Unit 2 Lesson 2: Infection: Know Your Enemy Flashcards
(47 cards)
Microorganisms
living organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye—are around us all the time
Where do microorganims live
They live on the surface of our skin, in air and water, and on the things we may touch.
Where does flora live and what does it do there
in our intestinal tract help us to digest our food, make important nutrients for our bodies, and crowd out harmful organisms.
Where do microorganims live on our bodies? Are they harmful?
Inside our bodies, microorganisms live deep in our skin and in our organs, mostly not harming us at all.
Flora
flora—microorganisms that exist in and on animals and humans without causing disease—
How many microorganims are in our body
We have trillions of microorganisms living within us all the time, most of them helping with the processes of life.
Many of these nice little “germs” are our friends, but what makes us sick?
Pathogens
Pathogens
Pathogens are microorganisms capable of causing disease.
Microorganisms can come in different types, the most common being
bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
What can Protozoa and parasites be classfied as
Protozoa and parasites can also be pathogens
Can normal flora become pathogen? If so, how?
Normal flora can become pathogens if they enter a part of the body that they don’t normally inhabit, such as when the intestines become ruptured and allow digestive microorganisms to enter the abdominal cavity, causing infection.
Pathogens go through a process we describe as the chain of infection
a series of events that need to happen for infections to spread.
What is the first link of the chain of infection
The first link in the chain is the infectious agent itself, which can be any type of microorganism that can cause disease.
The infectious agent needs to inhabit a
reservoir
The infectious agent needs to inhabit a reservoir:
a place where pathogens survive and multiply.
Living reservoirs for disease include
human body, animals, and insects.
Nonliving reservoirs include
soil, water, food, and surfaces.
Microorganisms can be found on any surface in the environment and are especially prevalent in hospitals. Where do most pathogens thrive
Most pathogens thrive in warm, moist, dark environments, but many can survive other conditions.
Certain people can harbor pathogens in their bodies while their body’s defense keeps them from getting ill; these people are called
carriers, and they act as reservoirs for infectious agents.
What do pathogens multiply quickly food
Pathogens need nutrients to survive, and therefore can grow and multiply quickly in food.
How do we kill microorganisms in food
When we cook foods at high temperatures or add salt, we are killing microorganisms or preventing their growth.
Moist environments like wounds or the throat are reservoirs where pathogens can
Moist environments like wounds or the throat are reservoirs where pathogens can also multiply easily.
Pathogens that harm humans mostly prefer a temperature of approximately
95°F
Why does the body heat up (why do we get fevers)? What is your body trying to do when one gets a fever
Pathogens that harm humans mostly prefer a temperature of approximately 95°F. Coincidentally, that temperature is close to the normal temperature of the human body. Thus, when your body runs a fever, it is defending against pathogens by changing the temperature of your body to a level that is less conducive to the infection you are fighting off.
