Session 1-Intro Flashcards
What is an infection? (2)
1) Invasion of a host’s tissues by microorganisms
2) Disease caused by microbial multiplication, toxins and host response
Which environmental factors can lead to people getting infections?
Water
Food
Air
Surfaces
What are microbiota?
Microorganisms carried on skin and mucosal surfaces which are normally harmless or even beneficial
How can microbiota become harmful?
When they transfer to other sites
Which infections require physical contact to spread?
Sexually transmitted infections
Give an example of an airborne infection
Chicken pox
Give an example of an infection requiring a vector
Mosquito for malaria
What are the modes of horizontal transmission of infections? (3)
1) Contact
2) Inhalation
3) Ingestion
What is the mode of vertical transmission of infections?
From mother to child, before or at birth
How do microorganisms cause disease? (5)
1) Exposure
2) Adherence
3) Invasion
4) Multiplication
5) Dissemination
What are some pathogenic disease determinants?
Virulence factors
Inoculum size
Antimicrobial resistance
What are some patient-related disease determinants?
Site of infection
Co-morbidities
What are the steps for finding out whether a patient has an infection? (3)
1) History
2) Examination
3) Investigations
What are some supportive investigations? (5)
1) Full blood count (neutrophils, lymphocytes)
2) C reactive protein (CRP)
3) Blood chemistry (liver and kidney function tests)
4) Imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI)
5) Histopathology
What are the three specimen types used in bacteriology?
Swabs
Fluids
Tissues
