Lecture 1 Flashcards
characteristics of infectious diseases that set them apart from other human diseases
-unpredictable and explosive global impact
-frequent acquisition by host of durable immunity against reinfection after recovery
-reliance of disease on a single agent without requirement for multiple cofactors
-transmissibility
-potential for becoming preventable
-potential for eradication
-evolutionary advantage over human host bc of replicative and mutational capacities of pathogens -> highly adaptable
-close dependence on nature and complexity of human behavior
-frequent derivation from or coevolution in other animal species
-possibility of treatment for having multiplying effects on preventing infection in contacts and the community and on microbial and animal ecosystems
established infectious diseases
-endemic diseases that have been around to allow for stable and predictable level of morbidity and mortality
-viral and bacterial respiratory and diarrheal diseases
-drug susceptible malaria
-tuberculosis
-tropical disease- helminthic, parasitic disease
-nosocomial infections
newly emerging infectious diseases
-diseases that are recognized in the human host for first time
-HIV/AIDs, nipah virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome
reemerging infectious diseases
-diseases that historically infected humans but continue to reappear either in new locations or resistant forms
normal mechanisms which prevent infection
-normal flora
-hereditary factors
-cellular factors
-natural antibodies
-natural barriers to the entry of microorganisms
-non specific immune factors: cytokines, acute phase response, stress, hormones, age, complement, inflammation
-specific immune factors
normal flora prevents “invasion” of other organisms
-compete for the same nutrients
-competes for same receptors on host cells
-produces substances which are toxic
-low level stimulation of immune system
common “colonizers”
-skin- staph, strep, corynebacterium, candida
-mouth- strep (aerobes and anaerobes), candida
-colon- bacteroides, enterobacter, enterococcus, candida
-vagina- lactobacillus, costridium, enterobacter
natural barriers to infection
-intact skin (oily vs dry, inflammation)
-mucous membranes- cervical mucus, prostatic fluid, tears toxic to organisms)
-respiratory tract- filtration, cough, macrophages
-intestinal tract- pH, peristalsis, normal flora
-genitourinary tract- pH, hormones, urethra
-the eye- tears, anti microbial substances
examples of subtle or not-so-subtle immune impairments
-elderly
-diabetic
-pt who is s/p splenectomy
tuberculosis background
-discovered by robert koch
-mycobacterium tuberculosis
-afflicted human population since antiquity
-extreme weight loss
-aka- consumption, TB
-bacterial disease of lung
-caused by aerobic, nonmotile, acid-fast bacillus M. tuberculosis
-incubation- 2-12 weeks from exposure to positive purified protein derivative (PPD) test
-geographic regions- worldwide, more common in developing nations
-failure to thrive
tuberculosis today
-continues to plague us
-WHO estimates suggest 1/3 of global population currently suffers
-3 mil new cases appear annually
-multidrug resistance associated
-M. tuberculosis complex -> Refers to not only M. tuberculosis infections but also M. bovis*
-consumption of raw milk and unpasteurized dairy -> cause of human M. bovis infections
transmission of tuberculosis
-if 100 are exposed to M. tuberculosis -> 3/4th will suffer no infection -> 1/4 will develop primary TB
-of the cases -> 1/10 will progress to primary active TB and nearly 90% to latent infection
-latent cases -> another 90% will not develop clinical disease
-suppression of TB occurs 90% of primary infections and result in latent TB
-airborne droplets
-primary TB is either suppressed by immune system or cause active disease
tuberculosis: environmental factors
-occurs person to person via aerosolized droplets
-coughing/sneezing mostly but also talking or singing
-droplets of sputum -> evaporate -> only solidified parts remain -> some of which are M. tuberculosis laden
-evaporation time reflect their size
-larger one vaporize slower than smaller
-sometimes a function of conditions such as humidity
suspended droplets: tuberculosis
-suspended M. tuberculosis laden droplets cause infection
-once inhaled -> sequester in alveoli -> establish primary infection site
-some droplets never make it that far
-larger ones tend to attach to inside of nose or trachea
-smaller ones may be exhaled before they ever plumb respiratory tract
-flourish in crowded, poverty stricken settings
infectivity factors: tuberculosis
-virulence of its strain*
-population density
-rate and force at which an infected individual coughs or sneezes
-extent to which the pathogen has infiltrated the pulmonary spaces
-greater the number of pulmonary lesions -> greater bacterial load of M. tuberculosis
clinical diagnosis: tuberculosis
-historically relied on chest radiographs
-appearance of calcified pulmonary lesions were considered indicative of infection
-radiography lacks diagnostic sensitivity and specificity
-tuberculin skin test (TST)- most used tool
-uses purified protein derivative (PPD) that contains tuberculin- protein produced by M. tuberculosis- come back 2 days to check for indurations
primary TB infection that results in active disease
-primary progressive TB
latent TB
-can remain dormant for many years and if not treated will become active ->
-reactivation TB or progressive secondary TB
-in 10% of those infected
signs and symptoms of tuberculosis
-active pulmonary TB -> fever, malaise, fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, cough, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, hemoptysis
-symptom onset is gradual in reactivation TB
-extrapulmonary TB- disease that spreads outside lungs -> common in children and immunocompromised
-common extrapulmonary sites- pleura, meninges, lymphatic system, genitourinary (GU), bones
tuberculosis testing
-PPD screening tests for previous exposure
-chest x ray may show signs of active disease and may reveal miliary lesions, consolidation, cavity lesions, pleural effusions, nodular infiltrates, granulomas, mediastinal lymphadenopathy
-preference for lung apices predominantly on right side
-when testing for active disease -> Sputum for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain- plated for culture and sensitivity -> testing using polymerase chain reaction- PCR
-culture is gold standard for dx- takes 4-8 weeks
treatment tuberculosis
-latent TB often treated with daily isoniazid with or without supplemental pyridoxine for 9 months
-daily rifampin for 4 months- alternative
-treatment of active and/or extrapulmonary TB requires multiple drugs including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, streptomycin, pyrazinamide
-hard to treat due to bacterias slow reproductive rate