Infection

Kelsey Baker, Anna Gross, Holly

Stelter, Jesse Soeun
 What is infection and the signs and symptoms of
infection, how it occurs and how it spreads.
Different types of infections
Diagnosis and preventions
Complication and treatments
 What is infection?
The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and
parasites that are not normally present within the body.
An infection may show no symptoms, or it may show symptoms and be clinically
apparent.
An infection may remain localized or it may spread through the blood or lymphatic
vessels to become systemic.
-localized infections remain in one part of the body , such as a cut on the hand that
doesnt cause problems anywhere else. Localized infections can be serious if they are
internal such as in the appendix or in the heart.

-systemic infections spread throughout the body and are usually in the bloodstream.
For example the flu, AIDS, and tuberculosis.
 Microorganisms that live naturally in the body are not
considered infections. For example, bacteria that normally
live within the mouth and intestine are not infections.
 How does infection occur?
Organisms that can cause infection are in the air, water, soil, food,
in the bodies of animals and people. Infections occur when some
of these get past our bodies natural defenses. Defenses such as-
-Skin: cut or scrap could affect ability to block germs
-Bacteria: harmless bacteria is in the body competing with
harmful germs, but can be killed by medication which allows harmful
germs to thrive.
-Inflammatory response: Sometimes attacks any kind of germ,
good or bad causing fever, redness, and swelling.
 Signs and Symptoms
Increased pain, swelling, redness, or
warmth around the affected area.
Doctors or nurses may draw a circle with
a pen around the affected area to detect
if the infection is spreading.
Red streaks extending from the affected
area.
Drainage of pus from the area. Often the
pus is yellowish or greenish.
Fever.
Diarrhea, fatigue, muscle aches.
 How does infection spread?
Through water, soil, food, or air, contact with an infected
persons blood, skin, or mucus, through sexual contact or
insect bites.
Infection: Types

Bacterial, Viral, Fungal, Nosocomial,

and Parasites
 Bacterial
Cholera and typhoid fever (contaminated water)
Botulism, E coli (food poisoning), Salmonella (food poisoning)
(contaminated food)
Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia (sexual contact)
Tuberulosis (air-borne via infected person)
Anthrax, Cat Scratch Fever (animal contact)
Strep Throat (touching infected people)
UTI (intestinal E coli gets into urinary tract)
 Viral
Shingles
Chickenpox Viral Meningitis
Viral Pneumonia
Influenza

Ebola
Polio
Herpes

Rabies
Warts

HIV/AIDS Hepatitis

HPV
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
 Fungal
Athletes Foot
Ringworm
Yeast Infection
Thrush
 Nosocomial
UTI (most common)
Surgical Site
Bloodstream
Pneumonia
 Parasites
Naegleria brain-eating amoeba
African Sleeping Sickness
Guinea Worms
Lymphatic Filariasis
Onchocerciasis
Ascariasis
Boyt Fly
Tapeworm
Diagnosis and Prevention of Infections
 Prevention = key!
Infectious agents can enter the body in many ways

Skin contact/injuries Example: staph entering an open wound

after using gym equipment
Inhalation of airborne germs
Ingestion of contaminated food or water Example: E. coli,
salmonella
Tick/mosquito bites example: Lyme disease, West Nile Virus
Sexual contact HIV/other STDs
 WASH YOUR HANDS!
This is the easiest method of preventing infection

Wash hands before preparing food to prevent contamination of

the food
Wash hands after preparing food to prevent contamination of
other objects after touching raw meats, poultry, eggs, etc.
Wash hands after using restroom
Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands!
 GET VACCINATED!
A plethora of vaccinations can help prevent many
infections
Meningitis vaccine
TDaP
Varicella (chicken pox)

