BACT 1003 - Exam 4 Study Guide: Systemic Infections

InfectioSystemic ns

Respiratory System Infections

• GAS (Group A Streptococci)

  • Cause: Streptococcus pyogenes

  • Symptoms: Sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, tonsillar exudate

  • Treatment: Penicillin or amoxicillin

• Acute Otitis Media

  • Cause: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae

  • Symptoms: Ear pain, fever, irritability in children

  • Treatment: Amoxicillin or watchful waiting depending on severity

• Diphtheria

  • Cause: Corynebacterium diphtheriae

  • Symptoms: Thick gray membrane in throat, sore throat, difficulty breathing

  • Treatment: Diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin)

• Bacterial Pneumonia

  • Cause: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae

  • Symptoms: Cough, chest pain, fever, difficulty breathing

  • Treatment: Antibiotics (penicillins, macrolides)

• Tuberculosis

  • Cause: Mycobacterium tuberculosis

  • Symptoms: Chronic cough, weight loss, night sweats, hemoptysis

  • Treatment: Isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide

• Whooping Cough

  • Cause: Bordetella pertussis

  • Symptoms: Severe coughing fits, 'whoop' sound on inspiration

  • Treatment: Macrolide antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin)

• Legionellosis

  • Cause: Legionella pneumophila

  • Symptoms: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches

  • Treatment: Azithromycin or fluoroquinolones

• Common Cold

  • Cause: Rhinoviruses, adenoviruses

  • Symptoms: Sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat

  • Treatment: Supportive care (rest, hydration, decongestants)

• Influenza

  • Cause: Influenza virus A/B/C

  • Symptoms: Fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, fatigue

  • Treatment: Antivirals (oseltamivir) if early, supportive care

• Viral Pneumonia

  • Cause: Influenza virus, RSV, adenovirus

  • Symptoms: Cough, fever, chest pain, fatigue

  • Treatment: Supportive care, antivirals in select cases

• SARS and MERS

  • Cause: Coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV)

  • Symptoms: Fever, cough, difficulty breathing, potential ARDS

  • Treatment: Supportive care, oxygen therapy

• Measles

  • Cause: Measles virus

  • Symptoms: Fever, cough, Koplik spots, maculopapular rash

  • Treatment: Supportive care, vitamin A

• Rubella

  • Cause: Rubella virus

  • Symptoms: Mild fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• Chickenpox and Shingles

  • Cause: Varicella-zoster virus

  • Symptoms: Itchy vesicular rash (chickenpox), painful rash (shingles)

  • Treatment: Antivirals (acyclovir) for severe cases

Urogenital System Infections

• Cystitis

  • Cause: Escherichia coli (most common)

  • Symptoms: Frequent urination, burning sensation, cloudy urine

  • Treatment: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin

• Pyelonephritis

  • Cause: Ascending urinary tract bacteria (e.g., E. coli)

  • Symptoms: Back/flank pain, fever, chills, nausea

  • Treatment: Oral or IV antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone)

• Glomerulonephritis

  • Cause: Post-streptococcal immune response

  • Symptoms: Blood in urine, edema, hypertension

  • Treatment: Supportive care, antihypertensives, corticosteroids

• Leptospirosis

  • Cause: Leptospira interrogans

  • Symptoms: Fever, headache, jaundice, red eyes

  • Treatment: Doxycycline or penicillin

• NGU (Nongonococcal Urethritis)

  • Cause: Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium

  • Symptoms: Urethral discharge, dysuria

  • Treatment: Azithromycin or doxycycline

• Bacterial Vaginosis

  • Cause: Overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis)

  • Symptoms: Thin, gray vaginal discharge with fishy odor

  • Treatment: Metronidazole

• Gonorrhea

  • Cause: Neisseria gonorrhoeae

  • Symptoms: Painful urination, discharge, possible infertility

  • Treatment: Ceftriaxone + azithromycin

• Chlamydia

  • Cause: Chlamydia trachomatis

  • Symptoms: Often asymptomatic, may cause discharge, pelvic pain

  • Treatment: Azithromycin or doxycycline

• Syphilis

  • Cause: Treponema pallidum

  • Symptoms: Chancre (painless sore), rash, neurological symptoms in later stages

  • Treatment: Penicillin G

• Chancroid

  • Cause: Haemophilus ducreyi

  • Symptoms: Painful genital ulcers and swollen lymph nodes

  • Treatment: Azithromycin or ceftriaxone

• Genital Herpes

  • Cause: Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2)

