PATHOGENESIS OF

INFECTIOUS DISEASES
THE ANGELITE PRAYER

Almighty God, we glorify you for giving us the

Angelite Charism. We thank you for the gift of your
Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Way, Truth, and Life.
We bless you for the continuous guidance of the
Holy Spirit.

Grant us, we pray, courage and strength that we

may give perpetual praise to you in whatever we
do. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Oh, Holy Guardian Angels, guide us and protect us!

Laus Deo semper!
Core Value

CHRIST CENTEREDNESS
PATHOGENESIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

THINK ABOUT THESE

• How can we describe the relationship among the human host,
the infectious agent, and the external environment?

• How is understanding the steps or mechanisms involved in

the development of disease be reflected in your life centered
in Christ?
Definition of Terms

Pathology
Pathogenicity
• Study of structural and functional
manifestations of a disease • Ability to cause disease

Pathologist Infection
• A physician who specializes in pathology • Colonization of pathogen

Pathogen or Infectious agent

Infectious disease
• A biological agent that causes disease or
illness to its host • Disease caused by a pathogen
Factors the prevent infection

Anatomic site where Indigenous

Attachment to
it is unable to Antibacterial factors microflora (microbial
specific receptor
multiply antagonism)

Nutritional and Phagocytic white

Immunity
overall health status blood cells
Case 1

On Monday, Patient A has had contact with Patient B who, at t

hat time, has stuffy nose. The next day (Tuesday), Patient A fee
ls something weird with himself, but is not sure what it is. He s
imply says, “there’s something wrong with me”. Thursday morn
ing, he (Patient A) woke up with headache, runny nose, and dr
y cough. He felt that his breathing has become heavy, making
him feel easily tired.

Later that afternoon, he felt warm and after checking his temp
erature, he found out he has fever. The next day (Friday), he w
ent to the clinic to get tested. Lo and behold, he tested positiv
e with COVID-19. He was advised rest, some medicines, and h
ome isolation. Two (2) weeks after his home isolation, he went
back to the clinic and reported that he is no longer experienci
ng his symptoms.
Periods or phases in the course of an
infectious disease

Incubation Prodromal Period of Convalescent

period period illness period
Definition of Terms

 Localized infection
 Contained to one site of the body
 e.g. Conjunctivitis, Pharyngitis, boils, pimples, a
bscess

 Systemic/Generalized infection
 Infections that spread throughout the body
 Via lymph or blood
 e.g. Tertiary Syphilis, Tuberculosis
 Definition of Terms
• Acute disease
– Rapid onset; Rapid recovery
– e.g. Measles, Influenza, Mumps

• Chronic disease
– Insidious/slow onset; Lasts a long time
– e.g. TB, Leprosy (Hansen disease), Syphilis

• Subacute disease
– Sudden onset, then develops to a long-lasting disease
– “In between”
– e.g., subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE)
Case 2

You were the nurse when Patient B first came

to the clinic. During the history taking, he me
ntioned that he experienced headaches, diffic
ulty of breathing, itchiness of throat, and feeli
ng very warm.

After assessment you found out that his respi

ration is 27 cycles per minute, the back of thi
s throat is swelling, and has a body temperat
ure of 39 C.
Definition of Terms

• Signs of a disease
 objective evidences of a disease
 can be observed and measured
 using I.P.P.A
 e.g. Redness, Swelling, abnormal heart or breath sound
s, pulse rate, and Lab results, X-rays, CT scan

• Symptoms of a disease
 subjective evidences of a disease
 perceived/experienced by the patient
 cannot be measured by the nurse or physician
 e.g.: Pain, Itch, Dizziness, Nausea, tinnitus, blurred vision
Definition of Terms

 types of diseases according to symptoms:

 Symptomatic / Clinical Disease
○ disease in which the patient is experiencing symptoms

 Asymptomatic / Subclinical Disease

○ disease in which the patient is NOT experiencing symp
toms
○ patient is often unaware
○ e.g. Polio, Hepatitis A or B, HIV infection
Definition of Terms

• Latent Stage of infection

 Periods of inactivity either before signs and symptoms appear
or in between attacks

