Unit 9 Flashcards
How does skin protect patients from infection?
Skin is the first line of defense
Intact skin provides protective layer
How does mucous membranes protect the patient from infection?
Secrete mucous for protection
Keep mucous membranes moist
How does Cilia in respiratory tract protect the patient from the infection?
Prevent particulates from entering the body
How does natural GI flora protect the patient from infection?
Limits overgrowth of other bacteria
How does the vaginal pH protect the patient from infection?
It inhibits bacteria growth
Immunity types
Nonspecific Immunity
Specific immunity
Nonspecific Immunity
Neutrophils and macrophages- WBCs- act as phagocytes and destroy microorganisms which helps protect the body
Do not attack a certain antigen
Specific Immunity
Antibodies and lymphocytes
Tailored towards particular types of invaders and activate WBCs to help destroy the infectious agent
What triggers an inflammatory response?
Body’s natural defense that is activated when the body is injured, when foreign substances are present, or when an infectious agent attacks
The inflammatory process
- Recognition of harmful stimuli by pattern receptors
- Inflammatory pathways activated
- Inflammatory markers released
- Inflammatory cells recruited
Infectious inflammatory response
Viruses, bacteria, and others microorganisms, such as fungi
Noninfectious inflammatory response
Physical triggers: burns, frostbite, foreign bodies that have entered the body, trauma, injury, and radiation
Chemical triggers: irritants (fluoride, nickel), fatty acids, alcohol, toxins, and glucose
Biological triggers: damaged cells
Psychological: Excitement
Systemic infections
Start as local and then move into the bloodstream, from which they infect the whole body.
Fluid contains dead tissue cells and WBCs drains into lymph system
Intravenous antibiotics and careful monitoring are both needed to treat systemic infections.
Local Infections
Confined to one area of the body
Causes redness (from dilation of arterioles), warmth, edema, pain, loss of use
Can be treated with tropical and oral antibiotics
Scar tissue
Damaged tissue replaced by scar tissue.
Gradually new cells take on characteristics like old cells
Infectious Agent
Bacteria, fungi, parasite, prion, pathogens
Reservoir
Habitat for infectious agent to grow and reproduce
(People, insects, birds, animals, soil, water, food, medical equipment, IV fluids, feces)
Portal of exit
Means by which the infectious agent leaves the reservoir
(Ears, nose, mouth, skin, blood, bodily fluids)
Mode of transportation
Infectious agent moves from place to place
(contact, droplet, airborne, vehicle, and vector-borne transmission)