Introduction to microbial infection

Question 1

What does the innate immune system consist of?

Answer 1

normal microbiota
physical barriers
chemical barriers
phagocytic cells

Question 2

How does normal microbiota offer protection?

Answer 2

by competeing with pathogens for colonisation sites

Question 3

What are examples of physical barriers?

Answer 3

skin
mucomuciliary clearance
flushing
peristalisis

Question 4

What are examples of chemical barriers?

Answer 4

mucus
gastric acid
plasma proteins

Question 5

What are the two ways infection can occur?

Answer 5

1. invading host tissues

2. exerting effects from mucosal surfaces

Question 6

What are the 3 types of pathogen?

Answer 6

obligate
conditional
opportunistic

Question 7

What is tissue tropism?

Answer 7

affinity for a specific tissue

Question 8

What 3 factors does transmission depend on?

Answer 8

1. the number of micro-organisms shed
2. the number required to infect a fresh host
3. the micro-organism’s stability in the environment

Question 9

What is fomite transmission?

Answer 9

tranmission via inanimate objects

Question 10

What is nosocomial transmission?

Answer 10

infections acquired during a hospital stay