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Infection > Module 2 > Flashcards

Module 2 Flashcards

(50 cards)

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1
Q

What does Ubiquitous mean?

A

They are found everywhere

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2
Q

Normal Flora

A
  1. NF= microbes living in/on body; cause no harm as long as they stay in expected site
  2. Found: skin and mucous membranes (GI, respiratory, genital tracts)
  3. Composition varies depending on body site:
    - Large intestine: most NF; mainly E.Coli
    - upper respiratory tract: second most NF; mainly viridans streptococci
    - skin: less NF; mainly staphylococci
  4. NF same from person to person for a given site
  5. Factors that can affect NF:
    - excessive moisture on skin: INCREASE staphylococci (ring, watch, gloves)
    - antibiotic therapy: kills sensitive microbes; resistant microbes can take over
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3
Q

Normally sterile Areas?

A

Inside the body- blood, CSF, tissue, fluids that surround organs

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4
Q

Contamination

A

Unexpected microbes at body site; do not grow; no harm

Ex. Mouth bacteria on hands

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5
Q

Colonization

A

Unexpected microbes at body site; DO grow; no harm initially but maybe later
Ex. Fecal bacteria colonized in upper respiratory tract:
-if go away –> end of story.
-if don’t go away –> may cause disease
-staphylococcus aureus/MRSA may colonize in the nares (nose), the person is then said to be a carrier and can pass the organisms to a susceptible host

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6
Q

Infection/disease

A

Unexpected microbes; DO grow; DO cause harm. Both terms are usually synonymous but sometimes there is a difference:

  • infection: host has pathogen; no symptoms (ex. HIV)
  • disease: host has pathogen and symptoms (ex. AIDS)
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7
Q

Pathogen

A

Disease causing microbe

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8
Q

Etiology

A

Cause of a disease (HIV etiological agent of AIDS)

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9
Q

Virulence

A

Degree of pathogenicity of a microbe; determined by virulence factors

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10
Q

Nonpathogen

A

Microbe that cannot cause disease (very few)

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11
Q

Low grade/opportunistic pathogen

A

Microbe that does not usually cause disease; only if defence of host decreases

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12
Q

Exotoxins

A
  • Produced mainly by gram positive bacteria
  • released from intact bacteria
  • carried away from infection site by blood
  • attack a specific target tissue (ex.tetanus toxin–> CNS)
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13
Q

Endotoxins

A

-produced by gram negative bacteria located in the cell wall
-released when cell wall is disrupted
-carried away from infection site
-nonspecific; effect more generalized (fever, malaise, decrease BP)
-can lead to destruction of organs and fatal shock
(Ex.Hamburger disease from E.Coli 0157 can lead to destruction of the kidneys)

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14
Q

What are the three elements required for transmission of infection?

A
  1. A source of infectious microbes- the reservoir
  2. A means of transmission for the microbes
  3. A susceptible host
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15
Q

Reservoirs of infectious Microorganisms

Reservoir=source

A
  1. Human: with infections or carriers; main reservoir for human infections
  2. Animals
  3. Non-living: soil, H2O (b/c h2O is a reservoir, flowers may not be allowed on some wards)
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16
Q

Carriers

A

Carrier= person who harbours pathogenic microbes but shows NO SIGNS of infection; can pass microbes on to others

  • Convalescent carrier: person who had disease; symptoms now gone; microbes still in body
  • chronic carrier: 6 months after symptoms gone, microbes STILL in body
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17
Q

Transmission of Infectious Microbes

Contact transmission

A

-Direct: reservoir –> host (person to person); “touch”
Ex. Colds, flu, STD

-Indirect: reservoir –> non-living object (fomite) –> host
Ex. Norovirus from touching surface contaminated with infected feces

-Droplet: large globs of mucous that contains microorganisms
Reservoir –> droplets –> host
Ex. Mucous droplets from resp. Tract. Cold, flu

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18
Q

Transmission of infectious microbes

Vehicle Transmission

A

Transmission of infectious microbes by an agent such as food, water, air, blood, or medication.

-Food/H2O
Ex. Salmonella food poisoning
-Droplet nuclei: very small; travel long way
Ex. TB travels via droplet nuclei- can spread over long distances- eg. Airlines/bus passengers/ large open dorms
-Injected solutions
Ex. Hep. C or AIDS from contaminated blood products used for transfusion in the past (before testing available)

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19
Q

Transmission of infectious microbes

Vector Transmission

A

Reservoir –> insect –> host
(Not usually a form of health care facility transmission)
Ex.malaria, rocky mountain spotted fever, Hanta, west nile

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20
Q

Factors that influence host susceptibility to infectious disease..

