Pathogens Flashcards
Pathogen
A pathogen is an infectious agent (germ) that causes disease or illness in a host.
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism that is not caused by an injury.
Infectious Disease
Diseases caused by pathogens.
Infection
occurs when a pathogen enters the body and begins to reproduce/replicate.
Host Virulence
the organism in which a parasite or pathogen does damage.
Opportunist
infections that occur more often or are more severe in people with weakened immune systems than in people with healthy immune systems.
Communicable
can be passed from one host to another (ie// the flu)
Contagious
communicable by contact
Local Infection
only in one area
Systemic Infection
spread through the body
Acute disease
have a rapid onset and recovery (ex// strep throat)
Chronic disease
Have a gradual onset and tend to worsen overtime. They may be permanent or last for an extended period of time. (ex// HIV)
Endemic
a disease that is ever present in a particular area and occurs at a constant low rates in the population. (ex// malaria)
Epidemic
a widespread occurance of an infectious disease in a particular community at a given time. (ex// an unexpectedly high number of people in Niagara get the flu this year)
Pandemic
an outbreak of an infectious disease throughout a country or the world. (ex// an unexpectedly high number of people get SARS throughout the world)
Sporadic
a disease that pops up ocassionally.(ex// botulism)
Modes of Transmission
the passing of a pathogen from an infected host to another organism.
Airborne
pathogens that are in the air that are breathed in. (ex// cold, flu, SARS)
Waterborne
pathogens that are in water supplies that we drink. (ex// cholera, traveler’s diarrhea)
Foodborne
pathogens that are in the food that is eaten. (ex// botulism, salmonella)
Vector-Borne
carried by insects because they ofthen feed on blood from different hosts. (ex// mosquitoes, ticks, lice, fleas)
Droplet Contact
occurs when diseases are transmitted by contact with droplets from a cough or sneeze.
Direct Contact
when transmission occurs by an infected individual touching another individual. (ex// chicken pox, warts)
Indirect Contact
occurs when an infected individual touches a surface which is then touched by another individual who contracts disease.
Fecal-Oral
an affected person does not wash their hands after going to the bathroom and transfers a pathogen to a food source that is then eaten.
Vertical
when an affected mother passes the pathogen on her developing fetus through her bloodstream. Usually sexually transmitted infections (ex// HIV)
Iatrogenic
when infections are passed on through medical or cosmetic procedures. (ex// tattoo)
