Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about microbial diseases of the respiratory system.

Upper Respiratory System

Includes the nose, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), middle ear, and auditory (eustachian) tubes.

Lower Respiratory System

Includes the trachea, bronchial tubes, and alveoli.

Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the throat, or sore throat.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the voice box or the larynx.

Tonsillitis

Inflamed tonsils.

Sinusitis

Infection of a sinus involving heavy nasal discharge of mucus.

Dimorphic Fungi

Fungi that can exist in both mold and yeast forms.

Coccidioidomycosis

Systemic mycosis caused by Coccidioides immitis.

Histoplasmosis

Systemic mycosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum.

Blastomycosis

Systemic mycosis caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Paracoccidioidomycosis

Systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides braziliensis.

Arthroconidia

Alternate cells along the mycelia of Coccidioides immitis that form in the saprophytic phase.

Spherule

Large, round, thick-walled structure of Coccidioides immitis containing endospores.

Endospores

Infectious propagules released by spherules in Coccidioides immitis.

Microconidia

Small conidia of Histoplasma capsulatum.

Tuberculate Macroconidia

Distinctive conidia form of Histoplasma capsulatum.

Conidiophore

Specialized hyphae that bears a single conidia resembling “lollipops” in Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Chlamydospores

Asexual spores formed within hyphal cells, seen in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis mold phase.

Mariner’s Wheel

Appearance of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells with multiple buds.

Erythema Nodosum

Painful nodules on the legs, associated with coccidioidomycosis.

Rhinoviruses

Common cold viruses, naked positive sense single stranded RNA viruses.

Coronaviruses

Common cold viruses, enveloped positive sense single stranded RNA viruses.

Epiglottitis

Inflammation of the epiglottis.

Haemophilus influenzae type b

Common cause of epiglottitis.

Tripod Position

Position assumed by patients with epiglottitis to maximize air entry into the lungs.

Thumb Sign

Radiological sign indicative of epiglottitis on lateral X-ray.

Polyribitol Phosphate

Capsule component of Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Hib Vaccine

Vaccine used to prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b infections.

Streptococcal Pharyngitis

Sore throat caused by group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus.

Streptokinase

Virulence factor of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Streptolysin O and S

Virulence factors of Streptococcus pyogenes.

M Protein

Virulence factor of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Erythrogenic toxin

Toxin released in Scarlet fever causing a pinkish red rash.

Anti-streptolysin O

Antibody produced in response to streptolysin O, used for diagnosis.

Scarlet Fever

Illness that develops after pharyngitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes.

Strawberry Tongue

A symptom of scarlet fever.

Otitis Media

Middle ear infection.

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Most common cause of otitis media.

Quellung Reaction

Test where bacterial capsule swells when incubated with species-specific antiserum.

Moraxella catarrhalis

Gram negative diplococcus that can cause otitis media.

Tympanocentesis

Procedure to obtain middle ear fluid for gram stain and culture.

Viral Pharyngitis

Sore throat caused by viruses.

Infectious Mononucleosis

Illness caused by the Epstein Barr virus.

Kissing Disease

Common name for infectious mononucleosis.

Coccidioides immitis Mold Form

Septate hyphae that produce arthrospores.

Coccidioides immitis Yeast Phase

Large, round, thick-walled spherules with endospores.

Blastomyces dermatitidis Mold Phase

Septated hyphae with conidiophore that bears a single conidia resembling “lollipops”.

Blastomyces dermatitidis Yeast Phase

Thick walled, large yeast cells with a single bud on a broad base.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Mold Phase

Small, septate, branched hyphae with intercalary and terminal chlamydospores.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Yeast Phase

Large, round to oval, thick-walled yeast cells with multiple buds with a narrow base (mariner’s wheel).