  • Symptoms: Painful blisters or ulcers on genitals

  • Treatment: Acyclovir, valacyclovir

• Neonatal Herpes

  • Cause: HSV from infected mother during delivery

  • Symptoms: Skin lesions, neurological damage, systemic infection

  • Treatment: IV acyclovir

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

  • Cause: HPV types 6, 11 (warts); 16, 18 (cancer risk)

  • Symptoms: Genital warts, risk of cervical cancer

  • Treatment: Vaccination, wart removal

• Vaginal Yeast Infection

  • Cause: Candida albicans overgrowth

  • Symptoms: Itching, thick white discharge

  • Treatment: Fluconazole, antifungal creams

• Trichomoniasis

  • Cause: Trichomonas vaginalis

  • Symptoms: Foul-smelling discharge, itching, irritation

  • Treatment: Metronidazole

Digestive System Infections

• Dental Caries

  • Cause: Streptococcus mutans

  • Symptoms: Tooth decay, sensitivity, visible pits

  • Treatment: Fluoride, dental fillings, oral hygiene

• Periodontal Disease

  • Cause: Plaque buildup, Porphyromonas spp.

  • Symptoms: Gum swelling, bleeding, tooth loss

  • Treatment: Deep cleaning, antibiotics, surgery

• Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

  • Cause: Herpes simplex virus type 1

  • Symptoms: Painful mouth sores, fever, swollen gums

  • Treatment: Acyclovir

• Thrush

  • Cause: Candida albicans

  • Symptoms: White patches in mouth, soreness

  • Treatment: Antifungal medication (nystatin, fluconazole)

• Mumps

  • Cause: Mumps virus

  • Symptoms: Swollen parotid glands, fever, headache

  • Treatment: Supportive care, MMR vaccine for prevention

• Staphylococcal Food Poisoning

  • Cause: Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin

  • Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (rapid onset)

  • Treatment: Supportive care, hydration

• Salmonellosis

  • Cause: Salmonella spp.

  • Symptoms: Diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps

  • Treatment: Supportive care, antibiotics in severe cases

• Typhoid Fever

  • Cause: Salmonella typhi

  • Symptoms: High fever, weakness, abdominal pain, rash

  • Treatment: Ciprofloxacin or azithromycin

• Shigellosis

  • Cause: Shigella spp.

  • Symptoms: Bloody diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps

  • Treatment: Antibiotics (ciprofloxacin), hydration

• E. coli Infections

  • Cause: Escherichia coli (various strains)

  • Symptoms: Diarrhea, cramps, in severe cases hemolytic uremic syndrome

  • Treatment: Supportive care; avoid antibiotics in EHEC

• Cholera

  • Cause: Vibrio cholerae

  • Symptoms: Profuse watery diarrhea ('rice-water stool')

  • Treatment: Oral rehydration, doxycycline

• Campylobacteriosis

  • Cause: Campylobacter jejuni

  • Symptoms: Diarrhea, cramping, fever

  • Treatment: Azithromycin or supportive care

• Clostridium perfringens Gastroenteritis

  • Cause: C. perfringens toxin

  • Symptoms: Abdominal cramps, diarrhea

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• C. difficile-Associated Disease

  • Cause: Clostridioides difficile

  • Symptoms: Severe diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis

  • Treatment: Vancomycin or fidaxomicin

• Bacillus cereus Food Poisoning

  • Cause: B. cereus

  • Symptoms: Vomiting (emetic type), diarrhea (diarrheal type)

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• Yersiniosis

  • Cause: Yersinia enterocolitica

  • Symptoms: Fever, abdominal pain mimicking appendicitis

  • Treatment: Supportive care or antibiotics

• Rotavirus Gastroenteritis

  • Cause: Rotavirus

  • Symptoms: Severe watery diarrhea, vomiting in children

  • Treatment: Oral rehydration therapy

• Norovirus Gastroenteritis

  • Cause: Norovirus

  • Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps

  • Treatment: Hydration and supportive care

Hepatitis Infections

• Hepatitis A

  • Cause: Hepatitis A virus (HAV)

  • Symptoms: Fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain

  • Treatment: Supportive care, vaccine-preventable

• Hepatitis B

  • Cause: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

  • Symptoms: Jaundice, joint pain, chronic infection possible

  • Treatment: Antivirals (e.g., tenofovir), vaccine

• Hepatitis C

  • Cause: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

  • Symptoms: Often asymptomatic, can cause chronic liver disease

  • Treatment: Direct-acting antivirals (e.g., sofosbuvir)

Parasitic Infections

• Giardiasis

  • Cause: Giardia lamblia

  • Symptoms: Greasy stools, bloating, diarrhea

  • Treatment: Metronidazole or tinidazole

• Cryptosporidiosis

  • Cause: Cryptosporidium spp.

