Blood Infections and Related Topics

Flashcards based on a lecture about blood infections, bacteremia, septicemia, and related medical conditions.

What is bacteremia?

The presence of bacteria in the blood without active growth.

What can occur when you brush your teeth?

Sprinkling of organisms in the blood.

Why might prophylactic antibiotics be given before exploratory surgery?

To control any organisms that might get access to the blood during the surgery.

What is osteomyelitis?

Infection in the bone, often due to staph aureus.

What is endocarditis?

Infection inside the heart, often affecting damaged heart valves.

What is a common complication that can cause bacteremia?

A common complication of urinary catheterization.

Why do organisms seek out damaged tissue?

Damaged tissue allows organisms to thrive due to compromised immunity.

What is septic arthritis?

Infection of a joint, common in the elderly.

What can a hot joint to the touch indicate?

A medical emergency.

What is a heart murmur?

A whooshing sound heard when listening to the heart, indicating valve damage.

What can affect heart valves?

Infections of the throat by strep pyogenes.

What is rheumatic fever?

Can cause inflammation of the heart valves, leading to damage.

What is infectious endocarditis caused by?

Low virulent organisms.

What is the most likely source of organisms causing infectious endocarditis?

The mouth.

When thinking of low grade bacteremia, what symptoms would you see?

Malaise, anorexia, and weight loss.

What oral issue was Eric suffering from that was a portal for organisms entering his circulation?

Gum disease.

Which organism was found in Eric's bloodstream?

Staph epidermidis.

What is septicemia?

Organisms actively growing in the bloodstream.

Why is sepsis dangerous?

A life-threatening situation.

What is lymphangitis?

Inflammation of the lymphatics, indicating a spreading infection.

In which hospitalized patients is septicemia common?

Catheterized patients, patients with pneumonia, or those with surgical wounds.

If E. coli is found in a blood culture, what is the likely source, and what action should be taken?

Collect a urine sample to check for a UTI.

If staph aureus is found in a blood culture, what is the likely source?

Look for a surgical wound infection.

If strep pneumoniae is found in a blood culture, what is the likely source?

Get a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia.

If pseudomonas is found in a blood culture, what is the likely source?

Check if the patient is in the ICU on assisted mechanical ventilation.

Why is mortality in gram negatives higher than in gram positives?

Gram negatives have endotoxin in their cell wall.

What inflammatory component is present in gram-negative bacteria that contributes to high mortality?

Endotoxin.

What is the inflammatory component in gram-positive bacteria?

Lipocegoic acid.

If a patient had a surgical wound infection, what organism would you expect?

Staph aureus.

If a patient has a urinary catheter, what organism(s) might you suspect?

E. Coli or Klebsiella.

What organism would you suspect to be in patients on hospital ventilation?

Pseudomonas.

What was Eric's IV line growing, full of staph epidermidis?

Biofilm.

In bacteremia, what are the organisms doing in the blood?

The organisms aren't actually growing in the blood, but are just gaining entry.

What is the definition of bacteremia?

Bacteria in the blood.

What can rheumatic fever cause?

Damage to heart valves.

What happens if organisms find an area of damage to grow?

They can set up infection in that area.

What does the inflammation in the lymphatic indicate?

Spreading infection.

Why should you pay attention to mosquito bites?

There is evidence of spread.

Why was Eric's IV Line placed?

He had an IV line placed in for his renal dialysis.

What do pseudomonas like?

Like plastic and the humidified air of a hospital ventilator.