Unit 1: General Microbiology

1.1 Infection: types, routes and

spread of infection, source and
reservoir of infections

INFECTION
 What is Infection
• An infection is the colonization of a host
by Microbial species.
• Infecting Microbes seek to use the host's
resources to reproduce, often resulting in
disease.
• Colloquially, infections are usually considered
to be caused by microscopic organisms
Basis of Classification of Infections

• Infections are classified in multiple ways. They

are classified by the causative agent as well
as by the constellation of symptoms and
medical signs that are produced.
An infection that produces symptoms is an apparent
infection. Polio

An infection that is active, but does not produce

noticeable symptoms, may be called in apparent,
silent, or subclinical. Influenza ,SARS -CoV

An infection that is inactive or dormant is called a

latent infection varicella zoster virus, varicella zoster
virus
Understanding ……
Infection and Disease
A. Definitions
B. The Normal Flora of Humans
C. Generalized Stages of Infection
D. Virulence Factors and Toxins
 What Causes an Infectious Disease?

• Infection is caused
by microorganism
• The
microorganism may
be a bacteria, a
virus, a parasite or a Bacillus anthracis

fungus bacteria– Public Health

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 Overview
• Types of Microorganisms
• Principles of Infection
– Transmission
– Host resistance
– Virulence and pathogenicity
– Control of transmission and infection
• Development of Infection
– Onset and course
– Clinical signs and symptoms
– Diagnostic tests
• Antimicrobial Drugs
• Example of Infection: Influenza
 Conditions required for infection to
spread from one person to
• 1.another
One person must be infected with a
microorganism
• 2. The other person must be susceptible
to infection with that microorganism
• 3. The microorganism must be able to
leave the body of the infected person and
enter the body of the susceptible person.
 Types of infection
• Colonization – infection present on surface of
body –
– Organism propagating at a rate sufficient to
maintain its numbers without producing identifiable
evidence of any reaction in host
• Inapparent or subclinical infection
– organism not only multiplying but also causes a
measurable reaction that is however not clinically
detectable
• Symptomatic infection
– Organism causes clinically detectable reaction
Time parameters of interaction
• Latency Period = the time between
infection to time of becoming
infectious
• Incubation Period = the time
between infection and onset of
symptoms

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 Definitions
• Disease and Infectious Disease
– Disease
•Any deviation from a condition of
good health and well-being
– Infectious Disease
 A disease condition caused by the
presence or growth of infectious
microorganisms or parasites
 Definitions
• Pathogenicity and Virulence
– Pathogenicity
• The ability of a microbe to cause disease
– Virulence
• The degree of pathogenicity in a
microorganism
• This term is often used to describe or
compare strains within a species
 Definitions

• Acute infection vs. chronic infection

– Acute Infection-cold or flu, respiratory tract
infection
• An infection characterized by sudden onset, rapid
progression, and often with severe symptoms(The
term acute infection is used to refer to microbe
living inside a host for a limited period of time)
– Chronic Infection- tuberculosis (TB) Herpes
Simplex Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• An infection characterized by delayed onset
and slow progression(Chronic infections are
caused by pathogens with slow growth rates
promoting an infection that is persistent for
long-term periods)
 Definitions
• Primary infection vs. secondary
infection
– Primary Infection-Staphylococcus
aureus-A bacterial infection that may
cause a sore, scratchy throat.
•the first time you are exposed to
and infected by a pathogen.
•Secondary Infection
•An infection that develops in an
individual who is already infected with a
different pathogen .
•Ex; Pneumonia caused by bacteria
•upper respiratory infection (like a cold)
that was caused by a virus
 Definitions
• Localized infection vs. systemic infection
– Localized Infection
• An infection that is restricted to a specific
location or region within the body of the
host-Ex: a boil on the hand, an abscess of
finger.
– Systemic Infection
• An infection that has spread to several
regions or areas in the body of the host

• An infection that is in the bloodstream is

called a systemic infection.

• EX: Severe sepsis/ Septicemia

 .Definitions
• Clinical infection vs. subclinical
infection
–Clinical Infection
•An infection with obvious
observable or detectable symptoms
–Subclinical Infection
•An infection with few or no obvious
symptoms 15
 Definitions
• Opportunistic infection
– An infection caused
by microorganisms
that are commonly
found in the host’s
environment This
term is often used to
refer to infections
caused by organisms
in the normal flora
 Defining
• The suffix “-emia”
– A suffix meaning “presence of an infectious
agent”
•Bacteremia = Presence of infectious
bacteria
•Viremia = Presence of infectious
virus
•Fungemia = Presence of infectious
fungus
•Septicemia = Presence of an infectious
 Definitions
• The suffix “-itis”
– A suffix meaning “inflammation of”
• Examples:
– Pharyngitis = Inflammation of the
pharynx
– Endocarditis = Inflammation of the
heart chambers
– Gastroenteritis = Inflammation of
the gastrointestinal tract
 Definitions
• Epidemiology
– The study of the transmission of disease
• Communicable Disease
– A disease that can be transmitted from one individual to
another
• Contagious Disease
– A communicable disease that is easily spread from one
individual to another
• Non communicable Disease
– A disease that is not transmitted from one individual to
another
 Definitions
• Endemic Disease
– A disease condition that is normally found in a
certain percentage of a population- Malaria in
Africa
• Epidemic Disease
– A disease condition present in a greater than
usual percentage of a specific population
• Pandemic Disease
– An epidemic affecting a large geographical area;
often on a global scale
 Epidemic vs. Pandemic
A simple way to know the difference
between an epidemic and a pandemic
is to remember the “P” in pandemic,
which means a pandemic has a
passport. A pandemic is an epidemic
that travels.
 Epidemic vs. Endemic
An epidemic is actively spreading; new cases of the
disease substantially exceed what is expected. More
broadly, it’s used to describe any problem that’s out of
control, such as “the opioid epidemic.”
An epidemic is often localized to a region, but
the number of those infected in that region is
significantly higher than normal. For example,
when COVID-19 was limited to Wuhan, China, it
was an epidemic. The geographical spread
turned it into a pandemic.

