Bacterial Diseases Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to bacterial diseases, HAIs, foodborne infections, and specific pathogens discussed in the module.

Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI)

Infections that patients acquire while receiving health care for another illness.

Catheters

Medical devices used to treat or manage patient care that can raise the risk of HAIs.

Antimicrobial-resistant infections

Infections caused by microbes that are resistant to treatment with antibiotics, leading to higher morbidity and mortality rates.

Gram-negative bacteria

A group of bacteria characterized by their cell wall structure, which is more resistant to antibiotics; includes pathogens like Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas.

Foodborne infection

Illness caused by ingestion of bacteria-contaminated foods, leading to infection and potential disease.

Food intoxication

Illness caused by ingestion of already-produced bacterial toxins in food.

Staphylococcus aureus

A common bacterium that can cause various infections, including food poisoning and skin infections.

Clostridium difficile

A bacterium that can cause severe colitis and is often associated with antibiotic use.

E. coli O157:H7

A strain of E. coli associated with foodborne illness and often leading to severe complications.

Vibrio cholerae

A bacterium that secretes an exotoxin causing diarrhea, associated with cholera outbreaks.

S. maltophilia

An emerging opportunistic pathogen often resistant to multiple antibiotics, causing infections in immunocompromised patients.

Legionnaires' disease

A severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, contracted through contaminated water.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A Gram-negative bacterium commonly found in hospital settings and associated with various infections.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A bacterium that causes tuberculosis, a disease characterized by respiratory symptoms and requires special staining for diagnosis.

Infection statistics

Data that provide insights into the incidence, mortality, and morbidity related to various infectious diseases.

Reservoir

The natural habitat of a pathogen, which can include humans, animals, or environmental sources.