Micro Flashcards
pathologist
studies the structure & functional manifestations of disease & are involved in diagnosing diseases in human populations and ways to prevent, control, or eradicate diseases in population.
epidemiologist
studies factors that determine the frequency, distribution, determinants of disease in human populations. Concerned with the who, what, when, where, why with all types of diseases. They also study how can diseases be prevented, controlled, or eradicated.
infectious disease
a disease that is caused by a PATHOGEN.
communicable disease
transmitted from one human to another
contagious
a communicable disease that is EASILY transmitted from one person to another. (ex. flu)
sporadic disease
occurs OCCASIONALLY in the population of a particular geographic area. normally is kept under control due to immunizations and sanitation. Outbreaks occur when vaccinations are neglected.
endemic disease
always present in population of particular geographic area. # of cases fluctuates, never dies out. (TB, STD’s, colds, etc.)
pandemic disease
occurs in many countries simultaneously, sometimes worldwide. (Spanish flu of 1918)
chain of infection
there must be: pathogen, source/reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.
ways to break the chain of infection
prevent contact, eliminate means of transmission, & block exposure. all can be done with hand hygiene, good nutrition, rest, immunizations, gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, & PPE.
human carriers
a person who is colonized with a particular pathogen, but the pathogen is not currently causing disease.
passive carriers
carry the pathogen without ever having the disease
incubatory carriers
a person who is capable of transmitting a pathogen during the INCUBATION period
convalescent carriers
harbor and can transmit a particular pathogen while RECOVERING from an infectious disease
active carriers
have completely recovered from the disease but continue to harbor the pathogen indefinitely.
Typhoid mary
carried salmonella typhi in her gallbladder. (was an example of an active carrier)
zoonosis
acquired by direct contact with the animal. by ingestion or inhalation of the pathogen. also by injection of the pathogen by an arthropod vector.
rabies
transmitted by saliva if bitten by an infected animal
toxoplasmosis
transmitted by ingesting cat feces.
skin-to-skin
somone who blows their nose but doesn’t wash their hands and passes their cold virus
mucous membrane-to-mucous membrane
kissing or sexual contact (STD’s)
airborne
dispersal of droplet nuclei, residue of evaporated droplets. (TB)
DROPLETS
(coughing, sneezing, even talking)
bacillus anthracis
(anthrax) infects via; aerosol, skin contact, or ingestion. sent by mail to politicians in 2001
clostridium botulinum
(botulism) could be put in food or water. only requires a very small amount. extremely fatal. causes; nerve damage, visual difficulty, respiratory failure, flaccid paralysis of voluntary muscles, brain damage, coma, and death within a week.
variola major
(small pox) eradicated in 1980, vaccination is no longer routine but emergency vaccines still exist.
yersinia pestis
(plague) usually transmitted to humans via a flea bite
primary sewage treatment step
screening, skimming, settling out primary sludge. large debris are filtered.
secondary sewage treatment step
aeration, sludge removal, trickling, and disenfection.
tertiary sewage treatment step
very expensive. used when water is scarce. involves additional purification to enable water to be used for drinking.
coliform count
checks for presence of coliforms. includes E coli and other gut bacteria. presence of this in water confirms fecal contaminitaion. less than 1 colliform per 100mL is safe for drinking
Healthcare associated infections (HAI’s)
acquired inside hospital or other healthcare facilities
Iatrogenic infection
result of medical or surgical treatment. a type of HAI but is received directly from the health care worker
community aquired infection
acquired outside the healthcare facility
4 most common HAIs
UTIs, surgical site infections, lower respiratory tract infections, bloodstream infections.
major factors contributing to HAI
increasing number of drug resistant pathogens, failure of healthcare personnel to follow infection control guidelines, increase in immuno-compromised patients.
Clostridium difficile
(C-DIFF) most common HAI.
1 kg = ???lbs
2.2lbs = 1kg
