L14: Travel infection Flashcards
Why do we need to considered travel infection?
Increasing global travel–> easy due to transport
Access to more ‘exotic’ destinations–> infections that weren’t prevalent becoming prevalent
Travelling with co-morbidities–> immunosupressed etc–> exposed to infections, present in different ways
War and natural disaster help increase infection in populations
Migration of populations–> spread between populations
Emerging infections–> new ones
When looking at the infection model what are the most important things to consider with travel infections?
As well as normal person factors
Consider time–> determine incubation period
–> calendar time–> when they went, time of exposure
–> relative time–> time since travelling
Place–> where they have been
–> recent place and over last 6 months-year
As well as normal infections, what additional infections are people exposed to when they go abroad?
Bacterial usually transmitted via a vector
–> Rickettsia and Spirochaete
Parasites
–> Protozoa (malaria)
–> Helminths (worms)–> present later on through BV
What are rickettsia?
Small intracellular bacteria
Tics, lice, fleas mites etc…
Usually transmitted from animal to human
What is a vector?
Something acts as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell
What is a Spirochaete?
Spiral shaped bacteria Example: leptiospira Carried in urine of infected animal Released into fresh water Enter human through mucous membrane
What are protozoa?
Single celled infections
Malaria
Why is it important to ask about travel history?
Recognise imported disease–> rare/unknown in the UK
–> Don’t ask, don’t think, may misdiagnose something serious
Different strains of the same pathogen in different countries–> maybe antigenically different, resistant to different antibiotics, impacts on protection and detection
Infection prevention–> some infections highly contagious
- -> on ward safety
- -> in the lab–> handling samples safely
What questions do you need to ask to determine incubation period and attempt to identify species of bacteria?
Where? –> where did they go?
When?–> how long ago? –> Incubation period
What?–> What are the signs and symptoms?
How?–> How did they acquire it?
How can incubation period help determine type of infection?
<10 days–> Virus, bacteria of certain types and some parasites
10-21 days–> Virus unlikely, Bacteria and parasites more likely
> 21 days–> Unusual types of bacteria, some parasites
How can the signs/symptoms help determine infection?
Differentiate where the infection is Resp--> likely present with SoB, cough GI--> Diarrhoea (blood in, fever) Skin--> rash--> localised or systemic Jaundice--> Liver affected--> Hep A and E CNS--> headache, meningism Haematological--> Lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, haemorrhage Eosinophils raised in some infections
What are some of the different methods of acquiring an infection?
Food/water Insect/ tick bite Swimming Sexual contact Animal contact (bite safari) Recreational activities
What are some specific risk factors for certain infections?
Animal bite--> rabies Rodents--> Leptospirosis Mosquito/ insect bite--> Malaria, dengue Tick bite--> Rickettsia Dead/ slaughtered animals--> Anthrax, Ebola Farms--> Q-fever Game parks--> RIckettsia Fresh water--> Schistosomiasis, leptospirosis Caves--> histoplasmosis Unpasteurised dairy--> Brucellosis Shellfish--> Vibrios Under/ uncooked meat/fish--> Salmonella
What other aspects of the travel history would you also want to know?
Anyone unwell on trip/ after trip?
Did they take preventative measures? Vaccinations, prophylactics, etc
Exposure to healthcare whilst abroad? May have been exposed to severe infections
What examinations would you want to carry out?
Temp--> determine if fever present BP--> Reduced, increased HR-- tachycardic (inline with fever), brachycardic O2 saturation Look for skin marks--> bite marks etc
What investigation would you want to carry out?
Blood test–> FBC
Biochemistry –> urea, creatine, bilirubin, ALT, ALP, CRP
Blood film–> look at cells present, morphology of cells
What is malaria?
Parasitic infection
Transmitted from human to human via a vector
How common is malaria?
Commonest imported infection to the UK
250million cases and 1 million deaths per year (under estimation)
UK–> 1500 cases per year (11 deaths)
How many different types of Malaria are there? Which are the most common?
5 main species of Plasmodium
- ->Falciparum
- -> Vivax
Which countries are most at risk of Malaria?
Around the equator Subsaharen South Africa Parts of south and central America Indian subcontinent Parts of Indonesia and Australia
