Disease and Disease-Producing Organisms Notes

Ch. 5: Disease and Disease-Producing Organisms

Disease Categories

  • Degenerative disease: Involves tissue degeneration (breaking down).

  • Metabolic disorders: Any disruption of cellular metabolism.

  • Immune disorders: Relates to the system that protects us from infectious diseases.

  • Neoplasms: Refers to cancers.

Disease Category Identification

  • Alzheimer disease: Degenerative disease

  • Diabetes mellitus: Metabolic disorder

  • Allergies: Immune disorder

  • Rheumatoid arthritis: Immune disorder

Symptoms vs. Signs

  • Symptoms: Conditions experienced by the patient. Examples: Pain, fatigue, joint stiffness, nausea, anxiety.

  • Signs: Objective manifestations. Examples: Rash, rapid pulse, wheezing, fever, high blood pressure.

Acute vs. Chronic Diseases

  • Acute: Disease that lasts for a short term.

  • Chronic: Continuous or recurring for long periods.

Infectious Disease

  • Pathogen: Disease-producing organism.

  • Opportunistic infection: Host has been compromised by disease (weakened).

Microbiology

  • Bacteria: Simple, single-cell organism, grows in many environments, lacks a true nucleus.

  • Viruses: Composed of nucleic acid and protein. Can reproduce only within living cells - obligate intracellular parasites.

  • Protozoa: Single-cell, animal-like organism.

The Microbiome

  • Microbiome: Population of microorganisms that normally grows on/within the human body.

Antibiotics and Fungal Infections

  • Some antibiotics can lead to an infection of the fungus Candida because they kill normal bacterial flora, and some antibiotics change pH levels, which can allow the fungus to thrive.

Endospores

  • Endospore: Resistant form of bacteria that tolerates adverse conditions.

  • Spore-forming pathogens are dangerous because they can easily become airborne and are resistant to ordinary methods of disinfection.

Treatment of Viruses vs. Bacteria

  • Viruses are not susceptible to antibiotics; they are treated with antivirals.

Fungi

  • Fungi: Simple plant-like organisms, few are pathogenic.

Helminth

  • Helminth: Worms that are parasites, with human hosts.

Pathogen Types

  • Malaria: Protozoa

  • C. diff. colitis: Bacteria

  • Herpes: Virus

  • Candida vaginitis: Fungi

  • Pinworm infestation: Parasite

Aseptic Methods

  • Sterilize: Kills every organism in liquid or on an object.

  • Endospores require much greater time and temperature to ensure destruction during sterilization.

Definitions

  • Disinfectant: Kills most microbes.

  • Antiseptic: For skin and other living surfaces.

Dangers of Antibiotic Use

  • Can lead to opportunistic infections.

  • Can become resistant.

Culture and Sensitivity Test

  • Identify the organism.

  • Test sensitivity to the antibiotic.