infection

infection,

invasion of plant or animal tissues by microorganisms, i.e., bacteriabacteria
[pl. of bacterium], microscopic unicellular prokaryotic organisms characterized by the lack of a membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Once considered a part of the plant kingdom, bacteria were eventually placed in a separate kingdom, Monera.
..... Click the link for more information. , virusesvirus,
parasite with a noncellular structure composed mainly of nucleic acid within a protein coat. Most viruses are too small (100–2,000 Angstrom units) to be seen with the light microscope and thus must be studied by electron microscopes.
..... Click the link for more information. , viroidsviroid,
microscopic infectious agent, much smaller than a virus, that infects higher plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, chrysanthemums, and cucumbers, causing stunted or distorted growth and sometimes death. It can be transmitted by pollen, seed, or farm implements.
..... Click the link for more information. , fungiFungi
, kingdom of heterotrophic single-celled, multinucleated, or multicellular organisms, including yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. The organisms live as parasites, symbionts, or saprobes (see saprophyte).
..... Click the link for more information. , rickettsiasrickettsia
, any of an order (Rickettsiales) of very small microorganisms, many disease-causing, that live in vertebrates and are transmitted by bloodsucking parasitic arthropods such as fleas, lice (see louse), and ticks.
..... Click the link for more information. , and protozoansprotozoan
, informal term for the unicellular heterotrophs of the kingdom Protista. Protozoans comprise a large, diverse assortment of microscopic or near-microscopic organisms that live as single cells or in simple colonies and that show no differentiation into tissues.
..... Click the link for more information. . The invasion of body tissues by parasitic wormsworm,
common name for various unrelated invertebrate animals with soft, often long and slender bodies. Members of the phylum Platyhelminthes, or the flatworms, are the most primitive; they are generally small and flat-bodied and include the free-living planarians (of the class
..... Click the link for more information. and other higher organisms is commonly referred to as infestation.

Invading organisms such as bacteria produce toxinstoxin,
poison produced by living organisms. Toxins are classified as either exotoxins or endotoxins. Exotoxins are a diverse group of soluble proteins released into the surrounding tissue by living bacterial cells. Exotoxins have specific reaction sites in the host; e.g.
..... Click the link for more information. that damage host tissues and interfere with normal metabolism; some toxins are actually enzymes that, by breaking down host tissues, prevent the localization of infections. Other bacterial substances destroy the host's phagocytes. Viruses and retrovirusesretrovirus,
type of RNA virus that, unlike other RNA viruses, reproduces by transcribing itself into DNA. An enzyme called reverse transcriptase allows a retrovirus's RNA to act as the template for this RNA-to-DNA transcription.
..... Click the link for more information. are parasitic on host cells, causing cellular degeneration, as in rabiesrabies
or hydrophobia
, acute viral infection of the central nervous system in dogs, foxes, raccoons, skunks, bats, and other animals, and in humans. The virus is transmitted from an animal to a person, or from one animal to another, via infected saliva, most often by
..... Click the link for more information. , poliomyelitispoliomyelitis
, polio,
or infantile paralysis,
acute viral infection, mainly of children but also affecting older persons. There are three immunologic types of poliomyelitis virus, one of which was eradicated in 1999; exposure to one type produces immunity
..... Click the link for more information. , and AIDSAIDS
or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,
fatal disease caused by a rapidly mutating retrovirus that attacks the immune system and leaves the victim vulnerable to infections, malignancies, and neurological disorders. It was first recognized as a disease in 1981.
..... Click the link for more information. , or cellular proliferation, as in wartswart,
circumscribed outgrowth of the skin caused by a filterable virus that is readily transmitted. Warts may appear anywhere on the skin but are most common on the hands.
..... Click the link for more information. and cold sores. Some viruses have been associated with the development of certain cancerscancer,
in medicine, common term for neoplasms, or tumors, that are malignant. Like benign tumors, malignant tumors do not respond to body mechanisms that limit cell growth.
..... Click the link for more information. . Substances produced by many invading organisms cause allergic sensitivity in the host; the immune response to virus infection has been implicated in some diseases (see allergyallergy,
hypersensitive reaction of the body tissues of certain individuals to certain substances that, in similar amounts and circumstances, are innocuous to other persons. Allergens, or allergy-causing substances, can be airborne substances (e.g.
..... Click the link for more information. ).

Infections may be spread via respiratory droplets, direct contact, contaminated food, or vectors, such as insects. They can also be transmitted sexually (see sexually transmitted diseasessexually transmitted disease
(STD) or venereal disease,
term for infections acquired mainly through sexual contact. Five diseases were traditionally known as venereal diseases: gonorrhea, syphilis, and the less common granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, and
..... Click the link for more information. ) and from mother to fetus. Immunityimmunity,
ability of an organism to resist disease by identifying and destroying foreign substances or organisms. Although all animals have some immune capabilities, little is known about nonmammalian immunity.
..... Click the link for more information. is the term used to describe the capacity of the host to respond to infection. Drugs that help fight infections include antibioticsantibiotic,
any of a variety of substances, usually obtained from microorganisms, that inhibit the growth of or destroy certain other microorganisms. Types of Antibiotics
..... Click the link for more information. and antiviral drugsantiviral drug,
any of several drugs used to treat viral infections. The drugs act by interfering with a virus's ability to enter a host cell and replicate itself with the host cell's DNA.
..... Click the link for more information. .

