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Patterns of Microbe-Human Interactions in Causing Infection and Disease
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Contact, Infection, Disease- A Continuum ◦ Body surfaces are constantly exposed to microbes ◦ Inevitably leads to infection: pathogenic microorganisms penetrate the host defenses, enter the tissues, and multiply ◦ Pathologic state that results when the infection damages or disrupts tissues and organs- disease ◦ Infectious disease: the disruption of a tissue or organ caused by microbes or their products
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Infection is the invasion of the host by a pathogen Disease results only if the invading pathogen alters the normal functions of the body Disease is also referred to as morbidity
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Diseases can be classified in number of ways ◦ The taxonomic groups of the causative agent ◦ The body system they affect ◦ Their longevity and severity ◦ How they are spread to their host ◦ The effects they have on populations (rather than on individuals)
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The study of epidemics. The study of distribution and prevalence of infectious disease in a given population. The study of comparisons of baseline infections to cases. Interested in protecting the public from outbreaks of infection.
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Epidemiologists concerned with virulence, portals of entry and exit, and the course of the disease Also interested in surveillance: collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on the rates of occurrence, mortality, morbidity, and transmission of infections Reportable diseases: by law, must be reported to authorities Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia – Weekly notice: the Morbidity and Mortality Report – Shares statistics with the World Health Organization (WHO)
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All outbreaks follow a pattern. If we can understand the pattern, then we can intervene to prevent further cases.
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Short term increase in a given infectious disease in a give population.
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Presence of infectious disease in a given population or in a given geographical location all the time. Ebola in Africa Lyme disease in Texas Rabies in Austin (bats)
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Worldwide or global increase in an infectious disease over a long period of time. HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis
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Figure 13.16
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Morbidity – number of cases of specific infectious disease in a give population at any given time. Mortality – number of deaths from a specific infectious disease in a given population at any given time.
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Prevalence – number of cases at any give time (people are either getting better or becoming infected.) Incidence – number of new cases of a specific infectious disease. This is important because it can tell us how fast the disease is spreading.
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◦ Track occurrence of diseases using two measures Incidence – number of new cases of a disease in a given area during a given period of time Prevalence – number of total cases of a disease in a given area during a given period of time ◦ Occurrence also evaluated in terms of frequency and geographic distribution
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[INSERT FIGURE 14.17]
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◦ Exceptions to Koch’s postulates Using Koch’s postulates is not feasible in all cases Some pathogens can’t be cultured in the laboratory Some diseases are caused by a combination of pathogens and other cofactors Ethical considerations prevent applying Koch’s postulates to pathogens that require a human host Difficulties in satisfying Koch’s postulates Diseases that can be caused by more than one pathogen Pathogens that are ignored as potential causes of disease
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Epidemiologists work to figure out what is going on so they can intervene. Every infectious disease has a pattern (not random.) Epidemiologists want to know: Place People Time
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◦ Following infection, a sequence of events called the disease process occurs ◦ Many infectious diseases have five stages following infection Incubation period Prodromal period Illness Decline Convalescence
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Exposure – Preclinical symptoms – before you go to the doctor. You may not realize that you have an infectious agent, but your body has begun to have immune response. A preclinical symptom can be any cytopathic effect. Clinical symptoms – symptoms that can be appreciated. In TB clinical symptoms could include: cough, blood in phlegm, fever, night sweats. Incubation period – spans from exposure to the time when clinical symptoms are detected. Intervention – this is period when people seek medical attention. Options during intervention include: quarantine and medicate individuals that were exposed or vaccination. Outcome – possible outcomes: Get better (convalesce) Death Impairments (mental and physical)
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◦ Descriptive epidemiology Careful tabulation of data concerning a disease Record information about the location and time of the cases of disease Collect patient information Try to identify the index case (or first case) of the disease
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◦ Analytical epidemiology Seeks to determine the probable cause, mode of transmission, and methods of prevention Useful in situations in which Koch’s postulates can’t be applied Often retrospective – investigation occurs after an outbreak has occurred
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◦ Experimental epidemiology Involves testing a hypothesis concerning the cause of a disease Application of Koch’s postulates is experimental epidemiology
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Transmission is either from a reservoir or a portal of exit to another host’s portal of entry Three groups of transmission ◦ Contact transmission Direct, indirect, or droplet ◦ Vehicle transmission Airborne, waterborne, or foodborne ◦ Vector transmission Biological or mechanical
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Pathogens leave host through portals of exit Many portals of exit are the same as portals of entry Pathogens often leave hosts in materials the body secretes or excretes
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Communicable disease: when an infected host can transmit the infectious agent to another host and establish infection in that host – Transmission can be direct or indirect – Contagious agent: highly communicable Noncommunicable disease: does not arise through transmission of the infectious agent from host to host – Acquired through some other, special circumstance – Compromised person invaded by his or her own microbiota – Individual has accidental contact with a microbe in a nonliving reservoir
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Contact transmission Indirect transmission – Vehicle: any inanimate material commonly used by humans that can transmit infectious agents (food, water, biological products, fomites) – Contaminated objects (doorknobs, telephones, etc.) Food poisoning Oral-fecal route – Air as a vehicle Indoor air Droplet nuclei Aerosols
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[INSERT FIGURE 14.13]
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Reservoir: the primary habitat in the natural world from which a pathogen originates Source: the individual or object from which an infection is actually acquired Living Reservoirs – Carrier: an individual who inconspicuously shelters a pathogen and spreads ith to others without any notice Asymptomatic carriers Incubation carriers Convalescent carriers Chronic carrier Passive carrier
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Vector: a live animal that transmits an infectious agent from one host to another ◦ Majority are arthropods ◦ Larger animals can also be vectors Biological vector: actively participates in a pathogen’s life cycle Mechanical vectors: transport the infectious agent without being infected
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[INSERT TABLE 14.10]
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Zoonosis: an infection indigenous to animals but naturally transmissible to humans ◦ Human does not contribute to the persistence of the microbe ◦ Can have multihost involvement ◦ At least 150 worldwide
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Human hosts in regular contact with environmental sources Soil Water
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