Exam 2 Review Flashcards
infection
the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, which may be clinically unapparent or result in local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication, or antigen-antibody response1
acute infection
infection resolving in a few days or weeks
chronic infection
infection lasting longer than 12 weeks and in some cases is incurable
localized infection
infection limited to a specific body area
disseminated infection
a spread of infection from an initial site to other areas of the body
systemic infection
an infection that affects the body as a whole or has spread throughout the body
epidemic
situation in which there are more cases of an infectious disease than is normal for the population or geographic areas
pandemic
worldwide epidemic of a disease
how do bacteria cause cellular injury
- by releasing toxins (either endotoxins or exotoxins)
- diseases caused by bacterial invasion depend on the type of bacterial pathogen and the area of the body primarily invaded
how do viruses cause injury
- may immediately cause injury disease or remain relatively dormant for years
- cause cellular injury by blocking its genetically prescribed protein synthesis process
- diseases develop as a result of interference of normal cellular functioning of the host, with destruction of the virus by the immune system also requiring death of the host cell
how do fungal infections cause injury
- in a healthy individual, fungi do not cause disease and are contained in the body’s natural flora
- athlete’s foot and ringworm may develop in the individual with a competent immune system
- in the immunocompromised individual, fungi can result in infections that result in death
how do protozoa/parasites cause injury
- generally infect people with compromised immune responses
- typically found in dead material in water and soil
- spread by the fecal-oral route by ingesting contaminated food or water
- disease may develop in a healthy individual when spores invade organs and stimulate an immune response
secondary infection
an infection that develops that begins as one type and after an additional pathogen is introduced, a secondary infection occurs
example of secondary infection
- fungal infections may develop when treatment for a bacterial infection decimates the body’s natural flora
- bacterial infections may arise while a debilitated body is treated for viral infection
healthcare acquired infection example
- MRSA
- C. diff
- VRE
healthcare acquired infection
- infection acquired during a hospital stay
community acquired infection
infections acquired in the community
ex.
- sporting areas
- areas where children gather for sporting and other events
- restaurants
- food stores and other shopping facilities
- movie theaters
- other group activity locales
multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs)
Chain of Infection
- 6 components:
- pathogen
- susceptible host
- reservoir
- portal of exit (from the reservoir)
- mode of transmission
- portal of entry (to the susceptible host)
reservoir
- anywhere the pathogen may live and multiply, either in the body or on objects within the environment contaminated with the organism
- ex:
- door handles
- stagnant water
- healthcare equipment
portal of exit
- way out
- the germ that needs to find a way out of the infected person so it can spread
- urine
- feces
- saliva
- blood
- skin
- GI tract
portal of entry
- the germ needs to find a way into another person
- this can be through the eyes and mouth, hands, open wounds, and any tubes put into the body such as a catheter or feeding tube
- broken skin
- intimate sexual contact
- mouth
- respiratory tract
- gastrointestinal tract
- contaminated food or water
means of transmission
- once the germ is out it can spread from one person to another by hands or an equipment such as a commode, in the air by coughing or contact with body fluids and blood
- direct contact
- ingestion
- airborne
susceptible host
- a person who is at risk of infection because they are unable to fight the infection
- could be residents, staff or visitors
- elderly people can have decreased immune systems and catch infections easier
- infections also spread quickly in care homes due to many residents living closely together
- immunosuppression
- diabetes
- surgery
- burns
- elderly