See also specific diseases, diseases of plantsdiseases of plants.
Most plant diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Although the term disease is usually used only for the destruction of live plants, the action of dry rot and the rotting of harvested crops in storage or transport is similar to the rots
..... Click the link for more information. .

Bibliography

See J. Waller, The Discovery of the Germ (2003).

Infection

A term considered by some to mean the entrance, growth, and multiplication of a microorganism (pathogen) in the body of a host, resulting in the establishment of a disease process. Others define infection as the presence of a microorganism in host tissues whether or not it evolves into detectable pathologic effects. The host may be a bacterium, plant, animal, or human being, and the infecting agent may be viral, rickettsial, bacterial, fungal, or protozoan.

A differentiation is made between infection and infestation. Infestation is the invasion of a host by higher organisms such as parasitic worms. See Epidemiology, Medical bacteriology, Medical mycology, Medical parasitology, Opportunistic infections, Pathogen, Virus

Infection

penetration of a pathogenic parasite into a human or animal organism and the state of being infected. The concept of infection is also applied to one-celled organisms (bacteriophages). On the other hand, there is a tendency to distinguish between the concept of infection and that of parasitism, including invasion.

Upon entering the body, the causative agent concentrates in certain organs and tissues. For example, in the course of evolution the itch mite adapted to parasitizing the epithelial layer of skin; the causative agent of typhus, Rickettsia prowazekii, the wall of arterioles and arterial capillaries; and the influenza virus, the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. After the parasite enters the body, a complex interaction takes place between the parasite and host—an infectious process. The infectious process (dynamics of pathological changes) includes the causative agent’s adaptation to new conditions of existence and its reproduction, dissemination of the process, metastasis, and intoxication of the host. The infectious process and the functional disturbances in the host and its reflex reactions constitute the pathogenetic essence of infectious disease.

An infection is manifested as an acute or chronic form of the disease or carrier state. The development of a particular form depends, on the one hand, on the properties of the causative agent—its infectiousness, invasiveness, and capacity to form exotoxins and endotoxins—and on the number of parasites entering the organism. On the other hand, the condition of the organism and degree of susceptibility or predisposition to a given disease is a very important factor. The presence of certain causative agents in the organism does not provoke a pathological process unless some other conditions exist. Such causative agents are said to be conditionally pathogenic. They include the large group of causative agents of wound infections, many Escherichiaspecies, and herpesvirus. They may exist a long time without producing symptoms on the skin, on the mucous membranes, and in the intestine until an injury, chill, or other factor enables them to manifest their pathogenic properties.

An infected organism or carriers of the causative agents are the sources of infections. Every infectious disease has its own specific mechanism of transmission. In intestinal infections, such as dysentery or typhoid fever, the causative agent is eliminated from the body with feces or urine and in one way or another enters the mouth of a healthy individual. In infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, the causative agent is eliminated with drops of mucus during sneezing, coughing, or talking and penetrates into a healthy individual with inhaled air (the droplet mechanism of transmission). In typhus, malaria, bubonic plague, and some other diseases, the causative agent is trasmitted by blood-sucking insects—lice, mosquitoes, and fleas—parasitizing first a sick and then a healthy individual. The causative agents of scabies and fungal and venereal diseases are transmitted by direct contact with a diseased individual.

A knowledge of the mechanisms of transmission of infection is the basis of prevention of infectious diseases.

REFERENCES

Mechnikov, I. I. Newspriimchivost’ k infektsionnym bolezniam, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1947.
Gromashevskii, L. V. Obshchaia epidemiologiia, 4th ed. Moscow, 1965. Pages 29–45.

I. I. ELKIN

What does it mean when you dream about an infection?

A dream about being infected might represent anything from absorbing (being “infected by”) the negative attitudes of others to concerns about one’s health. Possibly, the dream infection represents negative thoughts or feelings. (See also Illness).

infection

[in′fek·shən] (medicine) Invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism, with or without disease manifestation. Pathologic condition resulting from invasion of a pathogen.

infection

1. invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms 2. the resulting condition in the tissues 3. an infectious disease

