Understanding mechanisms of transmission Flashcards
what is included in the cycle of infection
disease organism (agent), reserviour, mode of escape, mode of transfer, mode of entry and susceptible host
what happens in the cycle of infecction
pathogen movement between reservoir, source and host
what is a source
immediate location of pathogen prior to host infection.
Pathogen reproduction may or may not happen. (a source and reservoir can be one the same)
what is a reservoir
natural habitat of the pathogen
Where normal pathogen reproduction happens
( source and reservoir can be one the same)
what is a host
organism damaged as a result of microbial growth and/or metabolic activities and/or toxin production
what are the 2 reservoirs of infectious disease
inanimate and animate
what is inanimate
Soil (tetanus)
Clostridium tetani
Decaying vegetable matter (listeriosis)
Listeria monocytogenes
flu-like illness
abortion in pregnant women
what can Clostridium tetani spread to
it comes from the soil and pathogen movement occurs between cows and horses
what is animate
Animals= zoonotic diseases (tuberculosis)
Mycobacterium bovis
Plants ???
Humans= acute infection ( incubatory, active, convalescent carriers, influenza or influenza virus)
or healthy/subclinical carrier
(typhoid fever or Salmonella typhi)
what is the Cycle of infection for Bovine Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium bovis spreads from cows to the host or from cows milk to the host it is a zoonotic disease
what are the most important reservoirs of human infection
humans
what are the phases of an acute infection
Incubatory phase
Active phase
Convalescent phase
Recovery
(pathogens excreted during all phases until recovery)
what are the pathogens like in subclinical infections
Pathogens excreted almost continually and recovery MAY not happen.
who was typhoid Mary
Mary Mallon 1869 –1938
was a Cook and a Subclinical carrier of Salmonella typhi
No symptoms
Bacteria present in gut
Passed on via fecal oral route into food
Forced into quarantine as would not accept that she caused disease and she continued to work as a cook.
what are the mechanisms of transmission of infection
- Airborne
- Direct Contact
- Vehicles
- Vectors
Pathogens are normally specialised for transmission mainly via one mechanism but can have occasional, limited spread by other mechanisms.
what are the majority of airborne diseases
respiratory infections
what are pathogens normally carried on
dust particles or vapour drops (aerosols).
what is the size of particals dependant on
on number of organisms originally present, the larger the number of organisms then the larger the size of the particles.
what can large particles do
settle out quickly, short carriage distance.