microbiology college network set 1
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
systematic infection
answer
infection spread via the blood or lymphatic system
question
focal infection
answer
infection spread from a specific locale
question
acute infection
answer
severe infection that begins abruptly
question
chronic infection
answer
infection that appears gradually and lasts for an extended period of time
question
subacute infection
answer
infection with intermediate duration and symptoms
question
primary infection
answer
infection caused by the organism that initiated the infection
question
secondary infection
answer
infection caused by a different organism than the one that established the original primary infection
question
subclinical, asymptomatic, or apparent infecti0n
answer
infection that , though present and growing, does not manifest symptoms
question
abscess
answer
discrete infection that blocks the entry of immune system cells
question
bacteremia
answer
bacteria in the blood
question
septicemia
answer
actively growing bacteria in the blood
question
viremia
answer
virus in the blood
question
leukocytosis
answer
increased number of white blood cells
question
leukopenia
answer
decreased number of white blood cells.
question
aciduric bacteria
answer
bacteria, that are resistant to acid. (helicobacter pylori)
question
antiseptics
answer
milder disinfectants that tend to be used on human flesh
question
aseptic
answer
with out contamination
question
autoclave
answer
essentially a large pressure cooker used to heat solutions beyond the boiling point for purposed of sanitization
question
bactericides
answer
disinfectants that show preferential killing of bacteria
question
bacteriostatic agents
answer
disinfectants that inhibit the growth of bacteria but do not kill
question
biocide
answer
a nonspecific disinfecting agent
question
cationic detergents
answer
disinfectants that kill microbes by dissolving membrane lipids
question
chemiclaves
answer
devices that use harsh chemicals such as ethylene oxide or gamma irradiation to achieve sterilization
question
disinfection
answer
a reduction in the number of viable microbial organisms in an area
question
flash pasteurization
answer
a process of pasteurization at 71.5 C for 15 seconds
question
fungicides
answer
disinfectants that show preferential killing for fungi
question
fungistatic agents
answer
disinfectants that inhibit growth of fungi but do not kill
question
halides
answer
a category containing, among other chemicals, iodine and chlorine, 2 bactericidal agents.
question
iatrogenic disease
answer
a disease induced in a patient by a physician, perhaps due to a failure to properly sterilize
question
incineration
answer
a method of sterilizing metal by burning it
question
nosocomial diseases
answer
diseases acquired in the hospital setting
question
pasteurization
answer
a process that heats foods, such as milk, to high enough temp to kill most vegetative cells; usually achieved by 30 minutes at 63 c.
question
phenol
answer
a chemical that has been used in diluted forms to cleanse hands before surgery, called the gold standard of infection
question
phenol coefficient
answer
the effectiveness of a disinfectant agent divided by the effectiveness of phenol; a measure used to describe the effectiveness of a given disinfectant.
question
phenolics
answer
milder derivatives of phenol
question
resident organisms
answer
organisms at their normal site of growth or niche
question
sanitize
answer
to treat something in such a way as to reduce mircrobes to a safe level
question
sterilization
answer
a way of killing all microbial life on an object
question
transient organisms
answer
organisms that are not at their normal site of growth or niche
question
ultrafiltration
answer
filtration for microbes using a filter with pore sizes smaller than the smallest bacterium
question
ultrapasteurization
answer
a process of pasteurization at 82 c for 3 seconds
question
virucides
answer
disinfectants that show preferential killing for viruses
question
aminoglycosides
answer
antibiotics that cause bacteria to incorrectly read codons
question
ampicillin
answer
a broad range derivative of pcn whose modification allows it to penetrate the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria and kill them
question
antibiotic susceptibility
answer
the extent to which an organism is susceptible or resistant to the various antibiotics
question
antibiotics
answer
chemical agents safe for use internally for pt care
question
b-lactam
answer
a 4 membered ring structure in pcns that is crucial to their activity
question
broad spectrum antibiotics
answer
antibiotics that can inhibit most all organisms
question
chemotherapeutic agents
answer
various chemicals that can be used broadly to kill infectious agents; most commonly associated with agents used for the tx of cancer today
question
chloramphenicol
answer
antibacteria that inhibit the formation of peptide bonds
question
ciprofloxacin
answer
a kind of polymixin that is tolerated quite well by human membranes and, therefore, used internally and extensively
question
epsilometer test
answer
a type of antibiotic resistance assay, also called the E-test, that allows one to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotics being tested. This test is quantitative rather than qualitative and is widely accepted for susceptibility profiling or clinical bacterial and fungal isolates.