infection

[in-fek´shun] invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, as in an infectious disease. The infectious process is similar to a circular chain with each link representing one of the factors involved in the process. An infectious disease occurs only if each link is present and in proper sequence. These links are (1) the causative agent, which must be of sufficient number and virulence to destroy normal tissue; (2) reservoirs in which the organism can thrive and reproduce; for example, body tissues and the wastes of humans, animals, and insects, and contaminated food and water; (3) a portal through which the pathogen can leave the host, such as the respiratory tract or intestinal tract; (4) a mode of transfer, such as the hands, air currents, vectors, fomites, or other means by which the pathogens can be moved from one place or person to another; and (5) a portal of entry through which the pathogens can enter the body of (6) a susceptible host. Open wounds and the respiratory, intestinal, and reproductive tracts are examples of portals of entry. The host must be susceptible to the disease, not having any immunity to it, or lacking adequate resistance to overcome the invasion by the pathogens. The body responds to the invasion of causative organisms by the formation of antibodies and by a series of physiologic changes known as inflammation.
The spectrum of infectious agents changes with the passage of time and the introduction of drugs and chemicals designed to destroy them. The advent of antibiotics and the resultant development of resistant strains of bacteria have introduced new types of pathogens little known or not previously thought to be significantly dangerous to man. A few decades ago, gram-positive organisms were the most common infectious agents. Today the gram-negative microorganisms, and Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Serratia are particularly troublesome, especially in the development of hospital-acquired infections. It is predicted that in future decades other lesser known pathogens and new strains of bacteria and viruses will emerge as common causes of infections.
The development of resistant strains of pathogens can be limited by the judicious use of antibiotics. This requires culturing and sensitivity testing for a specific antibiotic to which the identified causative organism has been found to be sensitive. If the patient has been receiving a broad-spectrum antibiotic prior to culture and sensitivity testing, this should be discontinued as soon as the specific antibiotic for the organism has been found. It would be helpful, too, if the general public understood that antibiotics are not cure-alls and that there is danger in using them indiscriminately. In some instances an antibiotic can upset the normal flora of the body, thus compromising the body's natural resistance and making it more susceptible to a second infection (superinfection) by a microorganism resistant to the antibiotic.
Although antibacterials have greatly reduced mortality and morbidity rates for many infectious diseases, the ultimate outcome of an infectious process depends on the effectiveness of the host's immune responses. The antibacterial drugs provide a holding action, keeping the growth and reproduction of the infectious agent in check until the interaction between the organism and the immune bodies of the host can subdue the invaders.
Intracellular infectious agents include viruses, mycobacteria, Brucella, Salmonella, and many others. Infections of this type are overcome primarily by lymphocytes" >T lymphocytes and their products, which are the components of cell-mediated immunity. Extracellular infectious agents live outside the cell; these include species of Streptococcus and Haemophilus. These microorganisms have a carbohydrate capsule that acts as an antigen to stimulate the production of antibody, an essential component of humoral immunity.
Infection may be transmitted by direct contact, indirect contact, or vectors. Direct contact may be with body excreta such as urine, feces, or mucus, or with drainage from an open sore, ulcer, or wound. Indirect contact refers to transmission via inanimate objects such as bed linens, bedpans, drinking glasses, or eating utensils. Vectors are flies, mosquitoes, or other insects capable of harboring and spreading the infectious agent.Patient Care. Major goals in the care of patients with threatening, suspected, or diagnosed infectious disease include the following: (1) prevent the spread of infection, (2) provide physiologic support to enhance the patient's natural curative powers and resources for warding off or recovering from an infection, (3) provide psychologic support, and (4) prepare the patient for self-care if this is feasible.
Special precautions for prevention of the spread of infection can vary from strict isolation of the patient and such measures as wearing gloves, mask, or gown to simply using care when handling infective material. No matter what the diagnosis or status of the patient, handwashing before and after each contact is imperative.
Unrecognized or subclinical infections pose a threat because many infectious agents can be transmitted when symptoms are either mild or totally absent.
In the care of patients for whom special precautions have not been assigned, gloves are indicated whenever there is direct contact with blood, wound or lesion drainage, urine, stool, or oral secretions. Gowns are worn over the clothing whenever there is copious drainage and the possibility that one's clothes could become soiled with infective material.
When a definitive diagnosis of an infectious disease has been made and special precautions are ordered, it is imperative that everyone having contact with the patient adhere to the rules. Family members and visitors will need instruction in the proper techniques and the reason they are necessary.
Physiologic support entails bolstering the patient's external and internal defense mechanisms. Integrity of the skin is preserved. Daily bathing is avoided if it dries the skin and predisposes it to irritation and cracking. Gentle washing and thorough drying are necessary in areas where two skin surfaces touch, for example, in the groin and genital area, under heavy breasts, and in the axillae. Lotions and emollients are used not only to keep the skin soft but also to stimulate circulation. Measures are taken to prevent pressure ulcers from prolonged pressure and ischemia. Mouth care is given on a systematic basis to assure a healthy oral mucosa.
The total fluid intake should not be less than 2000 ml every 24 hours. Cellular dehydration can work against adequate transport of nutrients and elimination of wastes. Maintenance of an acid urine is important when urinary tract infections are likely as when the patient is immobilized or has an indwelling urinary catheter. This can be accomplished by administering vitamin C daily. Nutritional needs are met by whatever means necessary, and may require supplemental oral feedings or total parenteral nutrition. The patient will also need adequate rest and freedom from discomfort. This may necessitate teaching her or him relaxation techniques, planning for periods of uninterrupted rest, and proper use of noninvasive comfort measures, as well as judicious use of analgesic drugs.
Having an infectious disease can alter patients' self-image, making them feel self-conscious about the stigma of being infectious or “dirty,” or making them feel guilty about the danger they could pose to others. Social isolation and loneliness are also potential problems for the patient with an infectious disease.
Patients also can become discouraged because some infections tend to recur or to involve other parts of the body if they are not effectively eradicated. It is important that they know about the nature of their illness, the purposes and results of diagnostic tests, and the expected effect of medications and treatments.
Patient education should also include information about the ways in which a particular infection can be transmitted, proper handwashing techniques, approved disinfectants to use at home, methods for handling and disposing of contaminated articles, and any other special precautions that are indicated. If patients are to continue taking antibacterials at home, they are cautioned not to stop taking any prescribed medication even if symptoms abate and they feel better.

Chain of infection.

