Infections

Introduction to infection

Infection

Organism - `bugs`

Host

Transmissible

Innate and specific immunity.

Virulence

Types of human / microbe relationships

Commensal flora - bacteria, which live with us but normally cause no harm

Mutual bacteria - derive benefit from us and we from them

Parasites - infecting organism benefits to host detriment

Pathogenic microorganisms

Opportunistic microorganisms

Local and systemic infection

Epidemiology

Modes of transmission

Vectors

Fomites

Nosocomial infections

Cross-infection, exogenous and endogenous transfer

Zoonoses

Portal of entry

This refers to the route an infection takes to gain access to the host.

Ingestion

Inhalation

Penetration

Blood-borne

Direct contact

Infectious agents

Viruses

Colds, influenza, mumps, measles, rabies, hepatitis, rubella, poliomyelitis, herpes sores, chickenpox, shingles, and many respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

Viruses are also involved in the development of some malignancies

Bacteria are Prokaryotic cells -. 1 micrometre in diameter, Gram-positive or negative

Bacterial resistance

Timing of treatment

Mycoplasmas

Chlamydiae, rickettsiae, ehrlichieae and coxiella

Helminths

Arthropods

Protozoa

Fungi, e.g. Candida albicans

Prions, proteinaceous (protein based) infectious particles

Clinical diagnosis of infection

Koch’s postulates

Clinical diagnosis

Evolution of an infection