Emerging Infectious Threats Flashcards
Oldest viruses?
HSV
VSV
EBC
CMV
Ancient agents that could survive in small scattered colonies
All other viruses and infections are relatively new
What does ESBL stand for?
Extended spectrum betalactamase producers (antibiotic resistant)
Resistant to cephalosporins which is a large problem in ITUs
What does VRE stand for?
Vancomycin resistant enterococcus
Big problem in renal and liver units
New type of recent C difficile type?
027
What is seasonal (epidemic) influenza?
Happens every year
A and/or B
WHat is Avian influenza?
Zoonotic spread
Dead end, not human to human
What is pandemic influenza?
High mortality
New emergence
Influenza under electron microscope
Enveloped virus
RNA
Is influenza A or B human only?
A: humans, birds, mammals, lots of types
B: Humans only
HxNx in flu: What does H and N mean in terms of the outside envelope of the virus?
Haemagglutinin
Neuraminidase
They predict immunity as these are the bits of the virus that the antibody is developed to
Difference between flu antigenic drift and shift?
Drift: Happens continuously with A viruses. SLow step wise mutations in H protein. Changes year to year.
Shift: Happens very infrequently. COMPLETE CHANGE OF H PROTEIN
Why is the avian virus feared?
Human flu only has H1, H2 and H3 types
Avian has 15 types
Feat is that segment mixing will occur between viruses and cause an antigenic SHIFT and a pandemic
Why does avian flu not transmit to humans?
Differenet forms of SIALIC ACID on glycoproteins in respiratory cells of different species
(However pigs act as the middle man and can mix viruses)
Different flu pandemics (recognise)
H1N1-SPanish flu
H2N2 Asian FLu
H3N2 Hong Kong Flu
Which bird flu has infected humans?
H5N1 around 500 cases since 2004
No human to human transmission
