Microbiology and infectious diseases in Nursing Flashcards
What are microbes?
Single-celled organisms so tiny that millions can fit into the eye of a needle- eg bacteria, archaea, helmiths, viruses, small parasites
What are the major features of prokaryotes?
No organelles
Unbound circular genome.
Rigid cell wall
What are the major features of eukaryotes?
True nucleus and linear genome, complex, organelles, flexible cell wall
What are methods of disease transmission?
Respiratory droplets, dust, contaminated water, injection of contaminated soil, contaminated food, contact with contaminated objects, anthropod bites, contact with animals
What are portals of exit for disease?
Coughing and sneezing; insect bites; removal of blood; faeces; urine; skin cells and open lesions
What are 8 signs and symptoms of meningitis in children and adults?
Stiff neck, headache, fever, vomiting, light sensitivity, drowsiness or confusion, joint pain, fitting
What are 8 signs and symptoms of meningitis in infants?
Fever, possibly with cold hands and feet, refusing feeds or vomiting, high pitched moaning, cry or whimpering, dislike of being handled or fretful, neck retraction with arching of back, blank and staring expression, child is difficult to wake, lethargic, pale, blotchy complexion
What is meningitis?
Inflammation of the meninges covering the breain
What is a key sign of meningitis?
Headache, can’t move chin to chest
How is meningitis spread?
By close contact with infected person or sharing food and drink
When caring for a meningitis patient in a hospital room, what needs to be done?
Keep room darkened as patient has photophobia
What are the causes of pyogenic meningitis?
Neonates- Group B strep, E.Coli, citrobacter, salmonella
Children: N. Meningitidis, Haemophilus influenza b, strep pneumoniae
Adults: N. Meningitidis, strep pneumoniae, staph aureus, cryptococcus neoformans, listeria monocytogenes, M.tuberculosis.
What are the causes of aseptic meningitis?
Partially-treated bacterial meningitis (antibiotics given before LP); viral meningitis (echo virus, coxsacki B), viral encephalitis (eg herpes simplex, enteroviruses, varicella zoster, CMV), M.tuberculosis, fungal meningitis, acute leptospirosis, neurosyphillis, cerebral toxoplasmosis, HIV
What is the best test for a sore throat?
Cultures- throat swab
What is the main aim of antibiotic therapy for strep?
To prevent recurrent infections and rheumatic heart disease with permanent heart valve damage
What is acute otitis media?
Bacteria colonising the oropharynx enter the middle ear via the eustachian tube. Triggered by viral infection, obstruction, colonisation with new strains of bacteria, age, race, nutrition
What are the principle pathogens for acute otitis media?
S.pneumoniae, H.influenzae, M.catarrhalis, viruses.
What are the microbial causes of UTI?
E.coli Proteus sp Klebsiella sp Enterococcus Pseudomonas Enterobacter St.saprophyticus
UTI’s in hospital tend to be caused by the more antibiotic resistant organisms
What are the classic presentations of a UTI?
Dysuria, frequency, urgency, supra-pubic pain.
What is the drug for UTIs?
Trimethoprim 300mg OD TDS
What are the complicating features requiring urine culture in woman?
Abnormal urinary tract eg stone, reflux, catheter; impaired host defences eg pregnancy, diabetes, immunosupression; impaired renal function; suspicion of pyelonephritis; more that 3 UTIs in one year, UTI recurrence within 2w.
What are complicated UTIs?
Men, children, pregnancy, people with suspected pyelonephritis, people with recurrent UTI, failed antibiotic treatment or persistent symptoms, catheterised patients, hospital-acquired infections, recent urinary tract instrumentation, impaired host defences, structural abnormalities of GU tract, people with renal impairment.
What is the treatment for chlamydia?
1g Azithromycin stat or 7 days 100mg doxycycline
What is the causative agent of gonorrhoea?
Neisseria gonorhoeae
What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea in men?
Urethral discharge, dysuria within 2/5 days of exposure
What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea in women?
Asymptomatic up to 50%; increased or change in vagina discharge, lower abdominal pain, dysuria.
What is the last empiric therapy left for gonorrhoea?
Ceftriaxone IM
What is the STI that most commonly leads to infertility if untreated?
Chlamydia
A person is most likely to get chlamydia and gonorrhoea?
Multiple partners, have unprotected sex or an early age of sexual debut
What are types of foodborne diseases?
Food poisoning- disease that results from ingestion of foods containing preformed microbial toxins (don’t have to grown in host)
Food infection- microbial infection resulting from the ingestion of pathogen- contaminated food followed by growth of pathogen in the host
What is a common cause of bacterial foodborne infection in NZ?
Campylobacter spp. Transmitted to humans via contaminated poultry, pork, raw shellfish or in surface waters. Replicates in SI. Causes high fever, headache, malaise, nausea, abdominal cramps, bloody stools
What is the cause of listeriosis?
Listeria monocytogenes- may lead to bacteremia and meningitis- mortality 20%
Who is most at risk of Listeria?
Pregnant women, the immunocompromised
What is the cause of cervical cancer?
Prolonged infection with HPV
How do we misuse antibiotics?
Indiscriminate prescribing of antibiotics; use of an inappropriate antibiotic (broad); non-completion of antibiotic cause (resistant strains); using left over antibiotics; environmental contamination with hospital antibiotics
What is MRSA?
Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to antibiotics.
What are the vaccines recommended in NZ at 6W?
Rotavirus (start first dose before 15w)
Diphtheria/ tetanus/ pertussis/ polio/ Hep B/ Haemophilus influenzae type b (INFANRIX-hexa), pneumococcal (SYNFLORIX).
What are the vaccines recommended in NZ at 3M?
Rotavirus; Diphtheria/ tetanus/pertussis/polio/Hep B/Haemophilus influenzae type be (INFANRIX-hexa), pneumococcal (SYNFLORIX)
What are the vaccines recommended in NZ at 5m?
Rotavirus, diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis/polio/ HepB/ haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal
What are the vaccines recommended in NZ at 15m?
Haemophilus influenzae type b, MMR, pneumococcal
What are the vaccines recommended in NZ at 4y?
Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis/polio-infanrix IPV; MMR
What are the vaccines recommended in NZ at 11?
Tetanus/diptheria/pertussis (BOOSTRIXS)
What are the vaccines recommended at age 12 for girls?
HPV- Gardasil. 3 doses over 6 months
What is the vaccination given at age 45 and 65
Diptheria/tetanus. Influenza