Module 5 - Infection Flashcards
The presence, multiplication and subsequent injury within a host by another living organism
Infection
The act of establishing a presence
Colonization
The process of sustaining injury or pathologic damage in response to an infection
Infectious Disease
Chain of Infections
Have to have all components to become infected
Reservoir Portal of Exit Means of Transmission Portal of Entry Susceptible Host
Natural habitat of organism
Reservoir (Human Carriers)
Point of escape for the organism
Examples: Respiratory, GI, or Urinary tract. Break in your skin
Portal of exit
Direct or indirectly
Direct (contact: touching, kissing)
Means of Transmission
Organisms enters a new host. Often same as the exit port
Portal of Entry
Only able to exist if they overcome host defenses
Susceptibility: degrees of resistance
Susceptible Host
Stages of Infectious Disease
Incubation Prodromal Acute Convalescent Resolved
Phase where pathogen begins active replication
No recognizable symptoms of the host
Incubation
Nonspecific symptoms**
Very general symptoms of host (ex. fatigue)
Host is the most infectious at this stage
Prodromal Stage
Maximum impact of the infection
Very specific symptoms
Acute
Infection has been contained
Pathogen is being eliminated/repair is happening
Symptoms are being resolved
Vary in length depending on host immune system
Convalescent
Total elimination of pathogen from the body
Resolved
