microbiology part three Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is normal flora?
the microbes in the human body that protect you
how can normal flora become a disease?
If it overgrows or “moves house”
How do you get normal flora? 3 ways..
- from mother during pregnacy and when exiting the vagina
- oral bacteria when breasting through milk and off the breast
- most important is at birth when microflora coats the infant exiting the vagina
In regards to symbiotic relationships, what is meant by symbiosis?
Symbiosis is the close living association of two species or organism
symbiosis take three main forms, what is mutualism?
refers to the close relationship in which both organisms benefit
Symbiosis takes three main forms, what is commensalism?
is when one species benefits from the association while the other neither benefits nor is harmed.
Symbiosis takes three main forms, what is Parasitism?
is when one organism benefits but the other is harmed
What three forms can symbiosis take?
- mutualism
- commensalism
- parasitism
What are zoonoses?
they are infections that can pass between animals and humans
definition of infectious disease….
illness caused by microbes ( bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses etc)
definition of communicable….
capable from spreading from person to person
definition of contagious diseases….
is a subset of extremely communicable diseases which are trasnmitted to other persons either by physical or by casual contact with their secretions or objects touched or aibourne
definition of a pathogen …..
a microorganism which is capable of causing disease
definition of pathogenicity….
a measure of how easily a bug can make you sick
what are opportunistic infections?
opportunitic poathogens raely cause disease in immunocompent people however those who are immuno comprimised or have and open wond can get seriously sick from them
what is Asymptomatic?
shows no symptoms. due to the host defences eliminating the microorganisms before it could multiply enough to cause symptoms
what is a local infection?
when infecting agents stay at the site of entry to the body, causing local inflammation, redness, pain and pus
what defines an acute disease?
rapid onset and recovery
what defines a chronic disease?
typically a slow onset and longer duration
A pathogens virulence is its ability to……. (three things)
infect the host and protect itself against the hosts defences (transmission)
invade and multiply in the tissues (invade and inflammation)
cause damage or destroy tissues (toxigenicity)
how is virulence measured?
by the number of organisms required to cause disease
Routes of transmission; Human to Human ( 4 ways)….
- direct contact
- no direct contact
- transplacental
- bloodborne
Routes of transmission; No human to Human (5 ways)
- soil
- water
- food
- animal/ insect
- fomite
What three enzymes help invasion?
- collagenase (breaks down collagen)
- Hyaluronidase ( Breaks down hyaluronic acid)
- Coagulase( accelerates clotting)
