Workshop 5: MICROORGANISMS AS AGENTS OF DISEASE

Answer the following questions:

1. Describe three (3) portals of entry, and describe how microbes gain access through each.
Give an example of a microbe which enters through each portal.

2. Compare and contrast the endotoxins and exotoxins. You may use a Table. Included in your
answers:

a) the type of bacteria involved

b) sites of production
b) their chemical makeup, toxicity and action (outcome)

3. Explain the differences in the transmission between the following pairs. Airborne
transmission is a type of vehicle transmission. What are other types of vehicles for microbial
transmission?

a) Direct and indirect contact

b) Droplet and airborne transmission

4. Define the terms etiology, vector, reservoir and carrier. Explain the 3 main types of
reservoirs.

5. Describe the five stages of disease development.

Case study

Michael Robertson, aged 4, fell off the monkey bars at Kinder and hurt his wrist. His mother was
called to pick him up. She was worried that the wrist was broken and took him to the doctor’s
clinic. When they arrived, the doctor’s waiting room was full of people. While Michael’s mother
read Women’s Weekly, Michael and the other children played with the toys. Michael pointed out
to his Mum that many of the other children looked sick and were coughing and sneezing. He also
pointed out that some of the children had very bad manners and were not covering their mouth
with their hand. Michael went to the toilet and was disappointed to find there was no toilet paper
and soap.

The doctor examined Micheal’s arm and luckily it was not broken. He suggested that Michael’s
mum give him panadol for pain relief. He then offered Michael a jelly snake to cheer him up.
However, Michael’s mums bought him back to the clinic within a few days. Michael had a fever, a
cough, a runny nose and a sore throat. He was lethargic and did not want to eat or play. The doctor
suggested that Michael probably had a viral infection and so he should be given panadol to relieve
his symptoms. However, Michael’s mother was adamant that the doctor prescribe Michael
antibiotics. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for Michael for 5 days. He also suggested that Michael
should also take a probiotic. Michael did not enjoy taking his medication or the probiotic. It was a
struggle to get him to take it. However, after Michael took panadol and the antibiotics for 2 days, he
no longer had fever and he was playing and eating normally. Michael’s mother decided that she
would stop giving him his medication

1. Is it possible that Michael contracted the infection from visiting the doctor’s clinic? If so
explain how this may have occurred. In your explanation include who is the reservoir
and give examples of how transmission may have occurred.

2. What is the chain of transmission? What simple measure(s) may be able to help to break
the ‘chain of infection’?

3. In your opinion, should Michael have been prescribed antibiotics? Why or why not?

4. Why did the doctor suggest that Michael take a probiotic?