Pathophysiology: Introductory
Concepts and Clinical Perspectives
Pathogen - specific microorganism capable of causing infection
Host - Colonized by a pathogen
Infection - Invasion colonization or multiplication of a pathogen.
Septicemia - Infection of the blood stream
Can be caused by inserting an IV Catheter without properly cleaning the skin
Immunocompetence - The individual’s ability to protect oneself from infectious agents
because of a strong immune system
Immunosuppressed - A weak immune system is at risk of common microorganism
causing an opportunistic infection
Hospital Acquired Condition - Hospitals harbor a wide variety of bacteria that can
cause nosocomial infections
Staphylococcus Aureus - Skin and wound infections like; impetigo, pneumonia,
septicemia
Other infections on the skin surface, S. epidermidis, S. aureus, Corynebacterium
Streptococcus pyogene - GABHS group A Beta hemolytic streptococcus
Pharyngitis, impetigo, URI, rheumatic fever (rheumatic heart disease/heart murmur),
scarlet fever, glomerulonephritis, TSS, necrotizing fasciitis
Streptococcus Pneumoniae - Community acquired pneumonia
Institutionalized patients
Influenza is a common precursor
Pneumonia: Rigors, Crackles (hair between the fingers) lower lung
1 mortality in NH
Legionnaires Disease - air conditioning systems
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - UTI 4th most commonly isolated nosocomial infection,
accounting for 10% all hospital acquired infections
Escherichia coli - UTI, wound infection, pneumonia, septicemia
lower UTIs can be found in sexually active women, were males with BPM cause urinary
stasis. UTI with a fever should rule our pyelonephritis
Clostridium Difficile - Intestinal mucosa disruption
Long term antibiotic use
, TX: contact precautions, isolation
Neisseria Meningitidis - Meningitis, fever nuchal rigidity (neck pain) and headache
(nasopharynx is the human reservoir)
Can be found in groups of people living in close quarters, dorms, prisons, military bases
Hib immunization or Rifampin for those who have been exposed
Epstein bar Virus - mononucleosis, splenomegaly
Mumps virus - Paryomyxovirus parotitis (parotid glands), gland swelling, pancreatitis,
orchitis (testicles)
Transmitted by droplets; cough, sneezing
TX ice packs for glands antipyretics, and hydration
Measles virus - Morbillivirus, Rubeola, extant
Koplik spots in the buccal mucosa
TX rest hydration, antipyretics, and Vitamin A
Rubella virus - Rubi virus; Rubella, "German measles"
All pregnant women get check for Rubella due to its teratogenic effect; congenital
defects, spontaneous abortions and stillbirths,
TX include antipyretics, hydration, and oatmeal baths
MMR vaccine - Mandatory immunization has eradicate these childhood illnesses
(exanthems/rash)
Droplet transmission
15 months with a booster at 18
Erythema Infectiosum - Fifth’s disease, human parvovirus, slap cheek exanthem,
TX: antipyretic, antihistamines, hydration
Giardia Lamblia - Giardiasis - protozoan, diarrhea
Prions - Proteinaceous infectious agent resistant to human protease. Enters into protein
and converts them to prions. Irreversible damage to brain cells such as spongiform
encephalopathy.
Cruz felt-Jakob disease, mad cow, scabies
MRSA, VRSA, VRE, DRSP - Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus
Vancomycin Resistant Staph Aureus
Vancomycin Resistant enterococcus
Drug Resistant Strep pneumonia
Vulvovaginal Candidiasis - Yeast infection of the female outer genitalia and vaginal
canal. can lead to sepsis
Concepts and Clinical Perspectives
Pathogen - specific microorganism capable of causing infection
Host - Colonized by a pathogen
Infection - Invasion colonization or multiplication of a pathogen.
Septicemia - Infection of the blood stream
Can be caused by inserting an IV Catheter without properly cleaning the skin
Immunocompetence - The individual’s ability to protect oneself from infectious agents
because of a strong immune system
Immunosuppressed - A weak immune system is at risk of common microorganism
causing an opportunistic infection
Hospital Acquired Condition - Hospitals harbor a wide variety of bacteria that can
cause nosocomial infections
Staphylococcus Aureus - Skin and wound infections like; impetigo, pneumonia,
septicemia
Other infections on the skin surface, S. epidermidis, S. aureus, Corynebacterium
Streptococcus pyogene - GABHS group A Beta hemolytic streptococcus
Pharyngitis, impetigo, URI, rheumatic fever (rheumatic heart disease/heart murmur),
scarlet fever, glomerulonephritis, TSS, necrotizing fasciitis
Streptococcus Pneumoniae - Community acquired pneumonia
Institutionalized patients
Influenza is a common precursor
Pneumonia: Rigors, Crackles (hair between the fingers) lower lung
1 mortality in NH
Legionnaires Disease - air conditioning systems
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - UTI 4th most commonly isolated nosocomial infection,
accounting for 10% all hospital acquired infections
Escherichia coli - UTI, wound infection, pneumonia, septicemia
lower UTIs can be found in sexually active women, were males with BPM cause urinary
stasis. UTI with a fever should rule our pyelonephritis
Clostridium Difficile - Intestinal mucosa disruption
Long term antibiotic use
, TX: contact precautions, isolation
Neisseria Meningitidis - Meningitis, fever nuchal rigidity (neck pain) and headache
(nasopharynx is the human reservoir)
Can be found in groups of people living in close quarters, dorms, prisons, military bases
Hib immunization or Rifampin for those who have been exposed
Epstein bar Virus - mononucleosis, splenomegaly
Mumps virus - Paryomyxovirus parotitis (parotid glands), gland swelling, pancreatitis,
orchitis (testicles)
Transmitted by droplets; cough, sneezing
TX ice packs for glands antipyretics, and hydration
Measles virus - Morbillivirus, Rubeola, extant
Koplik spots in the buccal mucosa
TX rest hydration, antipyretics, and Vitamin A
Rubella virus - Rubi virus; Rubella, "German measles"
All pregnant women get check for Rubella due to its teratogenic effect; congenital
defects, spontaneous abortions and stillbirths,
TX include antipyretics, hydration, and oatmeal baths
MMR vaccine - Mandatory immunization has eradicate these childhood illnesses
(exanthems/rash)
Droplet transmission
15 months with a booster at 18
Erythema Infectiosum - Fifth’s disease, human parvovirus, slap cheek exanthem,
TX: antipyretic, antihistamines, hydration
Giardia Lamblia - Giardiasis - protozoan, diarrhea
Prions - Proteinaceous infectious agent resistant to human protease. Enters into protein
and converts them to prions. Irreversible damage to brain cells such as spongiform
encephalopathy.
Cruz felt-Jakob disease, mad cow, scabies
MRSA, VRSA, VRE, DRSP - Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus
Vancomycin Resistant Staph Aureus
Vancomycin Resistant enterococcus
Drug Resistant Strep pneumonia
Vulvovaginal Candidiasis - Yeast infection of the female outer genitalia and vaginal
canal. can lead to sepsis