Stages of infection. Each period varies with different pathogens and different diseases.airborne infection infection by inhalation of organisms suspended in air on water droplets or dust particles.infection control 1. in the nursing interventions classification, a intervention" >nursing intervention defined as minimizing the acquisition and transmission of infectious agents.2. the use of surveillance, investigation, and compilation of statistical data in order to reduce the spread of infection, particularly nosocomial infections.
Practitioners in infection control are often nurses employed by hospitals. They have titles such as Infection Control Officer and Infection Control Nurse, and they function as liaisons between staff nurses, physicians, department heads, the infection control committee, and the local health department. Such practitioners also assume some responsibility for teaching patients and their families, as well as employees of the hospital.
The centers for disease control and prevention is an excellent source of information related to infection control; their web site is http://www.cdc.gov. Another source of help and support for infection control practitioners is the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control and Epidemiology, 1275 K St., NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20005-4006.cross infection infection transmitted between patients infected with different pathogenic microorganisms.droplet infection infection due to inhalation of respiratory pathogens suspended on liquid particles exhaled by someone already infected.dustborne infection infection by inhalation of pathogens that have become affixed to particles of dust.endogenous infection that due to reactivation of organisms present in a dormant focus, as occurs, for example, in tuberculosis.exogenous infection that caused by organisms not normally present in the body but which have gained entrance from the environment.mixed infection infection with more than one kind of organism at the same time.nosocomial infection see nosocomial infection.opportunistic infection infection by an organism that does not ordinarily cause disease but becomes pathogenic under certain circumstances, as when the patient is immunocompromised.pyogenic infection infection by pus-producing organisms, most commonly species of Staphylococcus or Streptococcus.risk for infection a nursing diagnosis accepted by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, defined as a state in which an individual is at increased risk for being invaded by pathogenic organisms.secondary infection infection by a pathogen following an infection by a pathogen of another kind.subclinical infection infection associated with no detectable symptoms but caused by microorganisms capable of producing easily recognizable diseases, such as poliomyelitis or mumps; this may occur in an early stage of the infection, with signs and symptoms appearing later during the course of the infection, or the symptoms and signs may never appear. It is detected by the production of antibody, or by delayed hypersensitivity exhibited in a skin test reaction to such antigens as tuberculoprotein.terminal infection an acute infection occurring near the end of a disease and often causing death.urinary tract infection see urinary tract infection.vector-borne infection infection caused by microorganisms transmitted from one host to another by a carrier, such as a mosquito, louse, fly, or tick.waterborne infection infection by microorganisms transmitted in water.

in·fec·tion

(in-fek'shŭn), Invasion of the body with organisms that have the potential to cause disease.

in·fec·tion

molysmophobia.

infection

(ĭn-fĕk′shən)n.1. a. The invasion of bodily tissue by pathogenic microorganisms that proliferate, resulting in tissue injury that can progress to disease: measures taken by the hospital to prevent infection.b. The entry or placement, as by injection, of a microorganism or infectious agent into a cell or tissue.c. An instance of being infected: developed an infection in my toe.d. An agent or a contaminated substance responsible for one's becoming infected: an infection spread by contaminated water.e. The pathological state resulting from having been infected: a drug to control infection.2. An infectious disease: Crowded conditions gave rise to several serious infections.

infection

Epidemiology The presence of a pathogen in a host which may or may not be associated with clinical disease. See Acute HIV infection, Atypical mycobacterial infection, Breakthrough infection, Chronic symptomatic HIV infection, Close contact infection, Congenital CMV infection, Cross-infection, Danger space infection, Ear infection, Emerging infection, Exit-site infection, Fungal infection, HIV-1 superinfection, Hyperinfection, Latent clostridial infection, Mixed wound infection, Multiple infection, Multiplicity of infection, Mycobacterial infection, Nail infection, Nonprogressive HIV infection, Nosocomial infection, Occult infection, Opportunistic infection, Parasitic infection, Perivascular inflammation, Ping pong infection, Pocket infection, Reemerging infection, Respiratory tract infection, Satellite infection, Silent infection, Spillover infection, Sterile infection, Subclinical infection, Superinfection, Surgical site infection, Tap water infection, Tunnel infection, Urinary tract infection. Cf Disinfection.

in·fec·tion

(in-fek'shŭn) Invasion of the body by organisms that have the potential to cause disease.

infection

(in-fek'shon) [L. infectio, discoloration, dye] A disease caused by microorganisms, esp. those that release toxins or invade body tissues. Worldwide, infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis viruses, and diarrheal illnesses produce more disability and death than any other cause. Infection differs from colonization of the body by microorganisms in that during colonization, microbes reside harmlessly in the body or perform useful functions for it, e.g., bacteria in the gut that produce vitamin K. By contrast, infectious illnesses typically cause bodily harm.

Etiology

The most common pathogenic organisms are bacteria (including mycobacteria, mycoplasmas, spirochetes, chlamydiae, and rickettsiae), viruses, fungi, protozoa, and helminths. Life-threatening infectious disease usually occurs when immunity is weak or suppressed (such as during the first few months of life, in older or malnourished persons, in trauma or burn victims, in leukopenic patients, and in those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, renal failure, cancer, asplenia, alcoholism, or heart, lung, or liver disease). Many disease-causing agents, however, may afflict vigorous persons, whether they are young or old, fit or weak. Some examples include sexually transmitted illnesses (such as herpes simplex or chlamydiosis), respiratory illnesses (influenza or varicella), and food or waterborne pathogens (cholera, schistosomiasis).

Symptoms

Systemic infections cause fevers, chills, sweats, malaise, and occasionally, headache, muscle and joint pains, or changes in mental status. Localized infections produce tissue redness, swelling, tenderness, heat, and loss of function.

Transmission

Pathogens can be transmitted to their hosts by many mechanisms, namely, inhalation, ingestion, injection or the bite of a vector, direct (skin-to-skin) contact, contact with blood or body fluids, fetomaternal contact, contact with contaminated articles (fomites), or self-inoculation.

In health care settings, infections are often transmitted to patients by the hands of professional staff or other employees. Hand hygiene before and after patient contact prevents many of these infections.

