Chapter 24: Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Chapter 24 notes on respiratory pathogens.

Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)

Exotoxin-producing bacterium that causes diphtheria; forms a thick pseudomembrane in the throat that can obstruct airflow; contagious and vaccine-preventable.

Pertussis (Bordetella pertussis)

Cause of whooping cough; Gram-negative coccobacillus; begins like a cold but progresses to severe coughing with mucus, potentially causing vomiting and malnutrition; long convalescence; vaccine available (DPT).

Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

Acid-fast, high-lipid-content bacterium; slow-growing obligate aerobe that infects the lungs and can survive within macrophages; highly aerosolized and requires long antibiotic treatment; vaccine (BCG) available in some regions.

Acid-fast staining

Staining method used for Mycobacterium due to its lipid-rich cell wall; acid-fast organisms stain pink/red, while non-acid-fast do not.

Rhinovirus

Primary virus historically linked to the common cold; many other viruses can cause colds; vaccine development is impractical due to extensive strain diversity.

Common cold

Mild upper respiratory infection caused by rhinovirus and other viruses; highly transmissible via sneezing and mucus; no universal vaccine.

Fomite

Inanimate object capable of transmitting pathogens (e.g., doorknobs) when contaminated.

Mucus and pathogen survival

Mucus protects pathogens from dehydration and enhances their survival outside the host, increasing transmission potential.

Self-limiting infection

Infections that typically resolve on their own without medical intervention.

DPT vaccine

Vaccine that protects against Diptheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus.