INFECTIOUS DISEASES

ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS

RAD TECH 323 – RADIOLOGIC PATHOLOGY

 INFECTION
• a. Invasion by and multiplication of
pathogenic microorganisms in a bodily
part or tissue, which may produce
subsequent tissue injury and progress
to overt disease through a variety of
cellular or toxic mechanisms.
• b. The pathological state resulting from
having been infected.
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 Definitions
• Pathogenicity and Virulence
– Pathogenicity
• The ability of a microbe to cause disease
• This term is often used to describe or compare
species
– Virulence
• The degree of pathogenicity in a microorganism
• This term is often used to describe or compare
strains within a species
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 Virulence
• Virulence: degree of pathogenicity of specific
microbe
– Based on:
• Invasive qualities
• Toxic qualities
• Presence of pili or fimbriae for adhesion
• Ability to avoid host defenses (mutate)

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 Definitions
• Pathogenicity and Virulence
– Invasiveness
• The ability of a microbe to enter the tissues
– Specificity
• Attraction of a certain microbe to a particular
host
• Ex: Helminth (Parasitic worms) needs blood to
survive so the host should have blood supply

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 Principles of Infection
• Understanding the basic principles
of infection is essential for any
health care worker in any field of
health care.
1. Disease transmission
2. Prevention of disease
transmission
Nature of Microorganisms
• Microorganisms (microbes) are small,
living organisms that are not visible to the
naked eye.
• Pathogens (germs) are microorganisms
that cause disease.
• Non-pathogens are microorganisms that
do not cause disease; can be beneficial.
PATHOGENS
A harmful invasion and spread of foreign species, or
pathogen, in a host.
– VIRUS (affects either RNA/DNA)
• Small pox, measles, influenza, Ebola
– PRIONS (present in the brain cells)
• Mad Cow’s disease (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)
– BACTERIA:
• Tuberculosis, pneumonia, salmonella, anthrax
– FUNGUS (two forms: Yeast & mold)
• Athlete’s foot, ring worm
– Parasites: (types: Protozoa & Helminths)
• Malaria, toxoplasmosis, Algae,
• Trichinosis
 Source of Infections
• Endogenous
infection
•Exogenous
infections
 Source of Infection
• Humans from patient or carrier
• A healthy carrier
• Convalescent carrier
• Temporary carrier
• Contact carrier
• Paradoxical carrier
 Source of Infections
• Animals
• Mechanical vector
• Biological vector
• Soil and water
• Food
SOURCES FOR INFECTION

• Hands:
common
• Nosocomial:
Hospital-
acquired
• Iatrogenic:
During medical
treatment
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SOURCES FOR INFECTION

• Opportunistic:
takes
advantage of a
person’s weak
state

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 MODES OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
TRANSMISSION

• Direct
Transmission
• Indirect
Transmission

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 Modes of Transmission
Direct Indirect transmission
transmission
Direct contact
Airborne

Droplet spread Vehicle borne

Vector borne
 Transmission of Pathogens

•Direct contact

•Indirect contacts
•Air
•Objects

•Vectors
 DIRECT TRANSMISSION
• Immediate transfer of the disease agent by direct
contact between the infected and the susceptible
individuals
• Occurs through such acts as touching, biting,
kissing, sexual intercourse, or by direct projection
(droplet spread) by coughing or sneezing within a
distance of one meter
• Examples of diseases for which transmission is
usually direct are AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, and
the common cold

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 INDIRECT TRANSMISSION
• May be one of three types: air-borne, vehicle-borne, or
vector-borne
• Air-borne transmission -- transmission of microbial
aerosols to a suitable port of entry, usually the respiratory
tract
– Microbial aerosols are suspensions of dust or droplet
nuclei made up wholly or in part by microorganisms --
may be suspended and infective for long periods of
time
– Examples of air-borne diseases include tuberculosis,
influenza, Histoplasmosis, and Legionellosis 19
 INDIRECT TRANSMISSION (cont’d.)
• Vehicle-borne transmission -- contaminated
materials or objects (fomites) serve as vehicles,
nonliving objects by which communicable agents
are transferred to a susceptible host
– The agent may or may not have multiplied or
developed on the vehicle
– Examples of vehicles include toys,
handkerchiefs, soiled clothes, bedding, food
service utensils, and surgical instruments
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INDIRECT TRANSMISSION (cont’d.)
• Also considered vehicles are water, milk, food
(e.g., common vehicles), or biological products
such as blood, serum, plasma, organs and
tissues
• Almost any disease can be transmitted by
vehicles, including those for which the primary
mode of transmission is direct, such as
dysentery and hepatitis
 Signs & Symptoms of Infection
• Redness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Warmth
• Drainage
• Red streaks leading away from
wound

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 Development of Infection:
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
• Local signs
– Inflammation
– Purulent exudate if bacterial infection; serous
exudate if viral
– Tissue necrosis
– Lymphadenopathy
– Respiratory effects
• Systemic signs
– Fever, fatigue, headache, nausea

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Generalized Stages of Infection
1. Entry of Pathogen
– Portal of Entry
2. Colonization
– Usually at the site of entry
3. Incubation Period
– Asymptomatic period
– Between the initial contact with the microbe
and the appearance of the first symptoms
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 Generalized Stages of Infection

4. Prodromal period
- Initial Symptoms
4. Invasive period
– Increasing Severity of Symptoms
– Fever
– Inflammation and Swelling
– Tissue Damage
– Infection May Spread to Other Sites

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 Factors predisposing pathogenicity

• Pathogenicity means
ability of the
microbe to produce
disease or tissue
injury
• Virulence
• May undergo
variation
 Hospital acquired infections
• Infection which was
neither present nor
incubating at the time
of admission
• Includes infection which
only becomes apparent
after discharge from
hospital but which was
acquired during
hospitalisation (Rcn,
1995)
• Also called nosocomial
infection
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Basic steps in Prevention of Infection
• There are possible
treatment and
prevention to stop
the infection cycle.
This is through
adequate hygiene,
sanitary
environment
maintenance and
health education.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 29
INSPITE OF MANY ADVANCES THERE IS NO STEP GREATER
THAN HAND WASHING IN CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASES