Microbiology General, Mycology and Parasitology Flashcards
Prokaryote vs. Eukaryote
Ribosome Size: Pro: 70S Euk: 80S
Nucleic Acid Location: Pro: Nucleoid (cytoplasm)
Euk: Nucleus
DNA Type: Pro: Circular Euk: Linerar
Bacteria, Virus, Fungi, Parasites
Bacteria: Prokaryote (Outer surf: cell wall of peptidoglycan) RNA and DNA. Rep: binary fission
Virus: Noncellular (outer surf: Protein capsid and lipoprotein env.) RNA or DNA. Rep: assembly within host cell
Fungi: Eukaryote (Outer surf: cell wall of chitin) RNA and DNA. Rep: budding (yeast) Mitosis (molds)
Parasite: Eukaryote (outer surf: cell membrane) RNA and DNA. Rep: Mitosis
Endemic
infection occurs at minimal levels within a population
Epidemic
infection occurs more frequently than normal within a population
Pandemic
infection occurs worldwide
Infectious States
Acute: Short-term active infection with symptoms
Chronic: long-term active infection with symptoms
Subclinical: Infection is detectable only by serological tests
Latent: No active growth of microorganisms but potential for reactivation
Carrier: Active growth of microorganisms with or without symptoms
Symbiotic Association
Symbiosis: The essential association between two different organisms that live close to each other with or without mutual benefit
- Mutualism: Both organisms derive benefit from each other
- Commensalism: One organism benefits, whereas the other is neither harmed nor helped
- Parasitism: One organism benefits, whereas the other is harmed
Infectious Swellings
Abscess: An acute inflammatory lesion consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by a cellular wall
Granuloma: A chronic inflammatory lesion consisting of granulation tissue: fibrosis (fibroblasts), angiogenesis (new capillaries) and inflammatory cells (macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, epithelioid cells, and multinucleated giant cells
Cyst: An epithelial-lined sac filled with fluid or air
Cellulitis: An acute, diffuse swelling along fascial planes that separate muscle bundles
- Pus: is a creamy substance that contains dead neutrophils, necrotic cells and exudate
Sterilization, disinfection, antiseptics, pasteuration, sanitization
- Common sterilization techniques, disinfectants, and antiseptics
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Sterilization: The killing of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores.
- Heat sterilization (moist heat and dry heat) is the most reliable (spore test).
- Normal cycle: 121 C for 15-20 min
- Heat sensitive: glutaraldehyde
- Spore tests (with Bacillus stearothermophilus) are recommended on a weekly basis
- Heat sterilization (moist heat and dry heat) is the most reliable (spore test).
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Disinfection: Killing of many but not all microorganisms (inanimate objects)
- Phenols (rare), Quarternary ammonium compounds (antiseptic), Chlorine (most common form = sodium hypochlorite = bleach)
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Antiseptics: Chemicals that kill microorganisms on the surface of skin and mucous membranes
- Many antiseptics can also be used as disinfectants
- Iodophors (most effective skin antiseptic), Ethanol and isopropyl alcohol (most widely used skin antiseptic), Hydrogen peroxide (only effective against catalase negative organisms), chlorhexidine gluconate (handwash/mouth rinse), Triclosan (handwash/toothpaste)
- Pasteurization: A method of heat-killing milk-borne pathogens such as mycobacterium tuberculosis, salmonella, streptococcus, listeria and brucella. Heats milk to 62 C for 30 min., then rapid cooling
- Sanitization: method of treating public water supplies to reduce microbial load
Infection control Regulations vs. recommendations
Center for disease control and Prevention (CDC) = major agency responsible for infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, and prevention. It provides recommendations and guidelines for infection control procedures used by healthcare workers
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of US Department of Labor, is responsible for composing and enforcing infection control laws and regulations that MUST be followed by healthcare workers. OSHA may use CDC recommendations and guidelines in drafting its mandates
Universal vs. standard precautions
Universal Precautions: All human blood (and other body fluids that contain viable blood) are treated as infectious. Emphasizes prevention of bloodborne diseases (HIV, HBV, etc)
Standard precautions: Any body fluid (excretion or secretion) except sweat, regardless of the presence of blood, is treated as infectious. Emphasizes prevention of bloodborne, as well as airborne, droplet, and contact-transmitted diseases.
- The greatest risk for bloodborne infection among healthcare workers is HBV
- Handwashing is the most important infection control practice for reducing nosocomial infections and must be performed after removal of PPE
What are Fungi? describe details
Fungi
- Gram (+), eukaryotic microorganisms
- All are either obligate (the majority) or facultative aerobes
- Cell membranes: lipid bilayer contains ergosterol
- Cell walls: carbohydrate and protein (chitin)
- Capsule (if present): Polysaccharide coating
- Laboratory diagnosis by KOH preparation
Most fungal spores and conidia are killed at temperature > 80C for 30 min.
Most antifungal drugs target the ergosterol component of fungal cell membranes, altering their permeability.
Explain Fungal Reproduction
Fungal Reproduction:
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Sexual: Mating and formation of spores
- Zygospores: single, large spores with thick walls
- Ascospores: Formed in a sac (ascus)
- Basidiospores: Formed on the tip of a pedestal (basidium)
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Asexual: Budding and formation of conidia (asexual spores)
- Arthrospores: Formed by fragmentation of the ends of hyphae
- Chlamydospores: Rounded, thick-walled, and highly resistant
- Blastospores: formed by budding process
- Sporangiospores: Formed on a stalk within a sac (sporangium)
Explain the pathogenesis of fungal/Mycology infections
Pathogenesis:
- Fungal infection: Leads to a largely cell-mediated immune response (Type IV Hypersensitivity reaction) and Granuloma formation
- Mycotoxicosis: Induced by ingestion of fungal toxin
- Allergic response: Type I hypersensitivity reactions to inhalation of fungal spores
What are Aflatoxins
Aflatoxins are hepatocarcinogenic toxins produced by Aspergillus flavus, generally found on contaminated grains and peanuts