Response to infections
The body responds differently to an infection, depending on whether it is a virus or a bacterial infection. Generally, viruses are considered to be more dangerous, but aside from generalities, there are also pathophysiological differences in the ways in which both viruses and bacteria (invasive organisms) infect human beings (hosts). When a virus is the agent that is infecting the host, the goal of the virus is to invade on a cellular level and replicate itself. “Once inside, the cells of the immune system cannot ‘see’ the virus and therefore do not know that the host cell is infected. To overcome this, cells employ a system that allows them to show other cells what is inside them” (Immune, 2015). The virus then uses the cell in order to make proteins and replicate itself, further compromising the immune system. The immune
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Instead of being recognized and attacked by T cells, bacteria are recognized and attacked by complement proteins. “Complement proteins assist in bacterial killing via three pathways, the classical complement pathway, the alternative complement pathway or the lectin pathway. The first steps of the classical complement pathway require the binding of antibodies to the surface of the target bacterium” (Immune, 2016). At this point, the antibodies are handled by protein complexes which bind to the surface of the invader (much the same as the process of T cells in viruses). In other words, the body goes through a similar reaction of identifying and then attempting to destroy the invader, including the formation of a membrane attack complex. “MAC can insert into the cell membrane of Gram-negative, but not Gram-positive, bacteria. There, it produces pores that allow the entry of membrane damaging molecules, such as lysozyme, and makes the bacterium susceptible to osmotic lysis” (Immune,
Imagine the bacteria as robbers trying to invade a house, the body in this analogy. The immune system is the police officers in charge of the house, and the meninges are the alarms around the point of the house that the robbers want to come in through. The robbers trick the police officers into helping them rob the house. The robbers used the police officers, originally intended to do good.
| UNIT 4222- 264 THE PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL | | | |
1. Explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection.
Although infection control is vital in patient care, another important safety measure includes using the best available products to the facility. The use of optimal catheter care products is important when providing the best care to the pediatric population. Antibiotic or ethanol locks provide a decreased risk of infection, as opposed to the traditional locks found in use in some facilities.
When a virus invades the human body there is an assortment of responses from the immune system relying largely on the particular pathogen type. Viruses invade the host with the purpose of replication to ensure survival. My cytosolic virus is a single stranded RNA virus. The virus is surrounded by an envelope with a lipid membrane. Inside the envelope are matrix proteins, integrase, protease, reverse transcriptase and the RNA genome. All viruses contain three proteins necessary for their survival; one for replication, one for packaging and delivering it to more host cells and a protein that modifies the function or structure of the host
According to me, the guidelines from CDC's Infection Control Manual is helpful for any village/city. The guidelines are clear and specific in each category. Taking help from Churches and Redcross was a good idea. Because people who work at these places are kind enough to bare the impatience of the horrified villagers.
Poor hand hygiene - spread of germs from one patient to another or spread for hands to surfaces.
Every year a familiar scene plays out in clinic waiting rooms, chairs filled with miserable patients waiting to see their physician with complaints of a never ending cough and a constant nasal drip. More than likely, these patients will receive a prescription for antibiotics, but should they? Most acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs), do not require an antibiotic, the symptoms will resolve themselves over time without antibiotic treatment. Healthcare experts and scientists have warned the public about the dangers of overusing antibiotics, and there are thousands of studies to support that fact, but no one is listening. Patients are convinced they need to have antibiotic treatment, and somehow their time is wasted if they leave empty
When this occurs, the body’s defence mechanisms are activated; seeing as the infection is already in the body, 3rd line defence mechanisms come into play. The 3rd line of defence is a specific resistance which forms an immune response and targets specific
Not Washing hands frequently especially after dealing with any bodily fluids. Staff not staying at home if they are sick. Use a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand. Turn away from other people. Open wounds not being covered especially on the hands. The incorrect use of PPE or the none use of PPE. Sharing personal items between each other. Incorrect food prep and storage.
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), including acute otitis media (AOM) are the most common cause of ambulatory physician visits and antimicrobial prescriptions in children1,2. The most common bacterial causes of URTI are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, though the majority of cases are caused by viral pathogens 3–10. Distinguishing between viral and bacterial URTI can be difficult. Reports on quality of antimicrobial prescriptions have shown a 30-50% of all out-patient prescriptions due to (upper) respiratory tract infections to be inappropriate2,10,11. In Europe the quality of prescription is higher in the north of the continent, including Iceland compared to in the south12. Conversely, many factors contribute to the overuse of antimicrobials2,13–15, which in turn results to increase in antimicrobial resistance16,17. Contributing factors cited by by physicians to cause over-prescription include uncertainty of diagnosis, fear of disease complications, lack of perception of harmful effects of antimicrobials, not perceiving their own prescription practices to be a problem, pressure by patients, limited time, fear of damaging doctor-patient relationship in addition to language, cultural and educational barriers2,13–15. Antimicrobials were long a mainstay treatment against AOM in fear of rare, but dangerous complications, which have later been found to be unfounded, asnd
I must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the PPE is returned, once worn to the appropriate location and that the items are not removed from the workplace.
However, everybody who has contact with the patient or the environment is entitled to relevant information that will enable them to reduce the risks of transmission to
If the immune system is unable to stop the infection, the bacterium will multiply and then spread to the bloodstream, after which the first signs of disease are observed in the form of fever. The bacterium penetrates further into the bone marrow, liver, and bile ducts, from which bacteria are excreted into the bowel movements. (Easmon 2003)
A virulent virus is more severe, the cell of the living host is completely taken over by the viral genome. Once inside the host cell, the viral genome replicates and kills the host cell upon exit. An example of this is HIV. HIV is a virus that presents immunodeficiency, the immune system being comprised results in a weakened ability to fight off infection. HIV is transmitted through blood and some bodily fluids (NHS 2014). The virion RNA integrates with the host DNA producing replications of the viral RNA, these replications form buds on the outer membrane of the host cell, these detach from the host cell and find new cells to infect, the host cell is eventually destroyed.