Unit 9: Assignment 1
Infection Prevention and
Control
By Tuana Sabah
, PASS
(A.P1) Explain the causes of the different infections and the diseases that can
result from them.
A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of
all or part of an organism, and that is not due to any immediate external injury. Diseases are
often known to be medical conditions that are associated with specific signs and symptoms.
There are 4 types of diseases which are virus, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. An infection that is
in the bloodstream is called a systemic infection (e.g., high blood pressure or the flu). An
infection that affects only one body part or organ is called a localized infection. (e.g., tonsilitis
or a sprained ankle).
A virus is a tiny organism that may lead from mild to severe illness in humans, animals, and
plants. viruses cannot grow and multiply on their own, therefore they need to find a susceptible
host to invade and take over their cells in their body to multiply. This can kill, damage, or
change the cells in your body and make you sick. Different viruses attack certain cells in your
body such as your liver, respiratory system, or blood. When you get a virus, you may not always
get sick from it. Your immune system may be able to fight it off. (1) They cannot be killed by any
antibiotics, although antiviral medication can be used sometimes, however this is dependent on
the virus. For transmission of a virus to occur, a virus must enter a host through a portal of
entry, replicate or disseminate within the host, and be transmitted to a new host through a
portal of exit. There are several different portals of entry that are used by different viruses.
Viruses are able to gain entry into the body through a variety of different portals. These include
the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or genital tract, as well as infection of the skin or
underlying subcutaneous tissue. Congenital infections are those that are passed from mother to
foetus and present at birth. Other less common pathways to infection, including transplants or
infection of the eye, can also occur. (2) Examples of viruses are smallpox, the common cold,
hepatitis, and HIV.
HIV is a type of virus that is spread via human contact. Transmission occurs when a HIV positive
person engages in sexual activities with another person with no protection, as well as sharing
drug needles. You can get it from contact with semen, vaginal fluids, or blood. This systematic
infection attacks the immune systems and attacks white blood cells which causes symptoms
such as: a sore throat, fever, swollen glands, headaches, muscle and joint pains, and skin
, rashes. Symptoms may appear from a few days to several weeks after a person is infected. The
early signs and symptoms go away within two to three weeks. After a certain point, the signs
and symptoms reappear and remain. These usually are fever, weight loss, night sweats,
extreme tiredness, and swollen lymph nodes. You can prevent the spread of HIV by practicing
safe sex, not sharing personal items (e.g., razors and toothbrushes), don’t have multiple sex
partners, don’t share needles or syringes with anyone.
Bacteria are single celled microbes, they are diverse and come in numerous shapes and
features, they can live in majority of environments, this includes inside or on the body. Some
bacteria are harmful, but most serve a useful purpose. Some bacteria help to digest food,
destroy disease-causing cells, and give the body needed vitamins. But infectious bacteria can
make you ill. They reproduce quickly in your body. Many give off chemicals called toxins, which
can damage tissue and make you sick. Individuals who have an immune system that is lowered
by a virus may be more likely to have a bacterial infection. Examples of bacteria that cause
infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. Antibiotics are the usual
treatment. When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. Each time you take
antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them causing
antibiotic resistance. Later, you could get or spread an infection that those antibiotics cannot
cure. All bacteria need specific conditions to be able to grow and multiply. They need: moisture,
food, warmth, time, and a suitable pH. (5)
Urinary tract infection (also known as UTI) is a type of bacterial infection of the bladder,
urethra, kidneys, or uterus. Anyone can get a UTI but they’re more common in people with a
vulva. Bacteria that live in the vagina, genital, and anal areas may enter the urethra, travel to
the bladder, and cause an infection. This can happen during sexual activity when bacteria from
your partner’s genitals, anus, fingers, or sex toys gets pushed into your urethra. UTIs can also be
caused by chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or other organisms. Even though UTIs aren’t spread from
one person to another like STDs, having sex can lead to or worsen UTIs. Having sex doesn’t
necessarily mean people can get a UTI, anything that brings bacteria in contact with a person’s
urethra can cause this infection. You’re more likely to get a UTI if you have had one before,
have diabetes, are obese, have kidney stones or other obstruction in your urinary tract. One of
the most common symptoms of a UTI is a frequent and urgent need to pee. Other symptoms of
this systematic infection include pain or burning when you pee, bad smelling or cloudy urine,
blood or pus in your urine, soreness, pressure, or cramps in your lower belly, back or sides. (3) If
the infection goes to your kidneys the symptoms may also include fever, chills, nausea,
vomiting, feeling tired, or pain in your mid back. Treatment for this infection is generally
antibiotics, which get rid of the infection, they are usually quick and effective, and most
symptoms go away within a day or 2 of taking medicine. However, if you stop your UTI
treatment early, the infection might still be there or could come back. A way to prevent UTIs is
by drinking a lot of fluids, pee before and after sex, wash the skin around your anus and your
Infection Prevention and
Control
By Tuana Sabah
, PASS
(A.P1) Explain the causes of the different infections and the diseases that can
result from them.
