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Clinical Microbiology > Major Introductory Concepts > Flashcards

Major Introductory Concepts Flashcards

Going over definitions and basic concepts as foundations

1
Q

What is the kingdom classification of bacteria?

A

Kingdom Monera: Prokaryote

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2
Q

Describe features of bacteria as prokaryotes

A
  • Simple, single celled
  • Reproduce quickly
  • Loose DNA and chromosomes
  • No nucleus
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3
Q

What are the four bacterial shapes?

A
  • Cocci
  • Bacilli
  • Spirals
  • Spirochetes
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4
Q

Most human diseases are caused by what type of bacteria?

A

Spirochetes

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5
Q

Mycology is the study of…

A

simple plants known as fungi and yeast

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6
Q

What is the kingdom classification of fungi and yeast?

A

Kingdom fungi: Eukaryote

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7
Q

What are features of fungi as eukaryotes?

A
  • Multi-cellular
  • Contain a nucleus
  • Reproduction slower than bacteria
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8
Q

How does fungi compare to more complex plants?

A

Lack chlorophyl: no respiration, no glucose

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9
Q

What is the purpose of fungi?

A

Decompose infected substrate

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10
Q

What are the two fungal shapes?

A

Yeast and mold

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11
Q

How large can mold become?

A

Can become the world’s largest life form

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12
Q

Virology is the study of…

A

viruses and prions

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13
Q

What is the kingdom classification of viruses and prions?

A

No kingdom because non-living

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14
Q

80% of human disease and death is caused by…

A

viruses

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15
Q

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites. What does this mean?

A

They need a host to replicate

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16
Q

Which microbe is smallest?

A

Viruses; millions can infect a cell

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17
Q

What are the possible viral shapes?

A
  • Cylindrical
  • Polyhedral
  • Spherical
  • Complex (bacteriophage)
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18
Q

Parasitology is the study of…

A

simple and complex animals

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19
Q

What are the two kingdoms of parasites?

A

Kingdom Protista and Animalia

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20
Q

What are examples of Kingdom Protista: Protozoa?

A

Microscopic, simple, single-celled parasites causing incredible symptoms

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21
Q

What are Kingdom Animalia: Helminths?

A

Macroscopic worms

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22
Q

What are Phylum: Nemahelminthes?

A

Round worms (more advanced)

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23
Q

What are Phylum: Platyhelminthes?

A

Flat worms (less advanced)

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24
Q

What are the two phylums of helminths?

A

Nemahelminthes: round worms
Platyhelminthes: flat worms

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25
What is the only overtly symptomatic STD to women? What type of microbe is its cause?
Trichomoniasis: protozoan parasite
26
What is giardia? What type of microbe is its cause?
Beaver fever, a nasty GI disease common in dogs Protozoan parasite
27
As a protozoan parasite, does giardia need a host?
No
28
If you have tapeworm, how many are likely to be infesting?
Usually only one
29
If you have roundworms, how many are likely to be infesting?
Many infest at once
30
Describe the symptoms of tapeworm
No overt symptoms, may stay in system for 1-2 years
31
How large is a tapeworm?
Tapeworms are host specific: can be .5cm to 28ft
32
Roundworm eggs can stay in soil up to...
6 years
33
What is normal flora?
Any microbe that lives in or on the human body without causing harm to the host
34
Normal flora is also referred to as...
microbiome
35
Is there more normal flora or body cells in the body?
3x microbes in/on body than body cells
36
Which normal flora produces Vitamin K?
E. coli
37
How does normal flora follow for generations?
Shared through touch especially to children
38
What is a pathogen?
Any microbe causing infection/illness
39
What is an opportunistic pathogen? How does it cause disease?
Potentially infectious microbe that's considered the hosts normal flora. Causes disease when the host's resistance is low or innate defenses have been breached.
40
90% of female UTIs are caused by...
opportunistic pathogen: e. coli
41
Where is staph supposed to be? What does it cause when it's elsewhere?
Staph is supposed to be on the skin When it moves, it acts as an opportunistic pathogen and causes infection
42
What is pathogenesis?
Sequence of steps required resulting in the manifestation of disease
43
Epidemiology is the study of...
factors determining the frequency and distribution of disease
44
What are the five requirements of infection?
1. Entry 2. Establishment 3. Defeat host defenses 4. Damage the host 5. Transmission to new host
45
What are five transmission mechanisms of disease spread?
1. Air 2. Food or water 3. Insect vectors 4. Person to person contact 5. Geographic distribution
46
What are five propagation of epidemic disease factors?
1. Poor socioeconomic conditions 2. Ignorance of how infections occur 3. Poor hygiene 4. Natural disasters 5. War and relocation of refugees
47
Virulence and virulence factors allow the pathogen to...
* Persist in the host * Cause disease * Escape or defeat host defenses
48
Describe the innate immune response of host defenses
* First line of defense * Non-specific (always happening) * Cellular and chemical factors (dodges microbe)
49
Describe the adaptive immune response of host defenses
* Lethal response (kills microbe) * Specific response (triggered) * Memory
50
Which immune response of the host takes more time?
Adaptive immune response
51
What type of cell will recognize a microbe?
T lymphocytes
52
Which infections are easiest to treat?
Bacterial infections
53
What prevention method is common for bacterial infections and works against a majority of microbes?
Antiseptics and disinfectants
54
What is the treatment for bacterial infections?
Antibiotics (hopefully the bacteria isn't resistant)
55
Why are fungi harder to treat than bacteria?
They share common cell structures with human cells (a nucleus)
56
What is the treatment for fungal infections?
Antimycotics (antibiotics specific to fungi)
57
Antimycotics are targeting which part of the fungi cell?
Cell walls (we don't have those)
58
Describe systemic antimycotics What is a risk of these?
Taken as a pill, break, repeat Can cause RBC rupture leading to anemia
59
Describe topical antimycotics
Taken 2x a day for 1 year to get through all layers of fungi
60
What is the treatment for viral infections?
There is no treatment for a viral illness
61
What must happen to prevent a viral infection?
Viruses must be destroyed prior to entering a cell OR the host cell must be killed prior to releasing the replicated viruses
62
Treatment for protozoa can cause... because...
can cause severe human illness because protozoa are simple animals sharing many cellular components
63
What will treatment for protozoa target?
Protozoa's reproductive abilities
64
With treatment for protozoa, how will the patient feel?
Worse before better
65
Treatment for helminths can cause... because...
can cause severe human illness because helminths are more complex animals sharing many cellular components
66
How do we treat helminths?
Try to get rid of them slowly with deworming pills causing intestinal purge
67
What are two important factors in preventing infectious disease?
Public health and immunization
68
Antiseptics are used on...
skin
69
Disinfectants are used on...
surfaces
70
Antibiotics are used on...
living systems
71
Name five public health measures taken to prevent disease
1. Disinfection of water supplies 2. Monitoring food supplies 3. Proper hygiene and sanitation 4. Proper waste removal and treatment 5. Insect and pest control
72
How can microbes benefit the environment?
* Recycling vital elements in soil * Convert environmental elements into usable form * Return CO2 to the atmosphere * Recycle waste water * Decontaminate toxic spills
73
How can microbes benefit humans?
Production of chemicals, hormones, and enzymes Production of food

Clinical Microbiology (6 decks)

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