Infection, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology Flashcards by Neya Kratzer

Define symbiosis

To live together

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Define symbionts

Members of a symbiotic relationship

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Define mutualism

Symbionts benefit from their interaction

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Bacteria in the human colon is an example of ______

Mutualism

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Define commensalism

One symbiont benefits without significantly affecting the other

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Staphylococcus on skin is an example of ______

Commensalism

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Define parasitism

A parasite benefits while harming its host

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Tuberculosis bacteria is an example of ______

Parasitism

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What is an axenic environment?

An environment free of any microbes

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The environment in which microbes colonize in the body without normally causing disease is called a ______

Microbiome

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______ remain a part of the normal microbiota for most of a person’s life

Resident microbiota

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______ remain in the body for only a few hours, days, or months, before disappearing

Transient microbiota

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Do normal microbiota ordinarily cause disease?

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Describe 4 different factors or conditions that would be expected to favor opportunistic growth

Introduction of normal microbiota into an unusual site
Immune system suppression
Changes affecting microbial antagonism
Stress

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A ______ is a site where pathogens are maintained as a source of infection

Reservoir of infection

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What are the 3 different kinds of reservoirs of infection?

Animal reservoirs
Human reservoirs
Nonliving reservoirs

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What is a zoonotic disease?

A disease that spreads naturally from animal hosts to humans

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What are the 3 major human portals of entry for pathogens?

Skin
Placenta
Mucous membranes

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What is the parenteral route?

A puncture through the skin / GI tract

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What is the function of adhesion factors (adhesins)?

Enable pathogens to bind to receptors on host cells

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Any change from a state of health refers to ______

Disease / morbidity

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Differentiate among symptoms, signs, and syndromes

Symptoms - subjective characteristics of disease (felt by the patient)
Signs - objective characteristics of disease (can be measured)
Syndromes - a group of signs and symptoms

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What does asymptomatic / subclinical refer to regarding disease?

Lack of symptoms allowing an infection to go unnoticed

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Virulence refers to the degree of ______

Pathogenicity

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What are virulence factors?

Traits that enable pathogens to cause disease

What role do hyaluronidases play in infection and disease?

They digest hyaluronic acid

______ is the ‘glue’ that holds animal cells together

Hyaluronic acid

What role do collagenases play in infection and disease?

They break down collagen

______ is the body’s chief structural protein

Collagen

What role do coagulases play in infection and disease?

They cause blood proteins to clot

Coagulases provide a ______ for bacteria

Hiding place

What role do kinases (staphylokinase and streptokinase) play in infection and disease?

They digest blood clots

Describe 2 basic ways by which toxins affect the host

- Harm tissues - Trigger immune responses

What do cytotoxins affect?

Host cells

What do neurotoxins affect?

Nerve cell function

What do enterotoxins affect?

Cells lining the GI tract

______ are protective molecules that bind to specific toxins and neutralize them

Antibodies

______ are antibodies against toxins

Antitoxins

______ are toxins that have been treated with heat to become nontoxic

Toxoids

Describe the composition of gram-negative bacteria

Outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharide

What is endotoxin?

Lipid portion of lipopolysaccharide released when gram-negative bacteria die

Endotoxin is also known as ______

Lipid A

What are the effects of endotoxin on the body? (6)

- Inflammation - Hemorrhaging - Blood coagulation - Shock - Fever - Diarrhea

______ engulf and remove invading pathogens

Phagocytic cells

Bacterial capsules DO NOT ...

Stimulate a host’s immune response

How can prevention of lysosome fusion with phagocytic vesicles inhibit the destructive outcome of phagocytosis?

Bacteria can survive inside of phagocytes

______ is the time between infection and occurrence of first signs / symptoms

Incubation period

______ is generalized, mild symptoms that precedes illness

Prodromal period

______ is the most severe stage where signs / symptoms are most evident

Illness

______ is when the body gradually returns to normal

Decline

______ is complete recovery from illness

Convalescence

What are portals of exit?

The site where pathogens leave the host (secretions / excretions)

Define contact transmission

Spread of pathogens by direct contact, indirect contact, or droplets

What are fomites?

Inanimate objects

Droplet transmission is the spread of pathogens by droplets traveling ...

Less than 1 meter

Airborne transmission is the spread of pathogens by traveling ...

More than 1 meter

Define vehicle transmission

The spread of pathogens via air, drinking water, food, etc.

Differentiate between waterborne transmission and foodborne transmission

- Waterborne transmission - GI diseases - Foodborne transmission - pathogens in / on food

What are vectors?

Arthropods that transmit diseases

______ serve as hosts for the multiplication of a pathogen

Biological vectors

______ are NOT required as hosts; passively carry pathogens

Mechanical vectors

The biological vectors of disease typically affecting humans are ______

Biting arthropods

Describe acute diseases

Develops rapidly and lasts a short time

Describe chronic diseases

Develops slowly and is continual / recurrent

Describe subacute diseases

Between acute and chronic

What are latent diseases?

Inactive pathogens

What type of disease comes from another infected host?

Communicable disease

What type of disease is easily transmitted between hosts?

Contagious disease

What type of disease arises outside of the host?

Noncommunicable disease

Influenza is an example of a ______ disease

Communicable

Chicken pox is an example of a ______ disease

Contagious

Acne is an example of a ______ disease

Noncommunicable

What is epidemiology?

The study of disease occurrence and transmission within populations

Incidence is the number of ______ cases in a population

New

Prevalence is the number of ______ cases

Total

Prevalence is a ______ number

Cumulative

______ diseases occur continually at a relatively stable incidence

Endemic

______ diseases have only a few scattered cases

Sporadic

______ diseases occur at a greater frequency that usual

Epidemic

______ diseases occur on more than one continent

Pandemic

Infection, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology Flashcards

(80 cards)