Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Y1 - Infection > Lecture 1 - What Is An Infection > Flashcards

Lecture 1 - What Is An Infection Flashcards

1
Q

What is an infection?

A

The invasion of a hosts tissues by microorganisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How is a disease caused by an infection?

A

Microbes INVADE
MULTIPLY
TOXINS produced
Host responds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How do people get infections?

A

Microorganisms from self
Infected by others
Infected by vector organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are Microbiota/commensals (commensile microorganisms)?

A

Microbes that normally reside on or in the body that dont normally cause harm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How can commensals/Microbiota causes damage to a patient?

A

If they are transferred from other sites in the body (faecal-oral transmission)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where do Microbiota usually reside?

A

On skin
On mucosal membranes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 2 modes of transmission?

A

Horizontal transmission
Vertical transmission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the 3 methods of horizontal transmission?

A

-Contact
-Inhalation
-Ingestion (faecal-oral transmission most common)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How can infections be spread via contact?
What are the 3 types of ways they can be spread?

A

Directly (skin to skin, kissing, sexual intercourse)
Indirect (contaminated surfaces)
Vectors (mosquito for malaria)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How are infections spread via inhalation?

A

Water droplets in the air
Aerosols

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is vertical transmission of infections?

A

When an infection is passed from mother to child
This can be before birth or after birth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is an example of a group of microorganisms which can be vertically transmitted and what diseases can it causes?

A

Group B streptococcus

Meningitis
Sepsis
Pneumonia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the process to microorganisms causing disease?

A

Host exposed to microorganism
Adherence (mucosal membranes or blood vessels)
Invasion (invades cells or between cells)
Multiplication
Dissemination (spreads e.g into bloodstream)
Virulence factors produced
Host cells damaged

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are virulence factors?

A

Substances produced by the microorganism that enhance its survival in the host
Like toxins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What causes the symptoms in an infection?

A

Host cell damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How do host cells get damaged in infection?

A

Directly by toxins produced or cells bursting
Consequent to hosts immune response

17
Q

What are the 2 disease determinants?

A

Pathogen
Patient

18
Q

What about a pathogen determines the significance of the disease it causes?

A

Virulence factors produced
Inoculum size (amount person infected with)

19
Q

What about a patient determines the severity of a disease?

A

The site of infection
Co-morbidities (any pre existing conditions)

20
Q

Generally what 4 questions do we need to ask about a patient relating to an infection?

A

Is there an infection?
Where is the infection?
What is the cause of the infection?
What is the best treatment?

21
Q

What 3 things do we do when trying to determine what sort of infection a patient has?

A

History
Examination
Investigations

22
Q

When taking a history for a suspected infection what are we trying to establish?

A

Symptoms:
-focal or systemic
-severity
-duration

Potential exposures (like travel to malarial countries)

23
Q

When examining a patient with a suspected infection what are we looking for?

A

Any potential organ dysfunctions or anything that is not functioning normally

24
Q

What are the 2 types of investigations done with a person who has a suspected infection?

A

Specific investigations
Supportive investigations

25
Q

What is a specific investigation?

A

Investigation which is trying to identify the specific causative organism for the infection

26
Q

What is a supportive investigation?

A

An investigation which suggests whether a patient has an infection or not

27
Q

What are some examples of supportive investigations?

A

Full blood count (number of neutrophils or lymphocytes)

CRP levels

Blood chemistry (liver and kidney function tests)

Imaging (X-rays, MRIs, ultrasound)

Histopathology (examination of tissues)

28
Q

What may an increased neutrophil count indicate?

A

Bacterial infection

29
Q

What May an increased lymphocyte count indicate?

A

Viral infection

30
Q

What does C-reactive protein indicate?

A

An acute phase protein indicating an inflammatory process is happening

31
Q

What type of specific investigations can be done to determine causative bacteria?

A

Swabs
Microscopy (gram satins, viewing cells in CSF)
Culture
Antibiotic susceptibility
Antigen detection
Nucleic acid detection

32
Q

What specific investigations can be done to determine causative virus?

A

Antigen detection
Antibody detection (produced by the patient)
Detecting viral nuclei acid (DNA or RNA)

33
Q

What must viral RNA be converted into first before it is used in PCR?
(Not all viruses have rna)

A

DNA

Y1 - Infection (21 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions