Introductions Flashcards
Atypical Pneumonia - an introduction
A Lower respiratory tract infection where traditional bacteria are not detected
Symptoms tend to be milder and can be both systemic and respiratory
It usually fails to respond to penicillin, ampicillin
Typical: sudden onset, acute symptoms, fever >38.5, chils, productive purulent cough, very elevated wbc, lobular infection on xray
Atypical: gradual onset, malaise + fatigue, low grade fever, no chills, non-productive or purulent sputa, normal or mild lymphocytosis, patchy or diffuse infection on xray
Cystic Fibrosis: an introduction
CF is an autosomal recessive disease
CF is caused by mutations of the the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator CFTR gene
CF affects the lungs, sinuses, pancreas, liver, bones, vas deferens etc et
Cystic Fibrosis: Incidence
Incidence of about 1 in 1,461 people
With 1 in 19 people being carriers of the condition
Cystic Fibrosis: Pathophysiology
Mutations in the CFTR gene affect mucocilliary transport by causing a depletion of airway surface flluid
The CFTR gene is responsible for normal sodium/chloride and fluid regulation in and out of epithelial cells, mutations in this gene result in a loss of airway surface fluid
CF patients build up a thick layer of mucous which then clogs smaller bronchioles etc
Organisms can become trapped in this mucous
Some organisms can produce proteins such as alginate which are really sticky
TB: incidence
TB is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent
In 2020 there were 10 million cases and 1.4 million deaths
WHO estimates that over 4 million cases of TB are not diagnosed or treated a year, Less than 25% of resistant cases are detected
Significant burden mostly in africa and other 3rd world countries where overcrowding
HIV epidemic, immigration, increased poverty, non-compliant drug therapy, overcrowding, latent disease
Mycobacterium tuberculosis in TB
An acid fast bacillus
Highly contagious
Aerosolised droplets
Mainly affects lungs but can affect any organ
1/3 people carry latent infection worldwide (1 in 4 irish) -> 10 percent may develop an active infection
Symptoms:
- Chronic cough
Haemoptysis -> blood in sputa
Drenching night sweats
Weight loss
Pyrexia
WHO definition of RR-TB
TB resistant to rifampicin detected using phenotypic or genotypic methods with or without resistance to other anti-TB drugs
WHO definition of XDR TB
TB which are MDR-TB and also resistat to any fluoroquinalone and at least one additional group A drug (loveofloxacin, moxifloxacin, bedaquilline and linezolid)
Tuberculosis introduction
Chronic cough caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, chatscterised by:
Chronic cough
Haemoptysis -> blood in sputa
Drenching night sweats
Weight loss
Pyrexia
