UNIT V - 16 Flashcards

Question

Skin Normal Flora of the Body

Answer 1

Acinetobacter/ˌa-sə-ˈnē-tō-ˌbak-tər / species Corynebacterium/ˌkȯr-ə-(ˌ)nē-bak-ˈtir-ē-əm/ species Staphylococcus aureus/ˈȯr-ē-əs/ Staphylococcus epidermidis Yeasts

Answer 2

Anaerobes/ˈa-nə-ˌrōb / Bacteroides/-ˈrȯid-(ˌ)ēz / species Clostridium/ klä-ˈstri-dē-əm/ perfringens Enterobacter/ ˈent-ə-rō-ˌbak-tər/ species (coliforms/ˈkō-lə-ˌfȯrm /) Streptococcus/ˌstrep-tə-ˈkä-kəs/ faecalis (enterococci or group D)

Answer 3

Alpha-hemolytic streptococci Enterobacteriaceae/ˌent-ə-rō-ˌbak-ˌtir-ē-ˈā-sē-ˌē/ Enterococci Lactobacillus/ˌlak-tō-bə-ˈsi-ləs/ species Many types of anaerobes Staphylococcus epidermidis

Answer 4

The four most common multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are (1) methicillin/ˌme-thə-ˈsi-lən /-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), (2) vancomycin/ˌvaŋ-kə-ˈmī-sᵊn/-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), (3) extended-spectrum beta-lactamase/ˈbā-tə-ˈlak-tə-ˌmās/ (ESBL)–producing pneumonia (Klebsiella/ˌkleb-zē-ˈe-lə / pneumoniae or E. coli/ˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī /), and (4) Clostridium/klä-ˈstri-dē-əm/ difficile/ˌdē-fi-ˈsēl / (C. diff).

Answer 5

Rapid MRSA assays can quickly identify MRSA bacterium in 1 to 5 hours by testing either a blood sample or nasal or groin swabs.

Answer 6

Another example of a drug-resistant organism is penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes a form of pneumonia that can be difficult to treat. Another emerging threat to public health and safety is a group of resistant organisms called carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, which are highly resistant organisms and can cause infections in the urinary tract, bloodstream, wounds, and lungs (Sheu et al., 2019).

Answer 7

Patients must be educated about the correct use and possible misuse of antimicrobial (killing or suppressing growth of microorganisms) agents.

Answer 8

Incomplete treatment allows some microorganisms to live, giving them a chance to mutate and develop drug resistance. mutation noun mu·ta·tion myü-ˈtā-shən 1: a significant and basic alteration : CHANGE

Answer 9

Prions are protein particles that lack nucleic acids and are not inactivated by usual methods for destroying bacteria or viruses. They do not trigger an immune response but cause degenerative neurologic disease such as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (a human version of mad cow disease).

Answer 10

Protozoa are one-celled microscopic organisms belonging to the animal kingdom and can be parasitic in nature. Protozoa that are pathogenic to humans include the Plasmodium/plaz-ˈmō-dē-əm/ species that causes malaria/mə-ˈler-ē-ə /; Entamoeba/ˌen-tə-ˈmē-bə / histolytica, which causes amebic dysentery/ˈdi-sᵊn-ˌter-ē /; and other strains capable of causing diarrhea.

Answer 11

Viruses are extremely small and can be seen only with an electron microscope (Fig. 16.2). They are composed of particles of nucleic acids, either DNA or RNA, with a protein coat and sometimes a membranous envelope.

Answer 12

Rickettsia are small round or rod-shaped microorganisms that are transmitted by the bites of lice, ticks, fleas, and mites that act as vectors. They multiply only in host cells. Examples of rickettsial infection include Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus/ˈtī-fəs /.

Answer 13

Fungi are tiny, primitive organisms of the kingdom Fungi that contain no chlorophyll. Examples include yeasts and molds. Fungi feed on living plants, animals, and decaying organic material. They thrive in warm, moist environments. Fungi reproduce by means of spores. In humans, fungal infections are called mycoses. When the balance of normal flora is altered by antimicrobial therapy, fungal infections such as vaginal candidiasis may occur.

