ESA 3 Infection Clinical Conditions Flashcards
(140 cards)
N/A Interaction with host
Enters through the respiratory route normally, may either colonise the pharynx and
upper airways to cause an URTI (with conjunctivitis if it travels up the nasolacrimal duct or if they sneeze
and rub their eyes), or down the oesophagus to colonise the GI tract and cause gastroenteritis
N/A Mechanism(s) of infection
Droplet infection, direct contact, faecal-oral transmission
Aspergillus fumigatus Mechanism(s) of infection
Ubiquitious within the normal air (spores always present), inhaled constantly by a patient. Only causes disease in people with immunocompromise (immune system very good at
clearing fungal moulds before they become dangerous) – opportunistic
History: Fever, chills and sweats, cycling so they occur on the 3rd or 4th day, dry cough, headache, nausea and vomiting and myalgia. Recently returned from an area where malaria is endemic (ie Sub-Saharan Africa)
Examination: Unremarkable save for splenomegaly
Plasmodium falciparum
Staphylococcus aureus Mechanism(s) of infection
Invasion (break of mucosa), inhalation, ingestion etc
Clostridium difficile Patient factors to consider
Age, pathological state, previous admission, physiological state, relative time
Staphylococcus aureus Interaction with host
Has a number of important virulence factors (but here are the first 3 I found):
Coagulase – converts fibrinogen to fibrin, forming a micro clot around the bacteria that protects it from phagocytosis
Hyaluronidase – breaks down hyaluronic acid (key component of ground substance in connective tissue) which leads to ability of bacteria to break down barriers and spread
DNA ribonuclease – breaks down host DNA
Plasmodium falciparum Treatment
Supportive
Antipyrexials
Anti-emetic if needed
Pain relief
Specific
Species dependant (falciparum is most common but other types exist):
Falciparum – quinine or armitemisin
Vivax, ovale or malariae - chloroquine
Hepatitis C Virus Prevention
Harm reduction strategies (giving clean needles to IV drug users, ensuring proper screening of all blood products), PPE when dealing with patients etc
Hepatitis C Virus Interaction with host
Travels to the liver and replicates within hepatocytes, but does not usually cause symptoms
Viridans Streptococci (mutans) Gram staining
Gram +ve cocci in chains
Clostridium difficile Gram staining
Gram +ve bacillus
N/A (Adenoviridae is a family, there are 60+ types) structure
Capsid structure: Icosahedral
Enveloped: No
DNA/RNA: dsDNA
N/A Treatment
Supportive
Mild pain relief eg paracetamol
Increase fluid intake
Specific
Only with potentially lethal strain 14 – antivirals
HIV Patient factors to consider
Age, relative time, pathological state (especially cancer, and any infections have the potential to be life-threatening), sexuality (more common in MSM), physiological state
(intravenous drug use)
Prevention of Staphylococcus aureus
Hand washing technique, decontaminating cooking surfaces etc
HIV Mechanism(s) of infection
Spread through bodily fluids (vaginal fluid, semen, blood, breast milk and pre-ejaculate), so can occur through unprotected sex, sharing of needles, vertical transmission (in-utero) or from medical proceedures (organ donation, blood transfusion etc)
Streptoccus Pneumonia treatment
Supportive
High flow O2
Correct fluid balance (IV, consider inotropes if no change to BP)
Nebulised salbutamol
Specific
Amoxycillin - Community
Co-amoxiclav - Hospital
Pneumonectomy
History:Typically forms skin lesions in people who are immunocompromised, such as impetigo, boils, abscesses etc. History of these before (severe, persistent, unusual and recurrent) w/ recent new formation
Examination: Evidence of large lesion, if it’s lead to sepsis can expect SIRS eg tachypnea, tachycardia, hypotension
Staphylococcus aureus
Influenza A Patient factors to consider
The usual factors (age, pathological state and relative time), along with calendar time (flu season is winter)
Influenza A treatment
Supportive
Pain relief
Antipyrexials (if slight fever leave it, its good for you!)
Specific
Neuraminidase inhibitor (Oseltamivir aka Tamiflu)
Antivirals (acyclovir)
Plasmodium falciparum Interaction with host
Enters host by being ejected from the salivary glands of the Anopheles mosquito, entering the bloodstream, where it then travels to the liver, colonising that until it matures and re-enters systemic circulation. Here it invades RBCs and uses Hb as a nutrient until oncosis of the RBC occurs through the intracellular multiplication of the protazoa. This leads to haemolytic anaemia
Prevention of HIV
Prevention: Avoid contact with other people’s bodily fluids (particularly blood), avoid unprotected sex (anal sex carries the greatest risk), use PPE when treating patients (which should be done anyway)
Varicella zoster Mechanism(s) of infection
Inhalation of virons that are expelled from the lungs of infected person (very contagious). Can also have direct contact with blisters/shingles