Defenses

The body's defenses against infection begin with mechanisms that block entry of the organism into the skin or the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary tract. These defenses include chemicals, e.g., lysozymes in tears, fatty acids in skin, gastric acid, and pancreatic enzymes in the bowel; mucus that traps the organism; clusters of antibody-producing B lymphocytes, e.g., tonsils, Peyer's patches; and bacteria and fungi (normal flora) on the skin and mucosal surfaces that destroy more dangerous organisms. In patients receiving immunosuppressive drug therapy, the normal flora can become the source of opportunistic infections. Also, one organism can impair external defenses and permit another to enter; e.g., viruses can enhance bacterial invasion by damaging respiratory tract mucosa.

The body's second line of defense is the nonspecific immune response, inflammation. The third major defensive system, the specific immune response, depends on lymphocyte activation, during which B and T cells recognize specific antigenic markers on the organism. B cells produce immunoglobulins (antibodies), and T cells orchestrate a multifaceted attack by cytotoxic cells. See: B cell; T cell; inflammation for table

Spread

Once pathogens have crossed cutaneous or mucosal barriers and gained entry into internal tissues, they may spread quickly along membranes such as the meninges, pleura, or peritoneum. Some pathogens produce enzymes that damage cell membranes, enabling them to move rapidly from cell to cell. Others enter the lymphatic channels; if they can overcome white blood cell defenses in the lymph nodes, they move into the bloodstream to multiply at other sites. This is frequently seen with pyogenic organisms, which create abscesses far from the initial entry site. Viruses or rickettsiae, which reproduce only inside cells, travel in the blood to cause systemic infections; viruses that damage a fetus during pregnancy (such as rubella and cytomegalovirus) travel via the blood.

Diagnosis

Although many infections (such as those that cause characteristic rashes) are diagnosed clinically, definitive identification of infection usually occurs in the laboratory. Carefully collected and cultured specimens of blood, urine, stool, sputum, or other body fluids are used to identify pathogens and their susceptibilities to treatment.

Treatment

Many infections, like the common cold, are self-limited and require no specific treatment. Understanding this concept is crucial because the misuse of antibiotics does not help the affected patient and may damage society by fostering antimicrobial resistance, e.g., in microorganisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Many common infections, such as urinary tract infections or impetigo, respond well to antimicrobial drugs. Others, like abscesses, may require incision and drainage.

acute infection

An infection that appears suddenly and may be of brief or prolonged duration.

airborne infection

An infection caused by inhalation of pathogenic organisms in droplet nuclei.

apical infection

An infection located at the tip of the root of a tooth.

autochthonous infection

Infection caused by organisms normally present in the patient's body. It may occur when host defenses are compromised, or when resident flora are introduced into an abnormal site.

bacterial infection

Any disease caused by bacteria. Bacteria exist in a variety of relationships with the human body. They colonize body surfaces and provide benefits, e.g., by limiting the growth of pathogens and by producing vitamins for absorption (in a symbiotic relationship). Bacteria can coexist with the human body without producing harmful or beneficial effects (in a commensal relationship). Bacteria may also invade tissues, damage cells, trigger systemic inflammatory responses, and release toxins (in a pathogenic or infectious relationship). See: bacterium for table

bladder infection

See: urinary tract infection

blood-borne infection

An infection transmitted through contact with the blood (cells, serum, or plasma) of an infected individual. The contact may occur sexually, through injection, or via a medical or dental procedure in which a blood-contaminated instrument is inadvertently used after inadequate sterilization. Examples of blood-borne infections include hepatitis B and C and AIDS. needle-stick injury;

breakthrough infection

An infection that occurs despite previous vaccination.

chronic infection

An infection having a protracted course.

concurrent infection

The existence of two or more infections at the same time. See: superinfection

cross infection

The transfer of an infectious organism or disease from one patient in a hospital to another.

cryptogenic infection

An infection whose source is unknown.

cytomegalovirus infection

Abbreviation: CMV infection
A persistent, latent infection of white blood cells caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV). Approx. 60% of people over 35 have been infected with CMV, usually during childhood or early adulthood; the incidence appears to be higher in those of low socioeconomic status. Primary infection is usually mild in people with normal immune function, but CMV can be reactivated and cause overt disease in pregnant women, AIDS patients, or those receiving immunosuppressive therapy following organ transplantation. CMV has been isolated from saliva, urine, semen, breast milk, feces, blood, and vaginal secretions of those infected; it is usually transmitted through contact with infected secretions that retain the virus for months to years.

During pregnancy, the woman can transmit the virus transplacentally to the fetus with devastating results. Approx. 10% of infected infants develop CMV inclusion disease, marked by anemia, thrombocytopenia, purpura, hepatosplenomegaly, microcephaly, and abnormal mental or motor development; more than 50% of these infants die. Most fetal infections occur when the mother is infected with CMV for the first time during this pregnancy, but they may also occur following reinfection or reactivation of the virus. Patients with AIDS or organ transplants may develop disseminated infection that causes retinitis, esophagitis, colitis, meningoencephalitis, pneumonitis, and inflammation of the renal tubules.

Etiology

CMV is transmitted from person to person by sexual activity, during pregnancy or delivery, during organ transplantation, or by contaminated secretions; rarely, (5%) blood transfusions contain latent CMV. Health care workers caring for infected newborns or immunosuppressed patients are at no greater risk for acquiring CMV infection than are those who care for other groups of patients (approx. 3%). Pregnant women and all health care workers should strictly adhere to standard infection control precautions.