• Latent Infection/Disease
 MO becomes active producing signs & symptoms of a disease
after remaining inactive for a time
 Symptomatic >> Asymptomatic >> Symptomatic

 e.g. Chickenpox, Herpes, Syphilis

syphilis
Definition of Terms

Stages of Syphilis
Definition of Terms

Symptomatic (Chicken pox) Skin Rashes

Fever

Asymptomatic (Latent stage) No symptoms

SHINGLES
Symptomatic (Latent infection/disease)
rashes
pain
Definition of Terms

• Shingles - latent infection

Case 3

• Patient C experienced flu-like symptoms

cough and colds. It was found out that h
e has a mild viral respiratory infection.
Then, however, he developed bacterial
pneumonia.
• Which condition is the primary infection?
Which is the secondary infection?
• How did that happen?
Definition of Terms

• Primary infection
 1st or original infection
 initial illness

• Secondary infection
 2nd infection after the first infection
 infection on a person with weak or lowered resi
stance
• opportunistic pathogens
 e.g. AIDS
Steps in the pathogenesis of infectious
diseases:

1.Entry
–Portals of entry:
• Skin or Mucous membrane
• Inoculation by arthropod
• GIT
• GUT
• Respiratory tract
• Blood
• Placenta
Steps in the pathogenesis of infectious dise
ases:

1.Entry
– Modes of entry:
• Contact Transmission
– Direct contact
» Sexual contact
– Indirect contact
» Transfusion & needle prick
– Droplet (as a result of coughing, sneezing, and talking)
• Vehicular Transmission
– Ingestion (into the GIT)
– Inhalation (into the RT)
• Inoculation/penetration by arthropod
Steps in the pathogenesis of infectious dise
ases:

2.Attachment of the pathogen to some tissue(s) within

the body.

3.Multiplication
 Localized (e.g., abscess), or systemic

4.Invasion or spread of the pathogen

5.Evasion of host defenses

6.Damage to host tissues(s) may be so extensive as to

cause the death of the patient.
VIRULENCE

- ability of an organism to infect the host and

cause a disease

• Degree or measure of pathogenicity

 Pathogenic (Virulent)

 Non-pathogenic (Avirulent)

 * Virulent strains of a microbe are capable of ca

using disease, whereas avirulent strains are not.
VIRULENCE FACTORS

• Attributes that enable the pathogen to attach, escape destruction,

and cause disease
• Sometimes referred to as colonization factors.

Attachment Facultative
Obligate intracellular
•Receptors and Adhesins intracellular Capsules
pathogens
•Bacterial fimbriae pathogens

Toxins

Flagella Exoenzymes •Endotoxin

•Exotoxin
VIRULENCE FACTORS

INFECTION
P P P P

H H H H
VIRULENCE FACTORS

NO INFECTION

P P P P

H H H H
Exoenzymes

Necrotizing
Coagulase Kinases Hyaluronidase
enzymes

Collagenase Hemolysin Lecithinase

VIRULENCE FACTORS

 TOXINS
 Endotoxin
○ Released from & integral parts of cell walls of
Gram (–) bacteria
○ Septicemia (sepsis) is a very serious disease consis
ting of chills, fever, prostration (extreme exhaustio
n), and the presence of bacteria and their toxins
in the bloodstream. Caused by Gram-negative
bacteria, referred to as Gram-negative sepsis
○ Can cause serious adverse physiologic effects like
fever by (pyrogens) and shock (Septic Shock)
VIRULENCE FACTORS
– Exotoxins
• Poisonous proteins within cells then secreted

Neurotoxins Enterotoxins Cytotoxins

Exfoliative Erythrogenic Diphtheria

toxins toxin toxin
Mechanisms By Which Pathogens Escape
Immune Responses:

• Antigenic variations
 Pathogens periodically change their surface
antigens/adhesins
• Camouflage and molecular mimicry
 Pathogens will conceal/“coat” themselves wit
h host proteins
 Molecular mimicry
• Destruction of antibodies
 pathogens are capable of destroying the ant
ibodies of the host cell
Thank you!