  • Symptoms: Watery diarrhea, stomach cramps

  • Treatment: Nitazoxanide, supportive care

• Amoebiasis

  • Cause: Entamoeba histolytica

  • Symptoms: Bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain

  • Treatment: Metronidazole followed by paromomycin

• Ascariasis

  • Cause: Ascaris lumbricoides

  • Symptoms: Intestinal blockage, coughing (larval migration)

  • Treatment: Albendazole or mebendazole

• Hookworm Infection

  • Cause: Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale

  • Symptoms: Anemia, fatigue, abdominal discomfort

  • Treatment: Albendazole or mebendazole

• Pinworm Infection

  • Cause: Enterobius vermicularis

  • Symptoms: Anal itching, restlessness

  • Treatment: Mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate

• Whipworm Infection

  • Cause: Trichuris trichiura

  • Symptoms: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal prolapse in severe cases

  • Treatment: Albendazole or mebendazole

• Trichinosis

  • Cause: Trichinella spiralis

  • Symptoms: Muscle pain, swelling, fever

  • Treatment: Albendazole or mebendazole

• Taeniasis (Beef Tapeworm)

  • Cause: Taenia saginata

  • Symptoms: Mild digestive symptoms or none

  • Treatment: Praziquantel

• Taeniasis (Pork Tapeworm)

  • Cause: Taenia solium

  • Symptoms: Digestive discomfort; can cause cysticercosis

  • Treatment: Praziquantel or albendazole

Circulatory/Lymphatic System Infections

• Toxic Shock Syndrome

  • Cause: Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes (toxin-producing)

  • Symptoms: Sudden fever, low blood pressure, rash, organ failure

  • Treatment: IV fluids, antibiotics, removal of toxin source

• Puerperal Sepsis

  • Cause: Streptococcus pyogenes

  • Symptoms: Fever, pelvic pain, foul-smelling discharge after childbirth

  • Treatment: Antibiotics (penicillin) and supportive care

• Gas Gangrene

  • Cause: Clostridium perfringens

  • Symptoms: Swelling, pain, gas production in tissues, necrosis

  • Treatment: Surgical removal, hyperbaric oxygen, antibiotics

• Brucellosis

  • Cause: Brucella spp. (zoonotic)

  • Symptoms: Fever, sweats, joint pain, fatigue

  • Treatment: Doxycycline and rifampin

• Plague

  • Cause: Yersinia pestis

  • Symptoms: Bubonic (swollen lymph nodes), septicemic, or pneumonic forms

  • Treatment: Streptomycin or doxycycline

• Rickettsioses

  • Cause: Rickettsia spp. (tick-borne)

  • Symptoms: Fever, rash, headache

  • Treatment: Doxycycline

• Lyme Disease

  • Cause: Borrelia burgdorferi (tick-borne)

  • Symptoms: Bull's-eye rash, joint pain, neurological issues

  • Treatment: Doxycycline or amoxicillin

• Infectious Mononucleosis

  • Cause: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)

  • Symptoms: Fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• Burkitt Lymphoma

  • Cause: EBV-associated B-cell cancer

  • Symptoms: Swollen jaw or abdomen (tumor growth)

  • Treatment: Chemotherapy

• Cytomegalovirus Infections

  • Cause: Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

  • Symptoms: Mild or asymptomatic in healthy people; severe in immunocompromised

  • Treatment: Ganciclovir or valganciclovir

• Yellow Fever

  • Cause: Yellow fever virus (mosquito-borne)

  • Symptoms: Fever, jaundice, bleeding

  • Treatment: Supportive care; vaccine available

• Dengue Fever

  • Cause: Dengue virus (mosquito-borne)

  • Symptoms: High fever, rash, bleeding tendency

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• Chikungunya

  • Cause: Chikungunya virus (mosquito-borne)

