Reservoirs Flashcards
The major reservoir of infectious diseases for humans is
the human body
List some ways in which microorganisms can be spread to humans from the human body
coughing, sneezing, touching things
what is a portal of exit?
The path by which an infectious microorganism leaves the reservoir
list the main human portals of exit
respiratory system, digestive system, reproductive system, urinary system, skin, blood
Give an example for direct contact
close or intimate contact between infected host and susceptible individual eg. touch, sexual contact
Give an example for indirect contact
Microbes transferred from one host to another via a non-living object (famine) eg. door handle
Give an example of respiratory droplets
Droplets falling less than 1 metre eg. sneezing, coughing, laughing
Airborne transmission
can circulate in air for hours. organisms can survive with no host and tolerate dry conditions
water-borne transmission
facial contamination of water used for drinking and bathing
food-borne transmission
occurs when organisms are introduced by poor hygiene, lack of sanitation and/or poor food handling
Mechanical vectors
passive transport of microorganisms on the exterior of an insects body
Biological vectors
An insect vector bites a host, ingests blood containing the microorganisms and transmits them when it bites another host
what is a portal of entry?
The path by which an infectious microorganism gains entry to a new host
List the main human portals of entry
respiratory tract, GI tract, mucous membrane, skin inhalation, ingestion, absorption, break in skin, intro by medical procedures
what is a susceptible host?
Someone who is vulnerable to risk of infection in the healthcare environment due to illness, treatments or medications
