What is it?
Definition of an infectious disease
A disease caused by a microorganism, or pathogen, that harms a host's tissues and can be passed on to others.
Host range definition
The number and variety of host species that a parasite or pathogen can infect.
What are the types of Direct transmission of disease?
Vertical and horizontal transmission
STIs (STDs) (sexually transmitted diseases)
What is the definition of Epidemiology?
A medical science that studies the distribution of health conditions and diseases in a population, and how to prevent and control them.
Nosocomial Infections definition?
Infections that occur in a healthcare facility while a patient is receiving treatment for another condition.
What does colonization mean in microbiology?
When a microorganism, like a virus or bacteria, is present in or on a host without causing disease or symptoms.
What are the 4 steps to cause disease?
Entry, Attachment, Invasion, and Replication.
What is a fomite?
Anything that you touch, that someone else can touch. ex: doorknob, lightswitch etc.
Morbidity vs Mortality
Morbidity is who all just got sick, while Mortality is who got sick and then died.
What type of infections are immunocompromised?
Opportunistic and Nosocomial infections
Communicable vs non-communicable
Communicable diseases are infectious diseases that can spread from person to person, while non-communicable diseases are not contagious and cannot be spread to others
What is the step after the pathogen enters the cell and why is it so important?
The next step is Attachment, and it is important because if the pathogen can't attach then it can't cause disease.
Through airborne transmission
Incidence vs Prevalence
Incidence is the total number of new infections, while prevalence is just the overall total number of infections.
What are the 5 strategies we use to control infections.
Safe water & food, Sewage treatment, Quarantine, Vaccination, and Vector control
True vs opportunistic pathogen
A true pathogen can cause disease in almost any host, while an opportunistic pathogen can only cause disease in a host when their defenses are compromised.
What is the difference between Invasion and Evasion?
Invasion refers to the active process of a pathogen entering and establishing itself within a host tissue, while Evasion describes the mechanisms a pathogen uses to avoid or counteract the host's immune response, allowing it to survive and replicate within the host without being detected or destroyed
How can you get infected by a Fecal-oral disease?
Go to the bathroom, don't wash your hands, then eat some food, and then get infected.
What are acute diseases?
Happen suddenly and last a short time. They are often caused by infections, or injuries.
Ex: Cold, Flu, pink eye, or urinary tract infections
If the Basic Reproduction Number (R0) is greater than 1, what does that mean?
There is potential for a pandemic, if less than 1 the microbe will die out.
Which two reservoirs for infectious diseases only has non-communicable diseases?
Zoonoses and Environmental
Between apoptosis and necrosis, which mechanism does not harbor any inflammation?
What is a mechanical transmission vector?
A way that disease-causing agents are spread from one host to another by a living organism, and carries the pathogens on its body.
What are chronic diseases?
They develop slowly and can last a long time, up to years.
Ex: Asthma, diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis etc.
What is the 4 types of disease progression and what do they mean?
Sporadic-very low number of cases
Endemic-naturally occurring, infections that happen no matter what
Epidemic- a lot of cases in one area, like in a certain state or country
Pandemic- global problem, global disease