Answer 14

Helminths are parasitic/ˌper-ə-ˈsi-tik / worms or flukes/ˈflük / belonging to the animal kingdom. Pinworms, which mostly affect children, are the most common helminths worldwide. Roundworms and tapeworms are other helminths.

Answer 15

Mycoplasmas are very small organisms without a cell wall. They cause infections of the respiratory or genital tract. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an example.

Answer 16

Chlamydia, another type of organism, affects the genitourinary/ˌje-nə-tō-ˈyu̇r-ə-ˌner-ē / and reproductive tracts and has become more common in the past 20 years.

Answer 17

In countries where hygiene is poor, Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for trachoma/trə-ˈkō-mə /, an eye disease that can cause blindness.

Answer 18

Disinfection, which destroys or reduces infection-producing organisms, and sterilization, which removes all organisms, are methods used in the process of destroying microorganisms, pathogens, or toxins.

Answer 19

Characteristics that affect virulence are the ability to (1) adhere to mucosal surfaces or cell walls, (2) penetrate mucous membranes, (3) multiply in the body, (4) secrete harmful enzymes or toxins, (5) resist phagocytosis (destruction by white blood cells [WBCs]), and (6) bind with iron (essential to bacterial growth).

Answer 20

Reservoirs are places where microorganisms are found. Reservoirs can be infected wounds, human or animal waste, animals and insects, contaminated (made unclean) food and water, or a person with an infection. Standard Precautions are used to prevent the spread of infection from the reservoir. Good hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of microorganisms. Using sterile (free from all microorganisms) technique, when appropriate, is another effective method; for example, it is used to insert an indwelling urinary catheter to help prevent the transfer of normal flora from the skin and mucous membranes into the sterile bladder, where it could cause an infection.

Answer 21

The portal of exit is the route by which a pathogen leaves the body of its host. Portal-of-exit transmission can be interrupted by identifying and treating infected patients. Isolation techniques and barrier precautions that include the proper handling and disposal of secretions, urine, feces, and exudate can prevent pathogen transfer.

Answer 22

Modes of transfer of pathogens include (1) direct personal contact with body excretions or drainage such as from an infected wound; (2) indirect contact with contaminated inanimate objects (called fomites), such as needles, drinking and eating utensils, dressings, clothing, and hospital equipment; (3) vectors such as fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects that harbor infectious agents and transmit infection to humans through bites and stings; (4) droplet infection, or contamination by the aerosol route through sneezing and coughing; and (5) spread of infection from one part of the body to another. 1: not animate: a: not endowed with life or spirit an inanimate object

Answer 23

aerosol noun aero·sol ˈer-ə-ˌsäl -ˌsȯl 1 : a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas Smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols. airborne aerosol transmission of infective viral particles also, aerosols plural : the fine particles of an aerosol stratospheric aerosols 2 : a substance (such as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol also : the container for this

Answer 24

The mode of transmission can be interrupted by effective hand hygiene, proper disinfection and sterilization of medical equipment, use of both surgical (sterile) and medical aseptic (free of microorganisms) technique in performing procedures and diagnostic tests, and use of Standard Precautions to prevent contamination. Teach patients to cover the mouth when sneezing or coughing, to dispose of soiled tissues correctly, to wash hands after contact with potentially contaminated items, and to avoid people who have an infection to reduce transmission of pathogens. Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations are to sneeze or cough into the bended elbow rather than to cover the mouth with the hands. This way, the spread of the respiratory droplets is prevented, and hands are not contaminated.

Answer 25

Controlling insects with abatement programs, such as mosquito control, and filtering air in health care facilities are other methods of reducing pathogen transmission.

Answer 26

Pathogens can enter the body through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth, trachea, or skin. Using only sterile and clean items when caring for patients reduces the entry of pathogens. Barrier precautions (gloves, masks, condoms), safe handling of food and water, good personal hygiene, avoidance of high-risk behaviors, and protection from insect bites and stings can prevent entry of microorganisms.

Answer 27

A human host may be susceptible by virtue of age, state of health, or broken skin.

Answer 28

They also tend to have comorbidities (more than one illness or disease at the same time).

Answer 29

These states seem to interfere with the body’s normal defense mechanisms.

Answer 30

Do not wear jewelry when you are providing patient care because microorganisms become lodged in the settings of stones, in the grooves of rings, and on the skin beneath the jewelry.