Lecture 3

Question 1

What do you require for an infection to occur?

Answer 1

Pathogen
Patient
(Flora-
We have commensal bacteria which have no pathological effect.

Question 2

How do infections resolve (mostly)?

Answer 2

Respond without any exogenous sources, via immune system. E.g. diarrhoea

(If not we need to manage the infection- treat patient, to produce an outcome)

Question 3

What are the 4 major pathogens?

Answer 3

Virus (prokaryotes)
Bacterium (prokaryotes)
Fungus e.g. yeast, mould (eukaryotes)
Parasite e.g. Protozoa, helminth (eukaryotes)

Question 4

How do different patients vary?

Answer 4

Variations can affect risk of infection.

• age (neonates to elderly)
• gender
• pathological (smoking- paralyses cilia, diabetes)/physiological state (pregnancy)
• social factors (housing, sexual activities, recreation)
• calendar time
• relative time
• current
• recent