A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of
all or part of an organism, and that is not due to any immediate external injury. Diseases are
often known to be medical conditions that are associated with specific signs and symptoms.
There are 4 types of diseases which are virus, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. An infection that is
in the bloodstream is called a systemic infection (e.g., high blood pressure or the flu). An
infection that affects only one body part or organ is called a localized infection. (e.g., tonsilitis
or a sprained ankle).
A virus is a tiny organism that may lead from mild to severe illness in humans, animals, and
plants. viruses cannot grow and multiply on their own, therefore they need to find a susceptible
host to invade and take over their cells in their body to multiply. This can kill, damage, or
change the cells in your body and make you sick. Different viruses attack certain cells in your
body such as your liver, respiratory system, or blood. When you get a virus, you may not always
get sick from it. Your immune system may be able to fight it off. (1) They cannot be killed by any
antibiotics, although antiviral medication can be used sometimes, however this is dependent on
the virus. For transmission of a virus to occur, a virus must enter a host through a portal of
entry, replicate or disseminate within the host, and be transmitted to a new host through a
portal of exit. There are several different portals of entry that are used by different viruses.
Viruses are able to gain entry into the body through a variety of different portals. These include
the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or genital tract, as well as infection of the skin or
underlying subcutaneous tissue. Congenital infections are those that are passed from mother to
foetus and present at birth. Other less common pathways to infection, including transplants or
infection of the eye, can also occur. (2) Examples of viruses are smallpox, the common cold,
hepatitis, and HIV.
HIV is a type of virus that is spread via human contact. Transmission occurs when a HIV positive
person engages in sexual activities with another person with no protection, as well as sharing
drug needles. You can get it from contact with semen, vaginal fluids, or blood. This systematic
infection attacks the immune systems and attacks white blood cells which causes symptoms
such as: a sore throat, fever, swollen glands, headaches, muscle and joint pains, and skin
, rashes. Symptoms may appear from a few days to several weeks after a person is infected. The
early signs and symptoms go away within two to three weeks. After a certain point, the signs
and symptoms reappear and remain. These usually are fever, weight loss, night sweats,
extreme tiredness, and swollen lymph nodes. You can prevent the spread of HIV by practicing
safe sex, not sharing personal items (e.g., razors and toothbrushes), don’t have multiple sex
partners, don’t share needles or syringes with anyone.
Bacteria are single celled microbes, they are diverse and come in numerous shapes and
features, they can live in majority of environments, this includes inside or on the body. Some
bacteria are harmful, but most serve a useful purpose. Some bacteria help to digest food,
destroy disease-causing cells, and give the body needed vitamins. But infectious bacteria can
make you ill. They reproduce quickly in your body. Many give off chemicals called toxins, which
can damage tissue and make you sick. Individuals who have an immune system that is lowered
by a virus may be more likely to have a bacterial infection. Examples of bacteria that cause
infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. Antibiotics are the usual
treatment. When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. Each time you take
antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them causing
antibiotic resistance. Later, you could get or spread an infection that those antibiotics cannot
cure. All bacteria need specific conditions to be able to grow and multiply. They need: moisture,
food, warmth, time, and a suitable pH. (5)
Urinary tract infection (also known as UTI) is a type of bacterial infection of the bladder,
urethra, kidneys, or uterus. Anyone can get a UTI but they’re more common in people with a
vulva. Bacteria that live in the vagina, genital, and anal areas may enter the urethra, travel to
the bladder, and cause an infection. This can happen during sexual activity when bacteria from
your partner’s genitals, anus, fingers, or sex toys gets pushed into your urethra. UTIs can also be
caused by chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or other organisms. Even though UTIs aren’t spread from
one person to another like STDs, having sex can lead to or worsen UTIs. Having sex doesn’t
necessarily mean people can get a UTI, anything that brings bacteria in contact with a person’s
urethra can cause this infection. You’re more likely to get a UTI if you have had one before,
have diabetes, are obese, have kidney stones or other obstruction in your urinary tract. One of
the most common symptoms of a UTI is a frequent and urgent need to pee. Other symptoms of
this systematic infection include pain or burning when you pee, bad smelling or cloudy urine,
blood or pus in your urine, soreness, pressure, or cramps in your lower belly, back or sides. (3) If
the infection goes to your kidneys the symptoms may also include fever, chills, nausea,
vomiting, feeling tired, or pain in your mid back. Treatment for this infection is generally
antibiotics, which get rid of the infection, they are usually quick and effective, and most
symptoms go away within a day or 2 of taking medicine. However, if you stop your UTI
treatment early, the infection might still be there or could come back. A way to prevent UTIs is
by drinking a lot of fluids, pee before and after sex, wash the skin around your anus and your