question
erythromycin
answer
antibacterials that inhibit movement of the peptidyl-tRNA to prevent addition of more amino acids.
question
kirby-bauer test
answer
a major test of antibiotic susceptibility in organisms
question
minimum effective therapeutic dose
answer
the most dilute concentration of antibiotic required to inhibit bacteria growth in a specific pt.
question
minimum inhibitory concentration
answer
the most dilute concentration that inhibits bacterial growth in a tube dilution test
question
narrow spectrum
answer
antibiotics that inhibit only a specific type of bacteria, such as pcn, which inhibits only gram + bacteria
question
polymyxin
answer
antibiotics that interfere with membrane transport and are used against gram - organisms; usually used topically because of toxicity to human membranes.
question
quinolines
answer
antibiotics that act against bacterial dna synthesis
question
rifampin
answer
an antibiotic that inhibits bacterial rna synthesis
question
selection
answer
in this context, the process wherein mutant bacteria survive and grow in spite of antibiotics and, thus, are considered \"selected\" to survive.
question
selective toxicity
answer
a theoretical ideal for drugs wherein they have 100% lethality for microbes without any ill effects on human pts.
question
sulfa
answer
drugs that inhibit the synthesis of the vitamin folic acid from paraaminbenzoic acid
question
tetracyclines
answer
antibacterials that inhibit tRNA binding
question
therapeutic index
answer
the lowest toxic dose of an antibiotic divided by the minimum effective therapeutic dose; tells us the range of dosage we can use in the human body.
question
tube dilution test
answer
a test in which the antibiotic is serially diluted into several tubes of bacteria to determine how little antibiotic is required to stop bacterial growth.
question
zone of inhibition
answer
the area of dead or growth inhibited organisms left by an antibiotic in a kirby-bauer test of antibiotic susceptibility.
question
abscesses
answer
walled off, discrete infections to which the cells of immune system cannot gain entry
question
aerosols
answer
droplets produced by coughing or sneezing; a common mode of microbe transmission
question
avirulent microbes
answer
microbes that do not cause disease
question
chronic carrier
answer
a person who sheds a given microbe during its latent state and can, therefore, spread the disease though he is asymptomatic
question
clinical disease
answer
a disease with visible symptoms
question
communicable disease
answer
diseases whose agents can by passed from 1 host to another
question
contagious disease
answer
a highly communicable disease
question
endemic
answer
an adjective describing diseases that take place within a specific locale
question
endotoxins
answer
an integral part of the microbe that is a common virulence factor
question
epidemic
answer
an outbreak of a disease in a restricted area such as a city or state
question
epidemiology
answer
the practice of identifying new organisms and their modes of spread
question
exoenzymes
answer
enzymes secreted by organisms
question
exotoxins
answer
a toxin secreted from the microbe and a common virulence factor
question
extracellular pathogen
answer
a pathogen that survives in humans by characteristic virulence factors that allow it to evade phagocytic cells that would otherwise destroy it.
question
fecal-oral route
answer
a route of transmission caused by bacteria moving from fecal matter to a host's mouth; for instance, this may occur if a restaurant worker fails to wash his hands after using the restroom.
question
fomite
answer
an inanimate object through which an infection spreads
question
hemolysins
answer
toxins or enzymes that cause RBCs to lyse and release their contents, which then become available to the pathogen as nutrient sources
question
horizontal transmission
answer
transmission of a disease from 1 individual to another
question
infection control committee
answer
committees at local hospitals responsible for identifying and controlling the spread of outbreaks as rapidly as possible
question
infection control nurse
answer
a nurse responsible for identifying and controlling the spread of outbreaks as rapidly as possible
question
infectious dose
answer
refers to how many organisms are required, on average, to establish an infection
question
intracellular pathogen
answer
a pathogen that has developed virulence factors that allow it to survive even inside of phagocytic cells
question
latency
answer
the extent to which a disease appears to subside when, in fact, the pt continues to host the microbes in a dormant state.
question
latent state
answer
a phase during which symptoms of a disease subside and the pt is apparently well, but somewhere in the body the microbes carry on in a dormant state
question
pandemic
answer
a disease that spreads over the entire world
question
portal of entry
answer
the site where pathogens gain access to tissue that can be infected
question
sequelae
answer
diseases that seem to completely mend but have specific aftermaths or follow up problems later
question
vertical transmission
answer
transmission of a disease from parent to progeny
question
virulence factors
answer
the microbial chemical factors that are required for or important to establishing disease
question
acquired immunity
answer
involves induction of a specific immune response that is remembered, which provides for long term immunity
question
alternative pathway
answer
a pathway of the complement system beginning with C3 that is believed to be very important in preventing infections before antibody production has time to occur.
