

an infection that results in puss formation

Answer 34

suppurative infection

Question 35

pathology involves many body sites or organs

Answer 35

systemic infection

Question 36

the ability to produce an infection

Answer 36

virulence

Question 37

diseases transmitted to man from infected animals (the reservoir) often via a vector

Answer 37

zoonosis or soonotic diseases