Infection and Medical Terminology

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Questions and Answers

What is required for an infection to occur?

An individual must be symptomatic

Complete immunity of the host

Presence of antibiotics in the body

Invasion of body tissues by disease-causing agents (correct)

Which type of infectious agent requires the host cell for survival?

Environmental pathogens

Obligate pathogens (correct)

Opportunistic pathogens

Facultative pathogens

What is a characteristic of passive carriers?

They show symptoms of infection

They are uninfected but transfer infectious agents (correct)

They spread infection before showing symptoms

They recover from infection but remain infectious

Which of the following is an example of zoonosis?

Malaria Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-itis' indicate in medical terms?

Inflammation of a specific area Signup and view all the answers

How does direct transmission occur?

By skin contact and droplet spread Signup and view all the answers

Which type of pathogen can replicate outside a host but causes disease when encountering a susceptible host?

Facultative pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What is a portal of exit in the context of the chain of infection?

The path the pathogen uses to leave its host Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes vector-borne transmission?

Transmission by living organisms like mosquitoes or ticks. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of non-specific defenses in the body?

To provide immediate defense against infections. Signup and view all the answers

Which practice is considered best for hand hygiene when hands are visibly dirty?

Washing with soap and water. Signup and view all the answers

What factor may increase an individual's susceptibility to infections?

Having a genetic predisposition such as sickle cell anemia. Signup and view all the answers

What is one method for breaking the chain of infection?

Improving personal hygiene practices. Signup and view all the answers

Which option is NOT a critical time to wash hands?

When entering a room. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a susceptible host?

They may lack immunity to certain pathogens. Signup and view all the answers

What does control at the source in health promotion aim to do?

Eliminate or control the infectious agent. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Infection

Defined as the result of interaction between a susceptible host and an infectious agent, leading to disease.
Infectious diseases are transmissible and communicable, caused by microorganisms.
Spread through direct or indirect contact, or zoonosis (animals to humans).

Suffixes in Medical Terms

"-itis": Indicates inflammation of a body part (e.g., pharyngitis, appendicitis).
"-emia": Denotes the presence of an infectious agent in the blood (e.g., bacteremia, viremia).
"-osis": Refers to a disease process (e.g., leptospirosis, toxicosis).

Infection Conditions

Requires invasion of body tissues by disease-causing agents and a susceptible host.
Multiplication and reaction of host tissues to toxins are crucial.

Infectious Agents

Types include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and helminths.
Obligate pathogens: Only survive inside host cells.
Facultative pathogens: Replicate outside host cells but cause disease in susceptible hosts.
Opportunistic pathogens: Benign but cause infection in injured or immunocompromised hosts.

Reservoirs of Infection

Human Reservoir:
- Passive Carriers: Uninfected but transfer infectious agents.
- Asymptomatic Carriers: Infected but display no symptoms.
- Incubatory Carriers: Spread infection before showing symptoms.
- Convalescent Carriers: Recovered but still infectious.
- Chronic Carriers: Continue to harbor the microorganism after infection.
Animal Reservoir:
- Zoonosis—diseases spread from animals to humans (e.g., rabies, malaria).
Environmental Reservoir:
- Found in plants, soil, water, and food (e.g., dysentery, food poisoning, tetanus).

Portal of Exit

The path the pathogen uses to leave its host (e.g., respiratory tract, bodily fluids).

Mode of Transmission

Direct Transmission:
- Skin contact, mucous membranes, kissing, sexual intercourse, droplet spread.
Indirect Transmission:
- Airborne: Carried by dust or droplet nuclei in the air.
- Vehicle-borne: Occurs when an infectious agent is transmitted through a contaminated object or substance (like food, water, or medical instruments) that carries the pathogen into the body.
- Vector-borne: Occurs when an infectious agent is spread by a living organism (such as mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas) that carries the pathogen from one host to another.

Portal of Entry

The way the infectious agent enters a susceptible host (e.g., skin breaks, mucous membranes).

Susceptible Host

Factors influencing susceptibility:
- Genetics: Some individuals are more susceptible due to genetic factors (e.g., sickle cell anemia and malaria resistance).
- Immunity: Vaccines, antibodies, placental transfer.
- Non-specific Defenses: Skin, mucous membranes, gastric acid, and more.

Breaking the Chain of Infection

Hand Hygiene:
- Use of alcohol-based hand rubs or washing with soap and water.
- Critical times to wash hands include: before/after meals, after using the toilet, after coughing, etc.
Wound Coverage: Keep wounds covered to prevent infections.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Includes gloves, masks, face shields, gowns, etc.
- Key for infection control in healthcare settings.

Hand Hygiene Best Practices

Handwashing with soap is preferred, especially when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
Alcohol-based sanitizers should contain at least 60% alcohol.

Case Study: Typhoid Mary

Trace the infection journey of Mary Mallon to understand the transmission of infectious diseases.

Implications for Health Promotion

Control at the source: Eliminate or control the infectious agent.
Interrupt transmission: Prevent the infectious agent from spreading.
Protect entry points: Ensure wounds and other entry points are shielded from infection.

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Description

This quiz explores the concepts of infection and related medical terms, including various suffixes that describe conditions associated with infectious diseases. It covers the types of infectious agents and the mechanisms of infection and disease transmission. Test your knowledge on key terms and concepts in the field of infectious diseases.