Getting vaccinated prevents the transmission of all of these

infections
Ex: with the polio vaccine, Polio has become a contained disease
 DONT SPREAD!
Stay in your home if you have a fever or are vomiting!
More and more jobs are demanding that people work even if
they are sick
This causes higher chances of spreading infections
Healthcare workers especially! Putting patients and co-
workers at risk
Do not send children to school unvaccinated (schools
require most vaccines before entry into kindergarten)
 PREPARE FOOD SAFELY!
Clean counters/other kitchen surfaces clean before handling food
Cook foods to the proper temperature! Use food thermometer to
check!
Ground meats = at least 160 F
Poultry = 165 F
Most other meats = 145 F
Refrigerate leftovers immediately
Do not leave food at room temp. for extended periods of time
 Practice Safe Sex!
Condoms!
Dont have intercourse with people who have infections
Always ask
 DONT SHARE PERSONAL ITEMS!
Toothbrushes can spread thrush, other oral infections
Dont drink out of same glass!
Dont share brushes, combs, razors could possibly
spread skin infections like poison ivy
**AT THE GYM:**
-Wipe down machinery before and after use with cleaning
solution
-Wear sandals in the locker room and shower
-Do not share towels!
 TRAVEL WISELY!
-If going out of the country, ask your doctor about any
vaccinations you may need prior to departure
Do not wait if you feel symptomatic after returning from a
tripSEE A DOCTOR/GO TO HOSPITAL!
 DIAGNOSING INFECTIONS
Many laboratory tests
Imaging scans
Biopsies
 LAB TESTS
- Blood tests! A CBC can show elevated leukocyte levels,
which could be a sign of infection
- Urine sample! Can show if you have a UTI
- Throat swabs! Can detect strep/pharyngitis
- Stool sample Can show presence of parasites
- Spinal tap a sample of Cerebrospinal fluid can show if
you have meningitis
 Imaging Scans
X-rays
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Computerized Tomography (CT)

These are mainly used to rule out other complications

that may be causing the symptoms
 Biopsies
Tiny samples of tissue taken from an internal organ to
diagnose an infection
Example a biopsy of lung tissue can be checked for a
variety of fungi that can cause pneumonia
Complications and Treatments of Infections
 Bacterial Infection
Staph Infections are caused by Staphylococcus bacteria
Commonly found on the skin or in the nose
Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problem or result in minor
skin infections
Can turn deadly if it invades deeper into the body
Bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs, or heart

May affect the entire body if staph invades the bloodstream (Sepsis)
It may lead to septic shock- a life threatening episode of severe blood
pressure drop, which may lead to death
 Staph Infection Treatment
Antibiotics
Doctor will identify the type of staph infection when deciding which antibiotic to use (e.g.,
cephalosporin, vancomycin)
Vancomycin increasingly is required to treat serious staph infections due to many strains
becoming resistant to other medications

Wound drainage
If there is a skin infection, the doctor will likely make an incision into the sore to
drain fluid that has collected
 Bacterial Infection
C. difficile or C. diff infections are caused by Clostridium Difficile
Most commonly affects adults after use of antibiotic medication
Can cause symptoms of diarrhea or life-threatening
inflammation of the colon which can lead to :
Dehydration, d/t lose of fluids and electrolytes
Kidney failure, d/t dehydration occurring quickly that kidney function
deteriorates
Toxic megacolon, colon incapable of expelling gas and stool; colon can
rupture, causing bacteria to enter abdominal cavity
Death, even mild to moderate infections can quickly progress to a fatal
disease if not treated promptly
 C. Difficile Treatment
The first step is to stop taking the antibiotic that triggered the infection
Another antibiotic is chosen to inhibit the growth of C. diff, which treats
diarrhea and other complications (e.g., Flagyl, Vancomycin, Dificid)
Surgery maybe needed for severe pain, organ failure, or inflammation of the
lining of the abdominal wall; removal of the diseased portion of the colon may
be the only option
Fecal Microbiota transplant (Stool Transplant), restores healthy intestinal
bacteria by placing another persons stool in the colon
Probiotics help restore a healthy balance to the intestinal tract, prevents
recurrent C. Difficile infections
 Influenza Viral Infection
attacks the respiratory system
Tends to come on suddenly
Nose, throat, and lungs
Pneumonia
Dehydration
Ear infections
Sinus infections
Can worsen chronic conditions
Heart failure
Asthma
Diabetes
Influenza Treatment

Usually, just bed rest and fluids

Medications may shorten the flu symptoms
Tamiflu, PO
Relenza, Inhaled
Amantadine
Rimantadine
 Human Immunodeficiency Virus and
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Potentially life-threatening condition affecting the immune systems ability to
fight other organisms that cause disease
Common Infections:
Tuberculosis
Cytomegalovirus
Candidiasis
Cryptococcal meningitis
Toxoplasmosis
Cryptosporidiosis
 Common Cancers:
Kaposis Sarcoma, tumor of the blood vessel walls
Lymphomas, affect the lymph nodes and WBCs

Other Complications:
Wasting syndrome, loss of body weight accompanied by diarrhea, chronic weakness
and fever
Neurological conditions, confusion, forgetfulness, depression, anxiety, difficulty
walking
Kidney disease
 HIV/AIDS Treatments
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS
Drugs inhibit new copies of the virus by blocking essential proteins needed
for reproduction
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Nucleoside
Protease inhibitors
Entry or fusion inhibitors
Integrase inhibitors
 References:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/staph-infec
tions/basics/definition/con-20031418
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/c-difficile/
basics/definition/con-20029664
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/basics
/treatment/con-20035101
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/ba
sics/definition/con-20013732