Epidemiology of Infection

Definitions
Modes of Transfer

The immediate transfer of an Transmission involving an

infectious agent by direct contact intermediate step
between infected and susceptible It can be airborne, vehicleborne or
individuals. vectorborne

Direct Transfer Indirect Transfer


Vehicles of Transfer
Entry to New Host – Pathogen Types
 Virus, Bacteria, Protozoa, Fungi
Entry to New Host – Portals of Entry
 Nine Portals
 Entry to New Host – Mechanisms -
Colonization
For pathogens to survive inside its host, it needs to find the specific cell or


tissue target quickly.

Entry to New Host – Mechanisms - Persist
There are different ways for pathogens to survive inside its host. Its either


they hide, mimic host cell structure or either fight back to ensure survival.
Tricks to Avoid Host
Defenses
Entry to New Host – Mechanisms - Replication
 “Every bacterium’s dream is to be a bacteria.”
Entry to New Host – Mechanisms - Exit
 Sooner or later, these guys just gotta have
to find a new host.
Host Defense – Three Phases of Host Defense
1. Non-induced/non-specific response
2. Induced Innate/Broadly Specific Response
3. Induced Adaptive/Highly Specific Response
Non – Specific Host
Defenses
 Skin : skin associated
lymphoid tissue (SALT)
underlies epidermis,
contains Langerhans
cells, phagocytes that
destroy invading
microbes.
 Mucosal surfaces: all
inner channels
(respiratory, GI tract,
vagina, bladder) are
lined with mucus-
producing cells
= mucosal cells.
 Dendritic Cells (DCs),
Microfold Cells (M
Cells), Payer’s Patches
(PPs)
 Chemical Barriers that
include a variety of
enzymes
 Phagocytes

Induced Innate Immunity
Induced Adaptive Immunity
 Agent – Host - Environment
The host must be susceptible to attack by the pathogen. The pathogen must


be able to attack the host. The environment must favor the development of
the pathogen.
Corollaries of Pathogenicity