Principles of Infectious Diseases

A set of flashcards covering key concepts from the Principles of Infectious Diseases lecture to assist in exam preparation.

What is an infectious disease?

Disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

What does etiology refer to?

The study of the cause of disease.

What is an etiological agent?

A pathogen associated with a particular disease.

Define infection.

Multiplication of organisms in an individual or population.

What is the definition of disease?

A disorder of structure or function in the host that adversely impacts the host and is not simply the result of physical injury.

What is a pathogen?

A microorganism capable of causing disease, including commensals and non-commensals.

What does microbiome refer to?

A diverse collection of fungi, bacteria, archaea, viruses, and mites that inhabit animal tissues.

Who discovered the bacterium responsible for anthrax, tuberculosis, and cholera?

Robert Koch.

What is a contagious disease?

An infectious disease that spreads easily from one individual to another.

What are communicable diseases?

Any infectious disease that spreads from individual to individual, requiring a specific mode of transmission.

What are opportunistic pathogens?

Commensal or free-living organisms that may cause disease in normal hosts under certain circumstances.

What is the infectious disease triad?

The triad includes susceptible hosts, pathogens, and the environment that affect health.

Define zoonotic pathogen.

A microorganism that is commensal or pathogenic in animals but can be transmitted to humans.

What are Koch’s postulates?

A series of criteria to establish a causative link between a microbe and a disease.

What is an example of a notifiable disease?

Diseases mandated to be reported to health authorities for controlling or preventing spread, such as cancer or lead poisoning.

How does innate immunity differ from adaptive immunity?

Innate immunity is non-specific and responds immediately, while adaptive immunity is antigen-specific and has memory.

What is the purpose of epidemiology?

To study the distribution and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.

What is a pandemic?

An epidemic that occurs on a worldwide scale.

What are viruses?

Non-living entities that contain nucleic acid and require a host cell to replicate.

What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

The ability of microorganisms to resist the effects of drugs that once killed them or inhibited their growth.

What are ectoparasites?

Parasites that live on the surface of a host.

What are endoparasites?

Parasites that live inside the host.

Define prion diseases.

Infectious proteins that cause neurodegeneration and are always fatal.

What is the significance of zoonoses?

Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, with over 800 known types.

What is the role of vaccines in disease control?

Vaccination helps to induce protective immunity against diseases.

What is biosecurity?

Management practices to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases.

What is the 'One Health' approach?

An interdisciplinary collaboration to address health issues at the human-animal-environment interface.