Symptoms

Primary infection in the healthy is usually asymptomatic, but some people develop mononucleosis-type symptoms (fever, sore throat, swollen glands). Symptoms in immunosuppressed patients are related to the organ system infected by CMV and include blurred vision progressing to blindness; severe diarrhea; and cough, dyspnea, and hypoxemia. Antibodies seen in the blood identify infection but do not protect against reactivation of the virus.

Treatment

Antiviral agents such as ganciclovir and foscarnet are used to treat retinitis, colitis, and pneumonitis in immunosuppressed patients; chronic antiviral therapy has been used to suppress CMV, but this protocol has not been effective in preventing recurrence of CMV or development of meningoencephalitis. Ganciclovir has limited effect in congenital CMV. No vaccine is available.

Patient care

Health care providers can help prevent CMV infections by advising pregnant women and the immunocompromised to avoid exposure to contact with people who have confirmed and or suspected cases of CMV. The virus spreads from one person to another as a result of exposure to blood (as in transfusions) and other body fluids including feces, urine, and saliva. Contact with the diapers or drool of an infected child may result in infection of a person who has previously been unexposed to the infection. CMV is the most common congenital infection, affecting about 35,000 newborns each year. CMV infection that is newly acquired during the first trimester of pregnancy can be esp. hazardous to the developing fetus. As a result, young women who have no antibodies to CMV should avoid providing child care to infected youngsters. In the U.S., nurses who have failed to advise infected patients of the risk that CMV may pose to others have been judged to be negligent by the courts. Parents of children with severe congenital CMV require support and counseling. Although CMV infection in most nonpregnant adults is not harmful, it can cause serious illnesses or death in people with HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, and those who take immunosuppressive or cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Infected immunosuppressed patients with CMV should be advised about the uses of prescribed drug therapies, the importance of completing the full course of therapy, and adverse effects to report for help in managing them. Family caregivers for infected people should be taught to observe standard precautions when handling body secretions. Since asymptomatic people may have and secrete the virus, standard precautions should be maintained by health care professionals at all times when such secretions are present or being handled.

deep neck infection

An infection that enters the fascial planes of the neck after originating in the oral cavity, pharynx, or a regional lymph node. It may be life-threatening if the infection enters the carotid sheath, the paravertebral spaces, or the mediastinum. Death may also result from sepsis, asphyxiation, or hemorrhage. Aggressive surgical therapy is usually required because antibiotics alone infrequently control the disease. ULCER DUE TO DIABETIC FOOT INFECTION

diabetic foot infection

A polymicrobial infection of the bones and soft tissues of the lower extremities of patients with diabetes mellitus, typically those patients who have vascular insufficiency or neuropathic foot disease. Eradication of the infection may require prolonged courses of antibiotics, surgical débridement or amputation, or reconstruction or bypass of occluded arteries. Synonym: diabetic foot ulcer See: illustration

droplet infection

An infection acquired by the inhalation of a microorganism in the air, esp. one added to the air by sneezing or cough.

focal infection

Infection occurring near a focus, such as the cavity of a tooth.

fungal infection

Pathological invasion of the body by yeast or other fungi. Fungi are most likely to produce disease in patients whose immune defenses are compromised. See: table

fungal infection of nail

Infection of a nail by one of a number of fungi. Systemic therapy with antifungal drugs may eradicate the infection.

health-care associated infection

Abbreviation: HAI
Nosocomial infection.

hospital-acquired infection

Nosocomial infection.

inapparent infection

An infection that is asymptomatic or is not detected.

local infection

An infection that has not spread but remains contained near the entry site.

low-grade infection

A loosely used term for a subacute or chronic infection with only mild inflammation and without pus formation.

nosocomial infection

An infection acquired in a hospital, nursing home, or other health care setting. Patients in burn units and surgical intensive care units have the highest rates of nosocomial infections. Synonym: health-care associated infection; hospital-acquired infection

Patient care

Hospital-acquired infections result from the exposure of debilitated patients to the drug-altered environment of the hospital, where indwelling urinary catheters, intravenous lines, and endotracheal tubes enter normally sterile body sites and allow microbes to penetrate and multiply. Over 2 million nosocomial infections occur in the U.S. annually. Antibiotic-resistant organisms such as Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., staphylococci, enterococci, Clostridium difficile, and fungi often are responsible for the infectious outbreaks that result. Standard precautions and infection control procedures limit the incidence of nosocomial infections.

opportunistic infection

Abbreviation: OI
1. Any infection that results from a defective immune system that cannot defend against pathogens normally found in the environment. Common types include bacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), fungal (Candida albicans), protozoan (Pneumocystis jirovecii), and viral (cytomegalovirus). Opportunistic infections are seen in patients with impaired defenses against disease, such as those with cystic fibrosis, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, acquired or congenital immune deficiencies, or organ transplants. 2. An infection that results when resident flora proliferate and infect a body site in which they are normally present or at some other location. In healthy humans, the millions of bacteria in and on the body do not cause infection or disease. Host defenses and interaction with other microorganisms prevent excess growth of potential pathogens. A great number of factors, many poorly understood, may allow a normal bacterial resident to proliferate and cause disease.

pocket infection

Infection of the tissues beneath the skin into which an implanted device, such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, has been surgically inserted.

protozoal infection

An infection with a protozoon, e.g., malaria.

pyogenic infection

An infection resulting from pus-forming organisms.

