Immunity and Infection Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering immunology and infection control concepts, including definitions of immunity types, wound complications, and specific infection terminology based on the Chapter 1-3 lecture transcript.

Immunity

The normal physiological response to disease-causing microorganisms and tossing substances as well as conditions associated with the suppressor accessory of the immune system.

Innate immunity

The body's first line of defense present at birth; it does not identify specific antigens and reacts the same way to all of them.

Acquired immunity

Specific immunity that is unique to an identified antigen and must be learned and developed through exposure.

Passive acquired immunity

Immunity induced when antibodies made by one person are given to another, such as when antibodies transfer to a fetus across the placenta or through breast milk.

T cells

Cells of origin compared to "Rocky" that pound away at bad things coming into the body.

Phagocytes

Giant cells that eat bad substances and are compared to "Pac Man" in their function.

Immunocompromised

A state where a person with a suppressed or hypo-immune response is unable to defend against microorganisms or foreign proteins adequately.

Neutropenic precautions

Safety measures, including wearing a mask, for patients with a real low white blood cell count to protect them from infection.

Anaphylaxis

An acute hyper-immune reaction to a trigger, such as a bee sting, characterized by shortness of air and being tachycardic.

Autoimmune diseases

Conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis where a breakdown in self-tolerance allows the immune system to destroy healthy cells.

Opportunist infections

Infections that do not normally cause disease but do so under the right conditions, such as when the immune system is low in HIV patients.

Western blot test

A diagnostic test used a lot of times for HIV.

Systemic symptoms

Symptoms affecting the whole body, such as fever, fatigue, and malaise.

Infection

The invasion or multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues which may result in local cellular injury.

Normal flora

The body's own bacteria that has a commensal relationship with the host.

Sepsis

The presence of pathogens in the blood or other tissues.

Virulence

The capacity of a microorganism to cause disease, also described as the degree of pathogenicity.

Endemic

Infections that are always present in the community at a low, almost constant frequency, such as influenza.

Epidemic

New cases of a specific infection occurring in a specific timeframe that substantially exceed the expected number.

Pandemic

An outbreak that occurs on a massive scale across regions or globally, such as COVID or HIV in the eighties.

Dehiscence

A wound complication where the edges of the incision separate because staples or stitches did not hold.

Eviscerate

A severe wound emergency where an organ is actually coming out of the wound.

Pyrogens

Substances that reset the body's thermostat in the hypothalamus to a higher level to kill microbes.

Normal white blood cell count

A laboratory value range of $5$ to $10$.

Hepatitis B

The most common infection resulting from a dirty needle stick.

N95 mask

A specific protective mask required when caring for a patient with tuberculosis.

Negative pressure room

The type of room required for a patient with tuberculosis.