question
alveolar macrophages
answer
leukocytes, or WBCs, in the lungs
question
basophils
answer
the principle nonphagocytic cells of the innate immunity ( along with eosinophils)
question
chemotactic factors
answer
factors created by the classical pathway that recruit (or attract) phagocytic cells to the site of infection
question
ciliated epithelial cells
answer
natural barriers to infection that sweep the mucous layer toward bodily orifices
question
classical pathway
answer
the 1st component, C1, binds to bacterial-bound antibodies and becomes activated so that it causes binding and activation of other components: C4, C2, C3, and C5 (in that order).
question
complement
answer
a special set of proteins that circulates through out the body and binds to bacteria
question
complement cascade
answer
a process in which complement circulates throughout the body and binds to bacteria, called as such because the proteins act in a sequential order.
question
cytokines
answer
small chemicals secreted by 1 cell as a form of communication or signaling to other cells
question
diapedesis
answer
phagocytes' process of exiting the blood stream and squeezing between vascular endothelial cells
question
eosinophils
answer
the principal nonphagocytic cells of innate immunity (along with basophils)
question
immunity
answer
human or animal systems of defense to fight off infection
question
innate immunity
answer
a type of immunity that includes the physical barriers (intact skin and mucous membranes), biological barriers (skin secretions and other related products) and chemical barriers (complement, inflammation, and fever).
question
interferons
answer
small proteins released by infected macrophages, fibroblasts, and t cells to alert neighboring cells
question
iron binding proteins
answer
proteins that sequester iron to prevent adequate nutritional availability for microbes
question
leukocytes
answer
white blood cells
question
macrophages
answer
a type of WBC compromising about 8% of the average count, appearing in many tissues, such as lung, liver, and skin cells.
question
mast cells
answer
cells that are found in the tissues and appear to have identical functions to those of basophils
question
membrane attack complex
answer
a complex that forms a pore in the bacterial membrane, resulting in leakage, lysis, and death of the microbe
question
neutrophils
answer
cells whose nuclei stain with a natural dye
question
opsonin
answer
another name for C3b, which includes a specific receptor for phagocytic PMNs to bind and subsequently ingest opsonized particles
question
phagosome
answer
a membrane bag inside phagocytic cells
question
PMNs
answer
wbcs that function to engulf and digest foreign matter; they account for 55% of all the WBCs
question
reticlonedothelial system
answer
before the various kinds of phagocytic cells were characterized, the whole systems was called by this name.
question
active immunization
answer
also called active vaccination, the active prevention of diseases in a potential host; usually provides lifelong immunity
question
agglutination
answer
the process wherein antibody molecules crosslink bacteria or other microbes so that large aggregates of microbes can be formed.
question
allergens
answer
antigens that induce allergies
question
allergic
answer
when one is especially sensitive to specific antigens
question
anaphylactic hypersensitivity
answer
A type 1 hypersensitivity reaction where IgE molecules bound to basophils and mast cells bind allergens, which causes release of histamine and other potent active chemicals
question
anaphylactic shock
answer
a reaction to release histamine throughout the body wherein blood pressure can drop precipitously and death may occur within minutes
question
antibody (ab)
answer
proteins used by the body to identify and combat foreign objects and microbes
question
antigen presenting cell (apc)
answer
an accessory cell necessary for the creation and proliferation of memory cells.
question
antigens (ags)
answer
proteins or polysaccharides used to recognize foreign materials.
question
atopic
answer
a category of people with high levels of and IgE and several resultant allergies.
question
B lymphocyte
answer
antibody producing cell.
question
cell mediated immunity
answer
immunity conferred by white blood cells, especially T cells
question
clonal deletion
answer
a process wherein b and t cells are deleted because they recognize themselves as Ags early in a persons life.
question
complement fixation
answer
the binding of complement proteins
question
constant region
answer
the part of the antibody amino acid chain that does not change
question
cytotoxic T cells (Tc)
answer
T cells that express CD8 protein on the surface; cells kill virally infected cells and may cause tissue graft rejection.