reproductive tract infection

Abbreviation: RTI
Any infection of the reproductive organs. The most common causes are sexually transmitted diseases, but infections may also result from bacterial overgrowth or occasionally when instruments used in medical procedures introduce microorganisms. In women RTIs can cause pelvic pain, subfertility, infertility, or damage to the developing fetus. RTIs in men include epididymitis, prostatitis, and urethritis.

risk for infection

An immunocompromised state.

secondary infection

An infection made possible by a primary infection that lowers the host's resistance, e.g., bacterial pneumonia following influenza.

slow virus infection

An infection caused by a virus that remains dormant in the body for a prolonged period before causing signs and symptoms of illness. Such viruses may require years to incubate before causing diseases. Examples include progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

subacute infection

An infection intermediate between acute and chronic.

subclinical infection

An infection that is immunologically confirmed but does not produce obvious symptoms or signs.

surgical site infection

An infection that occurs within thirty days of an operation, either at the suture line, just beneath it, or in internal organs and spaces that were operated upon. Synonym: surgical wound infection

surgical wound infection

Surgical site infection.

systemic infection

An infection in which the infecting agent or organisms circulate throughout the body.

terminal infection

An often fatal infection appearing in the late stage of another disease.

transfusion-associated bacterial infection

Transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection.

transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection

Abbreviation: TTBI.
Illness in a transfusion recipient that develops after the infusion of contaminated blood or blood products, esp. platelets. It usually results from colonization of the blood product during handling or storage or, less frequently, from an unsuspected infection in the blood donor. Coagulase-negative staphylococci are often responsible. Other bacteria that sometimes cause TTBI include Pseudomonas species, Anaplasma, Babesia, and Rickettsia.

Viruses may also be transmitted from blood donors to transfusion recipients. They may include cytomegalovirus, encephalitis viruses, and, rarely, hepatitis viruses or human immunodeficiency virus.

Synonym: transfusion-associated bacterial infection

upper respiratory infection

Abbreviation: URI
An imprecise term for any infection involving the nasal passages, pharynx, and bronchi. The cause is usually bacterial or viral, and, occasionally, fungal.

urinary tract infection

Abbreviation: UTI
Infection of the kidneys, ureters, or bladder by microorganisms that either ascend from the urethra (95% of cases) or that spread to the kidney from the bloodstream (5%). About 7 million Americans visit health care providers each year because of UTIs. These infections commonly occur in otherwise healthy women, men with prostatic hypertrophy or bladder outlet obstruction, children with congenital anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract, and patients with urinary stasis related to incomplete bladder emptying, neurogenic bladder or indwelling bladder catheters. See: clean-catch method; cystitis; pyelonephritis; urethritis

Etiology

Escherichia coli causes about 80% of all UTIs. In young women, Staphylococcus saprophyticus is also common. In men with prostate disease, enterococci are often responsible. The small remaining percentage of infections may be caused by Klebsiella species, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or other virulent organisms.

Symptoms

The presenting symptoms of UTI vary enormously. Young patients with bladder infections may have pain with urination; urinary frequency or urgency, or both; pelvic or suprapubic discomfort; low-grade fevers; or a change in the appearance or odor of their urine (cloudy, malodorous, or rarely bloody). Older patients may present with fever, lethargy, confusion, delirium, or coma caused by urosepsis. Patients with pyelonephritis often complain of flank pain, prostration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and high fevers with shaking chills. UTI may also be asymptomatic, esp. during pregnancy. Asymptomatic UTI during pregnancy is a contributing factor to maternal pyelonephritis, or fetal prematurity and stillbirth.

Diagnosis

Urinalysis (obtained either as a clean catch or catheterized specimen) and subsequent urinary culture are used to determine the presence of UTI, the suspect microorganism, and the optimal antibiotic therapy. A dipstick test may identify leukocyte esterase and nitrite in a urinary specimen, strongly suggesting a UTI. The presence of more than 8 to 10 white blood cells per high-power field of spun urine also strongly suggests UTI, as does the presence of bacteria in an uncentrifuged urinary specimen.

Treatment

Sulfa drugs, nitrofurantoin, cephalosporins, or quinolones may be used for the outpatient treatment of UTIs while the results of cultures are pending. Patients sick enough to be hospitalized may also be treated with intravenous aminoglycosides, medicine to treat nausea and vomiting, and hydration. The duration of therapy and the precise antibiotics used depend on the responsible organism and the underlying condition of the patient. Patients with anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract, e.g., children with ureteropelvic obstruction or older men with bladder outlet obstruction, may sometimes require urological surgery.

Risk Factors

The following conditions predispose sexually active women to development of UTI: the use of a contraceptive diaphragm, the method of sexual intercourse, (greatly prolonged or cunnilingus), and failure to void immediately following intercourse.

Prevention of UTI in Young Women

Fluid intake should be increased to and maintained at to six to eight glasses daily. Although cranberry and other fruit juices are often recommended for patients with UTI, there is little objective evidence to show they have an impact. The urinary tract anesthetic phenazopyridine and sitz baths may provide relief from perineal discomfort. The anal area should be wiped from front to back or wipe the front first to prevent carrying bacteria to the urethral area; the bladder should be emptied shortly before and after intercourse; the genital area should be washed before intercourse; if vaginal dryness is a problem, water-soluble vaginal lubricants should be used before intercourse; a contraceptive diaphragm, cap, shield, or sponge should not remain in the vagina longer than necessary. An alternative method of contraception should be considered.

