GPT 2.06 Notes

Question 1

What are the main physical barriers against infection?

Answer 1

Skin, respiratory tract, GI tract, tears, urine flow

Question 2

How does the skin protect against infection?

Answer 2

Keratinized layer, acidic pH, microbiota, physical barrier

Question 3

What defence mechanisms exist in the respiratory tract?

Answer 3

Mucus, cilia, cough reflex, mucociliary clearance

Question 4

What defence mechanisms exist in the GI tract?

Answer 4

Stomach acid, enzymes, peristalsis, gut microbiota

Question 5

What is the role of tears and urine in defence?

Answer 5

Mechanical flushing and lysozyme action

Question 6

What is the function of the innate immune system?

Answer 6

Provides rapid, non-specific defence using cells like neutrophils and macrophages

Question 7

What are key components of the innate immune system?

Answer 7

Neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells

Question 8

What triggers the innate immune response?

Answer 8

Pattern recognition receptors like TLRs detecting PAMPs

Question 9

What is the function of the adaptive immune system?

Answer 9

Specific antigen recognition, memory formation, long-term protection

Question 10

What are the main components of the adaptive immune response?

Answer 10

T cells (CD4/CD8), B cells (antibodies)

Question 11

What is the consequence of physical barrier breakdown?

Answer 11

Increased vulnerability to infection via direct pathogen access

Question 12

Why might a Hickman line increase infection risk?

Answer 12

Breaks skin barrier, allows direct bloodstream access, biofilm formation

Question 13

What are examples of immune system breakdown?

Answer 13

Neutropenia, HIV/AIDS, immunosuppressive therapy, skin damage

Question 14

What is the role of neutrophils in infection defence?

Answer 14

Phagocytosis and killing of pathogens during innate response

Question 15

What is pancytopenia and why is it dangerous?

Answer 15

Low RBCs, WBCs, and platelets; increases infection and bleeding risk

Question 16

What are the main routes of infection transmission?

Answer 16

Contact, droplet, airborne, fecal-oral, vector-borne

Question 17

What infections are typically spread by contact?

Answer 17

MRSA, C. difficile

Question 18

What infections are typically spread by droplets?

Answer 18

Influenza, RSV

Question 19

What infections are typically airborne?

Answer 19

TB, measles

Question 20

What infections spread via the fecal-oral route?

Answer 20

Norovirus, Hepatitis A

Question 21

What are key infection control measures?

Answer 21

Hand hygiene, PPE, isolation, surface disinfection

Question 22

What are the most common healthcare-associated infections?

Answer 22

Pneumonia, UTIs, GI infections, bloodstream infections, surgical site infections

Question 23

What pathogens commonly cause ventilator-associated pneumonia?

Answer 23

Pseudomonas, MRSA

Question 24

What causes catheter-associated UTIs?

Answer 24

E. coli, Enterococcus

Question 25

What causes healthcare-associated GI infections?

Answer 25

C. difficile, norovirus

Question 26

What are sources of bloodstream infections in hospital?

Answer 26

Central lines, catheters

Question 27

What contributes to HAIs from staff?

Answer 27

Poor hand hygiene, improper use of PPE

Question 28

What contributes to HAIs from the environment?

Answer 28

Contaminated surfaces, air systems (e.g. Legionella)

Question 29

What contributes to HAIs from patients?

Answer 29

Immunosuppression, indwelling devices like catheters or lines

Question 30

What are key strategies to prevent HAIs?

Answer 30

Hand hygiene, cleaning protocols, isolation, antimicrobial stewardship

Question 31

What is Clostridium difficile?

Answer 31

A gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobe that produces toxins

Question 32

What are risk factors for C. difficile infection?

Answer 32

Antibiotics, hospital stay, age, PPI use

Question 33

What are clinical features of C. difficile infection?

Answer 33

Watery diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis

Question 34

What complications can arise from C. difficile?

Answer 34

Toxic megacolon, bowel perforation, sepsis

Question 35

How is C. difficile diagnosed?

Answer 35

Stool toxin PCR or enzyme immunoassay

Question 36

How is C. difficile managed?

Answer 36

Stop causative antibiotic, give oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin, isolate patient

Question 37

What are key prevention strategies for C. difficile?

Answer 37

Handwashing with soap, contact precautions, sporicidal cleaning agents