A
  • Age (the young and the elderly more susceptible)
  • general health: poor nutrition, pre-existing infection, underlying disease all make host more susceptible
  • chemotherapy, radiation, antibiotics alter immune status
  • surgery, anaesthesia, insertion of catheters.. more susceptible
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21
Q

Portals of entry of infectious microorganisms

Study These Flashcards
A
  1. Skin: if intact, most microbe can’t penetrate so can get in:
    -via hair follicles/ sweat glands
    -if skin excessively moist
    -if skin broken
  2. Mucous membranes: different mucous membranes susceptible to penetration by different microbes
    Ex. Genital mucosa: microbes that cause STDs
  3. Placenta: most microbes cant cross- fetus protected from mom bugs
    Exceptions: microbes that cause rubella, Hep B, HIV/AIDS
  4. Parenteral: microbes get in through a “poke” (IV, intramuscular injection, insect bite… any means that bypasses GI tract)
22
Q

Signs and symptoms of infection (3)

Study These Flashcards
A
  1. Fever
  2. Lymph node swelling
  3. Inflammation
23
Q

Fever (pyrexia)

Study These Flashcards
A
  • increase body temp 1 degree or more (normal is 37 degrees)
  • purpose: body defence; bacteria cannot multiply at temps. Greater than 38 degrees; phagocytic white blood cells and antibodies are more active
  • infection causes heat generation: vasoconstriction, increased metabolic rate, shivering, increased temp, chills –> bacteria cant reproduce
  • when infection subsides–> heat loss: vasodilation, sweating, decreased temp, patient sweats
24
Q

Lymph node swelling

Study These Flashcards
A

-Lymph node traps microbes and becomes infected
OR
-Infection causes lymphocytes in node to multiply
-can be felt: cervical, axillary, inguinal

25
Inflammation
- 4 signs: Heat, redness, swelling, pain - pathogen gains entry into host --> tissue damage --> HISTAMINE released: - vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) (heat, redness) - increase permeability of blood vessels which causes fluid to leak from the vessels to surrounding tissue creating swelling and pain --> antibodies and coagulation factors - increase phagocytes to infected area Other signs: - Purulent exudate (dead phagocytes.. killed in action/pus) - Leukocytosis (bone marrow steps up production of phagocytic WBCs released into blood stream)
26
Acute disease
Symptoms develop rapidly and disease runs its course quickly
27
Chronic disease
Symptoms develop slowly and disease slow to disappear
28
Latent disease
Periods of inactivity before symptoms appear or between attacks
29
Localized infection
Confined to one area of the body
30
Focal infection
Confined to one area, but pathogens or their toxins migrate to other areas
31
Systemic infection
Pathogen spreads (disseminates) to multiple organs or tissues
32
Septicemia
Pathogens (bacteria or viruses) present and multiplying in blood
33
Bacteremia
Bacteria present in blood but not multiplying
34
Viremia
Viruses present in the blood but not multiplying
35
Toxemia
Toxins in blood
36
Exogenous infection
Microbes come from outside the host
37
Endogenous infection
Microbes come from with the host's own body
38
Primary infection
Infection of a previously healthy person
39
Secondary infection
Follows a primary infection; caused by a different microbe Ex. 1. Bacterial infection following viral infection 2. Final (yeast) infection following antibiotics
40
Nosocomial Infections
- infection acquired as a result of stay in hospital or institution - rate in hospital patients: 5-15%
41
Contributing Factors to nosocomial infections
- hospital microbes: lots of pathogens, antibiotic-resistant strains, warm and moist environment promotes their growth - compromised patients: immune system depressed due to illness or treatment - transmission of microbes facilitated: patients in close proximity, staff go from patient to patient to patient; patients have openings into normally protected areas (catheters, incisions)
42
Top 3 nosocomial infections, in order of occurrence
1. Urinary tract infections 2. Surgical would infections 3. Pneumonia Every staff member should consider themselves a staph carrier (staphylococcus aureus) so must keep hands away from face after coughing, sneezing, etc.
43
Antibiotics
Definition- substance produced by a microorganism (often a fungus) that inhibits the growth of or kills another microorganism (bacteria) Antibiotic testing- done in lab: organisms on plate, add antibiotics discs, incubate -determine which antibiotics work (organism is susceptible (sensitive) and will not work resistant (insensitive))
44
Current super bugs
Resistant to many antibiotics, infection not necessarily worse, just harder to treat - MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) - VRE (vancomycing resistant enterococcus) - Clostridium difficle (C. Diff, CDAD) These are of concern in health care facilities
45
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (AROs or MDROs)
ARO- antibiotic resistant organisms MDRO- multidrug resistant organisms Why of concern: - if patient gets infection, may not be effective antibiotic for treatment - drug resistant strains may spread to others in the health care facility
46
Modes of resistance of antibiotics
1. Over prescription of antibiotics 2. People stop taking antibiotics before all the bacteria are killed 3. Mutation 4. Conjugation
47
Miscellaneous Modes of Controlling Infection
1. Silver impregnated bandages | 2. Phases (viruses that infect specific bacterial cells and destroy them)
48
Infection prevention and control (IPC)
- Organization: Alberta Health Services will oversee programs in regions and health care facilities - health care facilities are required to monitor nosocomial infections and implement infection prevention and control programs
49
Infection prevention and control practitioners
- are specially trained staff, who have added IPC to their professional credentials - participate in development of policies and procedures both nationally and provincially - implement policies and preventative measures - determine patient placement (isolation) - monitor and report outbreaks - educate staff
50
Epidemiology
Study of incidence, source and spread of disease

Infection (7 decks)

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