question
degranulate
answer
a step in an allergic reaction wherein cells release histamine and other chemicals that cause allergic reactions
question
delayed hypersensitvity
answer
mediated by immune cells; cells must migrate from the blood stream to athe affected tissues before damage is observed, which requires 1 to 2 days to develop
question
epitope
answer
an amino acid recognized by antibodies
question
fragment antigen binding (fab)
answer
the portion of the antibody molecule's amino acid chain that contains the antigen binding sites.
question
globulin
answer
a globular, or roundish, protein in the shape of a ball
question
haptens
answer
small chemicals that fit into the antibody binding site
question
histamine
answer
a chemical involved in triggering allergic reactions
question
humoral immunity
answer
refers to antibodies that stay in the fluid part of the blood
question
immediate hypersensitivity
answer
called as such because the IgE antibodies are already bound before type I hypersensitivity occurs, so it occurs immediately.
question
immune complex diseases
answer
diseases that occur because complexes of antibodies and antigens are not digested well, get filtered through the kidney, and cause inflammation; the complexes also stick to blood vessels, which causes damage to host tissues when the complexes are ultimately destroyed
question
immunization
answer
the general process of increasing a specific type of the body's immune capability to a living or a inanimate antigen
question
immunogen
answer
a B-cell stimulating antigen
question
immunoglobulin
answer
antibody proteins that have been isolated from the blood.
question
inducibility
answer
a hallmark of acquired immunity, the extent to which content with foreign material stimulates immunity
question
intericukins
answer
a subset of cytokines made by leukocytes
question
lymphocytes
answer
a subset of leukocytes essential to acquired immunity and responsible for specifically recognizing foreign antigens
question
major histocompatibility complexq
answer
receptors that allow immune system cells to recognize each other in the body.
question
mediators
answer
chemicals, like histamine, released by cell granules and responsible for triggering allergic reactions
question
memory
answer
a hallmark of acquired immunity, the tendency that subsequent exposure to a given antigen will result in a faster and greater response to the identical foreign material
question
memory cells
answer
daughter cells created on the event of b cells binding with antigens; essentially identical to their parent cells.
question
monoclonal antibodies
answer
large populations of antibodies created from 1 clone or cell
question
nonself
answer
a classification for foreign antigens employed by immunologists
question
opsonization
answer
the process in which the Fe portion of the antibody changes configuration such that a specific receptor on the phagocytes binds them tightly.
question
passive immunization
answer
a type of immunization, but not vaccination, wherein specific antibodies are transferred from 1 individual to another suspected of recently having been exposed to the same microbe
question
perforin
answer
a toxic protein secreted by Tc cells that opens channels or holes in infected cells and kills them so that these cells discontinue production of microbes.
question
plasma cells
answer
daughter cells created on the event of B cells binding with antigens; cells start secreting antibodies of the same type that originally bound the antigen
question
polyclonal antibodies
answer
a population of antibodies descended from several B cells
question
precipitate
answer
In this context, small Ab-Ag complexes are placed in a centrifuge that spins rapidly to generate centrifugal forces (like a washing machine spinning out water) and precipitates the aggregates at the bottom of the tube.
question
secondary antibody
answer
an antibody that binds to human antibodies
question
self
answer
a classification for our own antigens employed by immunologists
question
sensitization
answer
the early exposures that lead to IgE binding to cells, causing sensitivity to a particular allergen to develop.
question
specificity
answer
immunity, stimulated by contact with foreign material, that recognizes only the stimulatory agent.
question
T cell receptor (TCR)
answer
a specific surface receptor on T lymphocytes that is used to recognize foreign antigens.
question
T helper cells
answer
a subset of t cells that recognizes specific antigens and causes proliferation of other immune cells
question
T lymphocyte
answer
a type of lymphocyte that leaves the bone marrow and travels to the thymus for maturation
question
T suppressor cells
answer
T cells that express CD8 protein on the surface; these cells dampen an immune proliferation response so that it stops when an adequate level is reached.
question
t dependent response
answer
antibody secreting plasma cells and memory b cells are both formed in response to protein antigens.
question
t independent response
answer
plasma cells are produced to make antibodies in response to polysaccharide antigens, but no memory cells are formed; this, therefore, does not yield long term immunity
question
tolerance
answer
In this context, refers to the way the immune system learns to ignore self antigens.
question
vaccination
answer
the stimulation of an immune response that protects against a specific living infectious agent.
question
variable regions
answer
the antigen binding sites on the amino acid chain of an antibody molecule that are extremely variable
question
weal and flare
answer
an allergic reaction causing a local skin lesion that is red, raised, and watery inside
question
western blot analysis
answer
an accurate method of identifying viral proteins in a host.
