Week 3 Infection & Fever Flashcards
(29 cards)
What are the four main types of microorganisms that cause disease?
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
What are bacteria?
One-celled organisms that can live almost anywhere
What are viruses?
Tiny particles made of DNA or RNA that need a host
colds and the flu
What are fungi?
Plant-like organisms without chlorophyll that can cause skin, mouth, and lung infections.
What are protozoa?
Single-celled, animal-like organisms that live in water or soil and can cause diseases like malaria.
What is normal/resident flora?
Good microorganisms that live on our skin and inside our body and help protect us from harmful microbes.
Where is normal flora found?
Skin, mouth, gut, and vagina.
What is a nosocomial infection?
An infection acquired in a hospital or healthcare facility.
What is host resistance?
How well the body can fight off infection using defenses like skin, white blood cells, and stomach acid.
What is virulence?
How strong a microorganism is.
What is pathogenicity?
The ability of a microbe to cause disease.
What are new threats in infection?
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and new diseases like COVID-19.
What are signs of infection?
Fever, chills, redness, swelling, pus, pain, and tiredness.
How is infection diagnosed?
With physical exams, lab tests, and cultures from infected areas.
What does anti-infective mean?
A drug that fights infections caused by microbes.
What are examples of anti-infectives?
Antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antiparasitics.
How does antimicrobial resistance develop?
Microbes change over time due to overuse or misuse of drugs, making them harder to kill.
What is a superinfection?
A new infection when antibiotics kill good bacteria,
What are factors in choosing an effective antibiotic?
Type of bacteria, patient’s health, allergy history, where the infection is, and how severe it is.
What do sulfonamides (e.g., SMX-TMP) do?
Stop bacteria from making folic acid needed for DNA. Used for UTIs, lung infections, and some pneumonias.
What do penicillins (e.g., penicillin G) do?
Kill bacteria by damaging their cell walls.
What do cephalosporins (e.g., cefazolin) do?
Kill bacteria by damaging their cell walls. Used for respiratory, skin, and bone infections.
What do tetracyclines (e.g., tetracycline) do?
Stop bacteria from making proteins. Used for acne and lung infections.
What do macrolides (e.g., erythromycin) do?
Block protein production in bacteria. Used for lung, ear, and skin infections.
