Microbiology: Principles of Disease and Epidemiology

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture on microbiology, disease principles, and epidemiology.

Etiology

The cause of a disease.

Infection

Colonization of the body by pathogens.

Pathogenesis

The development of a disease.

Symbiosis

Living together of two different organisms.

Normal microbiota (microbiome)

Organisms that reside permanently in/on the body and keep us healthy.

Dysbiosis

An imbalance of microbial species and a reduction in microbial diversity within the microbiome.

Koch’s Postulates

A sequence of steps to determine the cause of a disease

Communicable disease

A disease that can spread from one host to another.

Sporadic disease

A disease that occurs only occasionally in a population.

Chain of transmission

The pathway through which an infectious disease is transmitted from a reservoir to a susceptible host.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

Infections acquired while receiving treatment in a healthcare facility.

Vector

An organism that transmits pathogens from one host to another.

Probiotics

Live microbes ingested into the body to exert a beneficial effect.

Prebiotics

Food for the microbiome or probiotics.

Reservoirs of infection

Continual sources of pathogens.

Immunocompromised

A state where the immune system is weakened, making the host more susceptible to infections.

Public health failure

When previously controlled infections re-emerge due to lack of vaccination or other public health measures.