Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
What is required for an infection to occur?
Which type of infectious agent requires the host cell for survival?
What is a characteristic of passive carriers?
Which of the following is an example of zoonosis?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the suffix '-itis' indicate in medical terms?
Signup and view all the answers
How does direct transmission occur?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of pathogen can replicate outside a host but causes disease when encountering a susceptible host?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a portal of exit in the context of the chain of infection?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes vector-borne transmission?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary role of non-specific defenses in the body?
Signup and view all the answers
Which practice is considered best for hand hygiene when hands are visibly dirty?
Signup and view all the answers
What factor may increase an individual's susceptibility to infections?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one method for breaking the chain of infection?
Signup and view all the answers
Which option is NOT a critical time to wash hands?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key characteristic of a susceptible host?
Signup and view all the answers
What does control at the source in health promotion aim to do?
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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
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.
