Pathogens and Host Flashcards
What is clinical infection characterised by?
Tachycardia, increased WBC count, malaise, pain, inflammation, pyrexia.
What acts as an inflammatory signal?
CPC.
What is a pathogen?
Organism which can cause disease?
What is a commensal?
Organism which is part of normal flora.
Is the difference between a pathogen and a commensal always clear?
No- sometimes the difference can be undistinguished.
What is pathogenicity?
The capacity of an organism to cause harm.
What does pathogenicity require?
Infectivity and virulence.
What is infectivity?
The ability of a pathogen to become established on or within a host.
What is virulence?
Virulence is the ability of a pathogen to cause harm once established.
What are the 4 common gram positive bacterial pathogens?
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus progenies
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Clostridium difficle
