Infections of the Respiratory Tract

Question 1

Upper respiratory tract starts where and stops where?

Answer 1

Sinus down to the esophagus and trachea

Question 2

Lower respiratory tract starts where and stops where?

Answer 2

Pharynx down to the diaphragm

Question 3

What is the bacteria that causes whooping cough?

Answer 3

Bordetella pertussis

Question 4

Where does B. pertussis multiple?

Answer 4

Epithelial cells

Question 5

The B. pertussis organism produces several toxins, what do they do?

Answer 5

Increase respiratory secretions and mucus production and induce an inflammatory response

Question 6

What is tracheal cytotoxin and what does it do?

Answer 6

A cell wall component that kills tracheal epithelial cells. This partially immobilises the muciliary escalator cause an accumulation of mucus in the airway.

Question 7

The B. pertussis bacteria has specific adhesins, what do they do?

Answer 7

Allow it to attach to the ciliated respiratory mucosa.

Question 8

How is B. pertussis transmitted?

Answer 8

Respiratory droplets- high contagious

Question 9

What type of bacteria is B. pertussis?

Answer 9

Gram negative (pink) coccobacillus (ball & rod)

Question 10

How is pertussis diagnosed?

Answer 10

PCR (polymerase chain reaction)- used to amplify or ‘copy’ small segments of DNA.

Question 11

What are the symptoms of pertussis in adults?

Answer 11

Starts like a cold followed by a paroxysmal cough. Cough lasts for at least 12 weeks. (also known as the 100 day cough)

Question 12

How should pertussis be treated?

Answer 12

Supportive care, oxygen if needed, suction of excess mucus (important in stopping secondary infection). Macrolide antibiotic, eg. erythromycin.

Question 13

How can pertussis/whooping cough be prevented?

Answer 13

Vaccination, TDap (Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis)/Boostrix vaccine