Endemics, on the other hand, are a constant

presence in a specific location. Malaria is
endemic to parts of Africa. Ice is endemic to
Antarctica.
 Definitions
• Reservoir of Infection
– The source of an infectious agent
• Carrier
– An individual who carries an infectious agent
without manifesting symptoms, yet who can
transmit the agent to another individual-Typhoid
Mary
• Fomites
– Any inanimate object capable of being an
intermediate in the indirect transmission of an
infectious agent- contaminated vehicles, shovels,
clothing, bowls/buckets, brushes
 Definitions
• Animal Vectors
– An animal (nonhuman) that can transmit an
infectious agent to humans
– Two types: mechanical and biological
• Biological animal vectors: The infectious agent must
incubate in the animal host as part of the agent’s
developmental cycle; eg, the transmission of malaria
by infected mosquitoes
• Mechanical animal vectors: The infectious agent is
physically transmitted by the animal vector, but the
agent does not incubate or grow in the animal; eg, the
transmission of bacteria sticking to the feet of flies
 Definitions
• Direct Mechanisms
of Disease
Transmission
– Directly From Person
to Person
– Examples:
Direct Skin Contact
Airborne (Aerosols)
– From Mother to
fetus
 Indirect Transmission
• Indirect
Mechanisms of
Disease
Transmission
– Examples:
Food &
Waterborne
Transmission
Fomites
Animal Vectors
 . The Normal Flora of Humans
• Normal flora is present
in
– skin
– upper respiratory tract
– oral cavity
– intestine, especially large
intestine
– vaginal tract
• Very little normal flora
in eyes & stomach
Development of Infection: Onset
and Course
• Incubation period
– Organism present; no
clinical signs,
symptoms
• Prodromal period
– Symptoms; don’t feel
like yourself
• Acute period
– Fully developed
infection
 Development of Infection:
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
• Local signs
– Inflammation
– Tissue necrosis
– Lymphadenopathy
– Respiratory effects
• Systemic signs
– Fever, fatigue, headache, nausea
Generalized Stages of Infection
1. Entry of Pathogen
– Portal of Entry
2. Colonization
– Usually at the site of entry
3. Incubation Period
– Asymptomatic period
– Between the initial contact with the microbe
and the appearance of the first symptoms
 Generalized Stages of Infection
4. Prodromal Symptoms
– Initial Symptoms
5. Invasive period
– Increasing Severity of Symptoms
– Fever
– Inflammation and Swelling
– Tissue Damage
– Infection May Spread to Other Sites
 Modes of Transmission
• Direct contact
• Indirect contact
• Droplet
transmission
• Hands
• Vector-
borne
• Nosocomial
 Modes of Transmission
Direct Indirect transmission
transmission

Direct contact Airborne

Droplet spread Vehicle borne

Vector borne
 Development of Infection:
Diagnostic Tests
• Cultures and stains
– bacteria
• Blood tests
– Bacteria
• Leukocytosis
– Virus
• Leukopenia
– Increase in neutrophils w/
acute; increase in
lymphocytes and monocytes
w/ chronic
• Radiologic exams
Steps to Minimize Risk of Infection
• Locate, remove reservoir
host
• Know mode(s) of
transmission of specific
infections
• Block portals of entry
• Cleaning
• Sterilization
• Disinfectants
• Antiseptics
 Hospital acquired
infections
• Infection which was
neither present nor
incubating at the
time of admission
• Includes infection
which only becomes
apparent after
discharge from
hospital but which was
acquired during
hospitalisation
• Also called
nosocomial
infection
 The very first
requirement in a
hospital is that
it should do the
sick no harm
 1st principle of infection prévention

at least 35-50% of all nosocomial infections are associated

with patient care practices:

• Use and care of urinary catheters

• Use and care of vascular access lines
• Therapy and support of pulmonary functions
• Experience with surgical procedures
• Hand hygiene and standard precautions
Basic steps in Prevention of Infection
• There are possible
treatment and
prevention to stop
the infection cycle.
This is through
adequate hygiene,
sanitary
environment
maintenance and
health education.
Antimicrobial agents In Infection
 Antimicrobial agents In Infection
• Anti-infective drugs such as antibiotics,
antiviral, antifungal. It can be administered
by mouth, topically or intravenously
depending on the infection extent and
severity. Sometimes, if drug resistance is
known, multiple drugs are used to stop drug
resistance and increase drug effectiveness.
Antibiotics only work for bacterial infection
and have no effect on viral ones.