Microbial Diseases Of Skin And Wounds Pt. 2 Flashcards
What are the black crusty ulcers called that are seen with cutaneous anthrax?
Eschars
What are the signs and symptoms of cutaneous anthrax?
Painless, solid, raised nodule that spreads to form black crusty ulcers
What is the pathogen responsible for cutaneous anthrax?
Bacillus anthracis
How is cutaneous anthrax acquired?
Direct contact with anthrax spores usually from infected animals or animal products including wool, hair, or hides
What can be formed by Bacillus anthracis making them especially difficult to deal with?
Endospores
What is the treatment for Bacillus anthracis?
Antibiotics
How can cutaneous anthrax be prevented?
Control of disease in animals or the vaccine (given to only certain people)
When untreated, what is the fatality rate of cutaneous anthrax?
20%
What is the result of anthrax entering the blood with cutaneous anthrax?
Toxemia
What are the signs and symptoms of gas gangrene?
Extremely painful blackening of infected muscle and skin (necrosis) that produces foul-smelling, gaseous bacterial waste products as gas bubbles
What is the cause of death associated with gas gangrene?
Shock, kidney failure often within 1 week
What is the pathogen responsible for gas gangrene?
Clostridium perfringens
What can the pathogen involved with gas gangrene produce making it more difficult to deal with?
Endospores
How does gas gangrene cause damage to the body?
Through the release of 11 toxins
Where does clostridium perfringens grow?
GI tracts of animals and humans
How is gas gangrene acquired?
Through a traumatic event enabling the endospores to enter
What is the mortality rate for gas gangrene?
40%
What is the treatment for gas gangrene?
Antitoxin, penicillin, and surgical removal of dead tissue
How can gas gangrene be prevented?
Proper cleaning of wounds
Why can’t most poxviruses infect humans?
They can’t attach to human cells
Molluscum contagiosum and orf are what kind of disease?
Viral diseases of poxviruses
What are the characteristic signs of diseases of poxviruses?
Lesions
Is chickenpox caused by a poxvirus?
NO (technically by a herpes virus)
What is the first stage of a characteristic lesion involved with pox viruses?
Macule
What is the second stage of a characteristic lesion involved with pox viruses?
Papule
What is the third stage of a characteristic lesion involved with pox viruses?
Vesicle (full of fluid)
What is the fourth stage of a characteristic lesion involved with pox viruses?
Pustule (pus-filled)
What is the fifth stage of a characteristic lesion involved with pox viruses?
Crust
What is the sixth and final stage of a characteristic lesion involved with pox viruses?
Scar
When does a person with smallpox no longer become contagious?
When the very last scab falls off
What can result from smallpox blisters being formed around the eyes?
Blindness
What are the initial signs and symptoms of smallpox?
Fever, fatigue, headache, occasional vomiting
What is the pathogen responsible for smallpox? What is its alternate name?
Smallpox virus (Orthopoxvirus) aka variola virus
How is smallpox transmitted?
Inhalation of virus
What is the treatment for smallpox?
Immediate vaccination
What is the #1 category A bioterrorist threat?
Smallpox
When was smallpox vaccination discontinued?
1972 in the US, 1980s worldwide
What pox viral disease is considered an emerging disease currently?
Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a disease among what animals?
Rodents
What are the signs and symptoms of molluscum cantagiosum?
Raised, pearl-like waxy papules (viral warts) typically on the face, trunk, and external genitalia
What is the pathogen responsible for molluscum contagiosum?
Molluscum contagiosum virus (molluscipoxvirus)
Molluscum contagiosum is most common among what group of people?
Children (1-10 years), sexually active individuals, and AIDS patients
Is molluscum contagiosum considered an STD?
No
What is the treatment for molluscum contagiosum?
People with normal immunity heal without treatment in about 9 months
Can molluscum contagiosum be prevented by condoms?
Not necessarily due to possibility of higher lesions
What does the word “herpes” mean in Greek?
To creep
What are the signs and symptoms with herpes infections?
Slow-spreading lesions
What is the condition called that is oral herpes?
Herpes Labialis
What is the condition called that is herpes of the finger?
Herpetic Whitlow
What is the general term for the condition where herpes that can occur anywhere?
Herpes Gladitorium
About how many people with herpes infections experience recurrences as a result of a latent virus?
2/3
Where do herpes viruses typically go to remain latent?
Trigeminal, brachial, sacral, or other ganglia
What are common triggers for deactivation of herpes infections?
Immune suppression situations like stress, trauma, illness, sunlight, menstruation, disease, or fever
What is the pathogen responsible for herpes infections?
Human Herpes viruses 1 and 2
Which herpes virus is generally associated with “above the waist herpes”?
Human Herpesvirus 1
Which herpes virus is usually associated with “below the waist herpes”?
Human Herpesvirus 2
Is a herpes lesion location 100% indicative of the viral type?
No; there can be crossover
How are herpes infections spread?
Direct contact with lesions
How long do people possess herpes infections?
Lifelong
What is the treatment for herpes lesions?
Antiviral medications are used for control not to cure it
What is used to make the diagnosis of herpes infections?
Characteristic lesions
What is the medication used to treat herpes lesions?
Valtrex
What is the site of latency of the herpes virus causing general coldsores?
Trigeminal ganglion
What are the signs and symptoms of chickenpox?
Rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually turn into scabs
What is the other name for chickenpox?
Varicella
What is the usual pathway of the formation of blisters with chickenpox?
Usually starts on the back and trunk then spreads across body
What are the signs of shingles?
Painful rash on one side of the face or body (unilateral)
What is unique about the pattern of the rash associated with shingles?
Localized to skin along an infected nerve (dermatomal distribution)
What is the other name for shingles?
Herpes zoster
What is the pathogen responsible for both shingles and chickenpox?
Human herpesvirus 3 aka varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
Where does the virus that causes shingles and chickenpox stay while it is dormant?
Dorsal nerve root ganglia
What is the frequency for those who have had chickenpox to get shingles?
15% will get shingles
Chickenpox mostly occurs among what age group?
Children
Chickenpox is more serious when acquired during what phase of life?
Adulthood
What is the usual age of onset for shingles?
Over 50
What is the relationship between shingles risk and age?
Risk of shingles increases with age
About how many people over the age of 85 end up experiencing shingles at some point?
1/2
What is used to diagnose both shingles and chickenpox?
Characteristic lesions
What is the treatment for shingles of chickenpox?
Based on relief of symptoms
When is someone at risk for acquiring chickenpox from someone who has shingles?
If the person is unvaccinated and has never had chickenpox
How can shingles or chickenpox be prevented?
Vaccines are available that can create an immunity boost against the diseases
What is postherpetic neuralgia?
Pain that persists after a month or longer after the onset of shingles