Patient care

Instructing the patient should emphasize self-care and prevention of recurrences. The antibiotic regimen should be explained, and the patient should be aware of signs and symptoms and, when they occur, should report them promptly to the primary caregiver.

yeast infection

A colloquial term for vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Superficial Fungal Infections
Disease	Causative Organisms	Structures Infected	Microscopic Appearance
Epidermophytosis (e.g., dhobie itch)	Epidermophyton, (e.g., floccosum)	Inguinal, axillary, and interdigital folds; hairs not affected	Long, wavy, branched, and segmented hyphae and spindle-shaped cells in stratum corneum
Favus (tinea favosa)	Trichophyton schoenleinii	Epidermis around a hair; all parts of body; nails	Vertical hyphae and spores in epidermis; sinuous branching mycelium and chains in hairs
Ringworm (tinea, otomycosis)	Microsporum (e.g., audouinii)	Horny layer of epidermis and hairs, chiefly of scalp	Fine septate mycelium inside hairs and scales; spores in rows and mosaic plaques on hair surface
	Trichophyton (e.g., tonsurans)	Hairs of scalp, beard, and other parts; nails	Mycelium of chained cubical elements and threads in and on hairs; often pigmented
Thrush and other forms of candidiasis	Candida albicans	Tongue, mouth, throat, vagina, and skin	Yeastlike budding cells and oval thick-walled bodies in lesion
Systemic Fungal Infections
Aspergillosis	Aspergillus fumigatus	Lungs	Y-shaped branching of septate hyphae
Blastomycosis	Blastomyces brasiliensis, B. dermatitidis	Skin and lungs	Yeastlike cells demonstrated in lesion
Candidiasis	Candida albicans	Esophagus, lungs, peritoneum, mucous membranes	Small, thin-walled, ovoid cells
Coccidioidomycosis	Coccidioides immitis	Respiratory tract	Nonbudding spores containing many endospores, in sputum
Cryptococcosis	Cryptococcus neoformans	Meninges, lungs, bone, skin	Yeastlike fungus having gelatinous capsule; demonstrated in spinal fluid
Histoplasmosis	Histoplasma capsulatum	Lungs	Oval, budding, uninucleated cells

infection

1. The process by which organisms capable of causing disease gain entry to the body and establish colonies. 2. The state of injury or damage to part of the body resulting from this process.

infection

the invasion of tissues by microorganisms with or without disease production.

infection

An invasion of the body by disease-producing microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite). Treatment typically includes anti-infective drugs, such as antibiotic, antifungal or antiviral agents. See inflammation.

in·fec·tion

(in-fek'shŭn) Invasion of the body with organisms that have the potential to cause disease.

Patient discussion about infection

Q. Yeast infection in bloodstream How to get rid of yeast infection systemically.A. there are several treatments and medications against systemic fungal infections, yeasts included. but in order to get treated you have to go through a proper diagnosis and a Dr. should check what kind of fungus you are having and prescribe the medication that fits it. me throwing all sort of medication names won't give you anything. this has to be checked out with a blood test and a culture.

Q. Is this an infection or pregnancy? I am worried with the white odorless mucus discharge. My hubby and I are also trying for baby. I have browsed the web and found that this could be possible infection also. Is this an infection or pregnancy?A. It’s a cervical discharge and mucus secreted may be majorly a sign of pregnancy. I too had the same symptom but was tested positive for pregnancy. At times it may be a normal vaginal discharge. Generally it will be a yeast infection. Just check for your body temperature changes as it indicates good for you. Your mucus will be like raw egg white, the more thick more chances for positive. Keep a check on these factors. I shall suggest you to visit the doctor to confirm the same instead of making your own conclusions.

Q. What are the symptoms of salmonella infection? A. Dehydration is the principal clinical concern. The incubation period – the time between ingestion of Salmonella bacteria and the onset of illness – varies from six to 72 hours.Salmonella can cause three different kinds of illness: gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, and bacteremia.Symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting.In mild cases diarrhea may be non-bloody, occur several times per day, and not be very voluminous; in severe cases it may be frequent, bloody and/or mucoid, and of high volume. Fever generally occurs in the 100°F to 102°F (38°C to 39°C) range. Vomiting is less common than diarrhea. Headaches, myalgias (muscle pain), and arthralgias (joint pain) are often reported as well.Whereas the diarrhea typically lasts 24 to 72 hours, patients often report fatigue and other nonspecific symptoms lasting 7 days or longer. For the full article: http://www.about-salmonella.com/salmonella_symptoms_risks

More discussions about infection

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Bibliography

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REFERENCES

What does it mean when you dream about an infection?

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Etiology

Symptoms

Transmission

Defenses

Spread

Diagnosis

Treatment

acute infection

airborne infection

apical infection

autochthonous infection

bacterial infection

bladder infection

blood-borne infection

breakthrough infection

chronic infection

concurrent infection

cross infection

cryptogenic infection

cytomegalovirus infection

Etiology

Symptoms

Treatment

Patient care

deep neck infection

diabetic foot infection

droplet infection

focal infection

fungal infection

fungal infection of nail

health-care associated infection

hospital-acquired infection

inapparent infection

local infection

low-grade infection

nosocomial infection

Patient care

opportunistic infection

pocket infection

protozoal infection

pyogenic infection

reproductive tract infection

risk for infection

secondary infection

slow virus infection

subacute infection

subclinical infection

surgical site infection

surgical wound infection

systemic infection

terminal infection

transfusion-associated bacterial infection

transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection

upper respiratory infection

urinary tract infection