Microorganisms
Small living forms only visible by microscope
What are microbes?
The rigid outer layer that determines the type of antimicrobial therapy
What is the cell wall?
Common fungal infection of the foot.
What is tinea (athlete’s foot)?
Disease that occurs consistently within a population.
What is endemic disease?
Time between exposure and first symptoms of infection.
What is the incubation period?
Disease-causing microbes are commonly called this
What are pathogens or germs?
These bacterial toxins are released after bacteria die and can cause fever and shock
What are endotoxins?
This fungus can cause oral thrush in immunocompromised patients
What is Candida?
Infections that spread in higher-than-expected numbers
What is an epidemic?
Stage when a person feels “I am coming down with something.”
What is the prodromal period?
Microbes that usually do not cause disease and can be beneficial
nonpathogenic microbes
Intracellular parasites that require a living host for replication
What are viruses?
Protozoan parasite transmitted by mosquitoes.
What is malaria?
Acquired in healthcare facilities and often drug resistant
What are nosocomial infections?
A nurse tells a patient to complete all antibiotics to prevent this.
What is antibiotic resistance?
Type of object that can spread microbes without being alive (inanimate)
What is a fomite?
This allows viruses to avoid host defenses
What is mutation?
Multicellular worms that can cause anemia if severe.
What are helminths?
A nurse should use this type of precaution for C-diff.
What are contact precautions?
Drugs that kill bacteria outright.
What are bactericidal drugs?
These unicellular organisms lack a cell wall and can cause pneumonia.
What are mycoplasmas?
Bacteria that produce spores resistant to heat, e.g., tetanus or botulism
What are endospore-forming bacteria?
Lung infection caused by a fungus found in soil or dust
What is histoplasmosis?
This practice breaks the infection cycle by blocking transmission
What is proper hand hygiene?
Drugs that control but do not cure viruses.
What are antivirals?