  • Symptoms: Fever, joint pain

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• Ebola Virus Disease

  • Cause: Ebola virus

  • Symptoms: Severe hemorrhagic fever, vomiting, bleeding

  • Treatment: Supportive care, monoclonal antibodies

• HIV/AIDS

  • Cause: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

  • Symptoms: Immune suppression, opportunistic infections

  • Treatment: Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

• Malaria

  • Cause: Plasmodium spp. (protozoan, mosquito-borne)

  • Symptoms: Cyclic fever, chills, anemia

  • Treatment: Chloroquine, artemisinin-based therapies

• Toxoplasmosis

  • Cause: Toxoplasma gondii

  • Symptoms: Flu-like in healthy people; serious in fetus/immunocompromised

  • Treatment: Pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine

• Chagas Disease

  • Cause: Trypanosoma cruzi (kissing bug)

  • Symptoms: Swelling at bite site, chronic heart or digestive issues

  • Treatment: Benznidazole or nifurtimox

Nervous System Infections

• Haemophilus influenzae type B Meningitis

  • Cause: Haemophilus influenzae type B

  • Symptoms: Fever, stiff neck, headache, altered mental status

  • Treatment: Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime; Hib vaccine for prevention

• Meningococcal Meningitis

  • Cause: Neisseria meningitidis

  • Symptoms: Sudden fever, stiff neck, petechial rash

  • Treatment: Ceftriaxone or penicillin; vaccine available

• Neonatal Meningitis

  • Cause: Group B Streptococcus, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes

  • Symptoms: Lethargy, irritability, poor feeding, seizures

  • Treatment: Ampicillin + gentamicin

• Pneumococcal Meningitis

  • Cause: Streptococcus pneumoniae

  • Symptoms: Severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion

  • Treatment: Vancomycin + ceftriaxone

• Tetanus

  • Cause: Clostridium tetani

  • Symptoms: Muscle stiffness, lockjaw, spasms

  • Treatment: Tetanus immune globulin (TIG), metronidazole, vaccine

• Botulism

  • Cause: Clostridium botulinum toxin

  • Symptoms: Flaccid paralysis, blurred vision, respiratory failure

  • Treatment: Antitoxin, respiratory support

• Listeriosis

  • Cause: Listeria monocytogenes

  • Symptoms: Fever, muscle aches, meningitis in severe cases

  • Treatment: Ampicillin

• Hansens Disease (Leprosy)

  • Cause: Mycobacterium leprae

  • Symptoms: Skin lesions, nerve damage, numbness

  • Treatment: Dapsone, rifampin, clofazimine

• Viral Meningitis

  • Cause: Enteroviruses

  • Symptoms: Headache, fever, stiff neck (milder than bacterial)

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• Viral Encephalitis

  • Cause: EEE, WEE, SLE, JE, WNE viruses

  • Symptoms: Headache, fever, confusion, seizures

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• Zika Virus Infection

  • Cause: Zika virus (mosquito-borne)

  • Symptoms: Mild fever, rash, birth defects (microcephaly)

  • Treatment: Supportive care

• Rabies

  • Cause: Rabies virus (animal bite)

  • Symptoms: Anxiety, agitation, hydrophobia, death if untreated

  • Treatment: Post-exposure prophylaxis (vaccine + immunoglobulin)

• Poliomyelitis

  • Cause: Poliovirus

  • Symptoms: Asymptomatic or paralysis in severe cases

  • Treatment: Supportive care; vaccine for prevention

• TSEs (e.g., CJD, Kuru)

  • Cause: Prions

  • Symptoms: Rapid neurodegeneration, dementia, ataxia

  • Treatment: No cure; supportive care only

• Cryptococcal Meningitis

  • Cause: Cryptococcus neoformans (fungus)

  • Symptoms: Headache, fever, confusion (esp. in AIDS patients)

  • Treatment: Amphotericin B + flucytosine

• Amoebic Meningitis

  • Cause: Naegleria fowleri

  • Symptoms: Severe headache, nausea, rapid brain inflammation

  • Treatment: Amphotericin B (often ineffective)

• African Sleeping Sickness

  • Cause: Trypanosoma brucei (tsetse fly)

  • Symptoms: Sleep disturbances, confusion, coma

  • Treatment: Pentamidine or eflornithine

• Neurotoxoplasmosis

  • Cause: Toxoplasma gondii

  • Symptoms: Headache, seizures, confusion in immunocompromised

  • Treatment: Pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine

• Neurocysticercosis

  • Cause: Taenia solium larvae

  • Symptoms: Seizures, brain cysts, neurological deficits

  • Treatment: Albendazole + corticosteroids