Pathogen

Question 1

Pathogen

Question 2

Pathogenicity

Question 3

Endogenous

Question 4

Vector

Question 5

Virulence

Question 6

Endotoxins

Answer 6

GRAM NEG BACTERIA
(lippoplysaccharide & thin peptidoglycan)
-pseudomonas
-e coli

Question 7

Exotoxins

Answer 7

GRAM POS BACTERIA
(thick peptidoglycan)
-staphylococcus
-streptococcus

Question 8

Emergence of Drug Resistant Microbes

Answer 8

-serum drug concentrations that are too low to kill pathogens contribute to the development of drug resistant microbes.

-minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) must be present to stop harmful bacterial growth

Question 9

Examples that contribute to drug resistance patterns

Answer 9

1. insufficient duration of therapy
2. empiric therapy: tx of an infection b4 specific culture info has been reported or obtained
3. prophylactic therapy : tx w/ antibiotics to prevent an infection

Question 10

superbugs

Answer 10

-MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus)

-penicillin resistant streptococcus pneumoniae

-vancomycin resistant enterococcus

-mdr-tb

-c. dif

-acinetobacter baumannii

Question 11

Up & Coming Superbugs

Answer 11

1. C.Dif: produce entertoxin and cytotoxin
   (toxin A and toxin B)

-these 2 toxins are responsible for the diarrhea and inflammation seen in infected pts

-oral flagyl or oral vancomycin are used to tx pathogenic c.dif

2. Acinetobacter: lives on the skin and is prevalent in ICU

-is a frequent cause of nosocomial pneumonia, esp late onset ventilator associated pneumonia

Question 12

MDR-TB

Answer 12

3 highest TB burden countries:
China
India
Russia

These account for 62%

Question 13

MDR-TB v. XDR-TB

Answer 13

MDR-TB: resistant to isoniazid & rifampin (the two most powerful anti TB drugs)

XDR-TB: resistant to any fluoroquinolone and at least 1 of 3 injectable second line drugs (capreomycin, kanamycin, amikacin)

Question 14

Factors that predispose a person to nosocomial infections

Answer 14

-severe or prolonged illness
-age (young + old)
-impaired immunity (cancer, chronic disease)
-immunosuppression (radiation, steroids, chemo)
-antibiotics
-invasive procedures
-surgery
-burns
-lengthy hospital stay

Question 15

Standard Precautions

Answer 15

incl a group of infection prevention practices that apply to ALL pts, regardless of infection.
Includes: hand hygiene, use of gloves, gown, mask, eye protection, face shield, safe injection practices

Question 16

Airborne Precautions

Answer 16

prevent transmission of infectious agents that remain infectious when suspended in the air (rubeola - measles, chickenpox, TB). The preferred placement is in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR). An AIIR is a single pt room that is equipped w/ special air handling and ventilation

Question 17

Droplet Precautions

Answer 17

prevent transmission of pathogens spread thru close respiratory or mucous membrane contact w/ resp secretions. Incl (b pertussis, influenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus, n meningitis, group A strepto)

Question 18

Contact Precautions

Answer 18

apply where the presence of excessive wound drainage, fecal incontinence, or other discharges from the body suggest an increased potential for extensive environmental contamination and risk for transmission.

Question 19

Stages of Infection

Answer 19

Incubation Period
Prodromal Stage
Acute Stage
Convalescence

Question 20

Incubation Period

Answer 20

-from the time the organism gains entrance into the host and:
-establishes itself
-spreads to target organs or tissues
-proliferates w/in various areas of the body

Question 21

Prodromal Stage

Answer 21

-from the onset of nonspecific clinical manifestations (malaise, anorexia, HA):
-pathogen rapidly multiplying and spreading
-onset of specific clinical manifestations (sore throat, high fever)
-primary period of contagion

Question 22

Acute Stage

Answer 22

-interval of maximum clinical illness:
-localized - specific focal point of infection
-systemic - involves entire body

Question 23

Convalescence

Answer 23

-interval during which manifestations of infection resolve and disappear, which may take days, weeks, or months